advise on how to move a tank

[trkdoc]

We are getting the new 72 gallon bow front tank this weekend and will have to move it more than 30 miles. It has been up and running for more than a year and is full of live rock and live sand. It also has about a dozen fish and critters. Any advise on the best way to empty it....move it...and set it back up ?????
We do have a pickup truck and plan to move as much of the water as possible....

 

[sebae0]

get some rubbermaid containers and put water in some and rock and sand in other and then fish with some water(of course) in the other one. make sure you can get lids on so everything doesn't plash around and no fish jump.

 

[the croc hunter]

I did a 60 gal move a year ago...
I went to my LFS and got some fish bags and styrofoam shipping box. i put the fish and corals in bagts and taped the box closed to hold in heat. I also baught 2 large plastic Rubbermaid garbage cans with lids.. One I filled with live rock and taped closed, the second i filled with water... It worked great!!

 

[coloradodeb]

We moved a 120 g tank for about 150 miles, took the fish out first, and the anemones, then the rocks. Placed these fragile items in styrofoam containers in their oroginal water. Placed the LR in rubbermaid containers. After getting all live stuff out, excluding the LS, we then emptied all the water into a large farm tank. Drove for 3 hours, came home and began to assemble the setup. The only thing that we lost were a few xenias. The fish traveled fine.as well as everything else.

 

[fsubowman]

I moved my 60 gal tank using a large cooler. Put crumpeled newspaper between the LR. Wet it down with the saltwater and topped it with zipplock bags of the LF. I left about a quarter of the water in the tank and the sand. The rest of the water, I feeled a 50 gal barrel I use as an ice chest for parties.
Everything arrived safely.

 

[scottnj]

always fun moving a tank.
One thing I would say is make sure you have plenty of freshly made salt water brewing in the new location.
I used rubbermades for the rock and water on the last move I did. The fish each went into their own tupperwear container. I like them cause of the nice secure locking lid.
Have fun!
-Scott

 

[iechy]

When you carry the tank I suggest putting it on a piece of wood and carrying it like a stretcher. The slightest bit of twisting can cause a leak and you probably won't know about it until you have it all full and running again. Definitely don't move it with even a little bit of water in it either.