Having to Move Tank

[dennycrane]

Cool: I am leaving the law firm I currently work for to start my own with another partner.
Uncool: My tank is in my office and I have to break it down and move it. Then I have to set it up in my home for a few months and then move it again to the new office. Any suggestions?

 

[fishrule]

I will be tuning in on this...
Might have to move my 100g tank from house to house in the next two months... :jumping:

 

[bonebrake]

How big is the tank?

 

[dennycrane]

Thank goodness, only 24 gallons. The problem is, it just was hitting its stride - conditions perfect, almost to the point where it was hands off from me (except water changes). My plan is to house the fish in one bucket, inverts and corals in the next, drain the tank and remove the LR and transport the tank and LS while still wet. Then reset it at home with water standing by and reacclimate the livestock. Sound good? Is there a better way?

 

[tstaub3]

When I moved my tank I left the sand .Took the fish boxes from my lfs and lined it with trash bags and use it to put my stuff in .

 

[fisherson]

i just moved my 55 gallon on sunday about a half hour away from where it was. I put everything in trashbags inside rubbermaid bins. This si the second time i've moved my 55 and didn't lose anything. just be quick and try and keep the rocks under water at all times. The only thing i lost this time was my Niger Trigger's friendship.....he hates me now heh

 

[fisherson]

also i kep my sand in the tank with a small amount of water barely even enough to cover the sand on a flat surface and it was fine both times.

 

[wax32]

This is basically just like moving to a bigger tank, only it's the same size tank and across town. Try reading this.

 

[abethedog]

I just moved my 135 gal from my old house to my new house. It is an established tank.
I first syphoned water into five 20 gallon totes with lids. Make sure they are extremely clean/brand new. I than removed the live rock/corals and placed into the totes. Make sure to base the bottoms of the totes with rock so they will move. Spread out the rocks with corals upon the tops of the rocks, again so there is no tumble. I than removed my live stock to 5 gallon buckets with my move sensitive corals.
With this done I pumped the remaining water to 4 garbage cans in a trailer. Do not use garden hose. Many people on this site told me this is bad idea. I used 3/4" flexible pvc Kaflex brand hose. Use a covered trailer. Leave your sand with just enough water to keep a skim over the sand. Bring your items out to trailer and repeat in reverse. Plan it out and be prepared and you can do it. The only problem I ran into is that I lost a lot of temp in cans of water and tank (20 degrees out). Live stock in heated vehicle for sure.
I reread your post and you have a 30 gallon tank. My bad. Oh well I'm not erasing it because I don't want to.

Good Luck! If anyone has a similar move planned I can advise.

OR.... Pay your local fish guy to do it.

 

[fishrule]

Originally Posted by abethedog
I just moved my 135 gal from my old house to my new house. It is an established tank.
I first syphoned water into five 20 gallon totes with lids. Make sure they are extremely clean/brand new. I than removed the live rock/corals and placed into the totes. Make sure to base the bottoms of the totes with rock so they will move. Spread out the rocks with corals upon the tops of the rocks, again so there is no tumble. I than removed my live stock to 5 gallon buckets with my move sensitive corals.
With this done I pumped the remaining water to 4 garbage cans in a trailer. Do not use garden hose. Many people on this site told me this is bad idea. I used 3/4" flexible pvc Kaflex brand hose. Use a covered trailer. Leave your sand with just enough water to keep a skim over the sand. Bring your items out to trailer and repeat in reverse. Plan it out and be prepared and you can do it. The only problem I ran into is that I lost a lot of temp in cans of water and tank (20 degrees out). Live stock in heated vehicle for sure.
I reread your post and you have a 30 gallon tank. My bad. Oh well I'm not erasing it because I don't want to.

Good Luck! If anyone has a similar move planned I can advise.

OR.... Pay your local fish guy to do it.
I'm glad you wrote all of this, because I might be moving my 100g tank in a few months...
So, thanks for the great information...

 

[flipper263]

Wish I had read this post a few weeks ago....I just moved my 120 from one room to a new 120 in wall tank. The old tank is now my sump....HUGE job even to move it 20 feet! I would post a pic or two if I could figure it out....ok...I think I figured it out. The new location is in the wall and now has a nice fram around the tank. We should have done that the first time around but now we have a 120 gal sump...
We only lost one fish in the move..a Bengaii Cardinal.
I used lots of totes, move the rocks and had to empty the sand out of the tank to move it but kept it all heated and kept pumps for circulation.
Glad it's over!
Brenda