Advice on moving a 55 gallon reef tank

[paulcoates]

I am moving it approximately 250 miles with about 110 lbs of live rock, 15 corals, 6 fish, a shrimp and a crab
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/vb/showthread.php?t=207193
Any advice is appreciated. I am think of getting a small 10 gallon tank for the fish, a big tote for the corals and a few other plastic totes for the water.
I figure they will be without light / constantly heated water for about 6 hrs?

 

[tat2d]

The rock will be fine in tubs with tankwater. For the livestock, I would get some of the fish shipping boxes and bags from your LFS(some here just give them to you) to put them in. That way the livestock won't get cold as quick as in the tubs. Take as much of the water as you can, and you'll be fine.
Good luck.
Bobby

 

[murph]

I think if I were in that situation I would try to sell off the live stock and maybe even the rock and start fresh at my new location.
Moving is a stressful event and I am not talking about your fish. The added distraction of keeping all your livestock alive will lead to added distraction and stress while on the road where in this day and age keeping yourself alive should be the focus of all your attentions.
Starting over is not necessarily a bad thing. All those little things that got overlooked when you set up the first time (if your relatively new to the hobby) can be taken care of this time around. If there is a significant other to deal with, this move may even justify spending money on a bigger and better system in your new home.
Good luck on your move.

 

[paulcoates]

thanks for the help. I tried to sell and start over but I just couldnt find any bidders to take the tank in one fell swoop. And since I am on the road M-F now with my new job, it makes it difficult to ship all of these items individually.
Has anyone ever just taken their livestock and placed them in a little 10 gallon tank for a 4 hr drive? Just wondering how many degrees the water can drop in the period of time

 

[fisherson]

i've moved my 55 twice about a half hour-hour driving distance... i've never lost anything just bagging up my corals and fish and keeping them in a tub of heated water.
The only thing i'd worry about is a possible small cycle after everything get's thrown around and contacts air and all that stuff.
I also kept my sand inside the tank and just removed the water. accept for about 1 inch or water over the sand.
We lifted the tank right onto a plank and carried it around that way so we wouldn't bow the tank trying to carry it from the sides.
then when refilling the tank water we put a small plate on the bottom of the tank and poured the water onto that so that the sand wouldn't get to mesed up from all the water displacing it.
Both times everything worked out fine but i would definetly have soe reserve water atleast 10 gallons cause you'll never be able to save every last drop. and it wouldn't hurt to add a bunch of new water anyway...good oportunity for a nice big waterchange

 

[clown52]

Not sure if you can do this but I helped move about 350 gallons by getting 55gal drums and putting them in the back of a pick up. We used a large sump pump and some clear tube to get the water into the drums.

 

[fallnhorse]

I took my 55 gallon tank 2,300 miles from colorado to new york. Had a damsel, tang, and a wasse. I bought a 175 watt inverter from walmart for $38. I used a big plastic cooler with a 5watt heater and a air pump. It took three days to get here. don't feed your fish at least a day before moving them. so they don't poop. 250 miles should be a breeze no prob. I kept the lid shut to darken the water to avoid stress. Just left enough open for cords and air exchange. I don't trust my fish to mailing companies i can do a whole heck of alot better job! They did great.