moving my tank

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nedword

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Jun 30, 2004
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I am moving in a couple weeks and my 30 gallon has to come with me. The problem is that by that time, my tank should be fully cycled. Does anybody know the best way to move it without:

1. killing the fish
2. losing the cycled water

Thanks in advance,
Ned
 
First, Id like to know how long the move is going to take. Wether your planning on moving the tank within a day or if its going to take a week or so.
 
I would feel kinda Sh**** killing all my fish. but thats just me, i would find some way of just losing the cycled water and keeping the fish, i just cant imagine killing my fish!

~ MyShrimpDied
 
This is what I did with a 20 gallon:

Buy some plastic storage boxes with lids, square with flat bottoms, and fill them with your tank water. Take about 50% or more if you can manage it and empty as much of the rest as possible from the tank. I left the gravel in the tank and wrapped it in towels.

Bag up the fish and put them in a polystyrene box to keep them at an even temperature, then cart the whole lot to its new home. Set up the tank first, empty the preserved water into the tank, using a plate on the gravel for less disturbance, and plug in the heater. Float the fish bags on top for half an hour then let the fish out. Fill the tank with fresh water of the same temperature, with water conditioner, as if doing a water change. Turn on the filter and leave everything to settle.
 
Go to your LFS and get half a dozen buckets if you dont already have that many. Fill the buckets 3/4 full. Get some bags from the store too while your there. And remove as much subsrate as you can. Lifting a tnak with gravel in it can cause major stress to the bottom seals. when moving the tank keep it level and dont twist it. Fish survive in bags for quite awhile so dont rush setting up the tank. If you havent bagged fish before you are going to want 1/4 water to 3/4 air. Its tricky to do but not impossible. Or you could put the fish in the tank water buckets and transport them ever so carefully. I've done that a bunch of times and never had an issue.
 
Really Fred, you used a bucket for the fish? How long was this move? am just worried about stressing the fish out.

Also, if I use a bag, how do I get the 3/4 air in there without an air hose (just blow in it or something)??

The good news is that my move is only about 10-15 minutes down the road, so they will not be disturbed after the drive, until the tank is set up.

-Ned
 
When I was moving, I was told:
remember to keep your filter media and substrate DAMP but try not to leave it underwater without an airstone or water movement through the filter for too long; the good bacteria can die. (This can happen for instance if there is a power outage and your HOB/canister media is in the filter covered in water with the filter off for a long period of time-when you start it up again, much of the good bacteria has died, I assume becuase of a lack of oxygen).
I also moved my fish in a bucket, they were fine, but I agree bags are a better idea.
 
originally posted by nedword
Also, if I use a bag, how do I get the 3/4 air in there without an air hose (just blow in it or something)??
Click to expand...

Haven't you watched how they do it at the lfs? You put a couple of cups of the aquarium water in the bag with the fish, then stand the bag up the full length of the plastic, very quickly swoop your hand at the top of the bag and close it off before the air can escape. Then you tie it off.

Does that make sense?

Also I would suggest using an individual bag for each fish. That way you don't have two or more fish in the same bag releasing ammonia and other toxins. Only the one fish.
 
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