moving a tank 2294.49 miles ?

wallie03

Member
Hi All, so i just got a job offer on the other-side of the us... I currently have 3 tanks 29g 3g and a 5.5g running packed with corals (sps,lps,shrooms, zoos) we are still in the beginning stages of moving but it looks like we will be renting a uhaul and driving 36 Hours we will be taking 2 days to make this drive..is it even possible to make it that far... i have moved tanks before but no more then a few miles... if i was to do this what would be the best way would the corals be OK without light for that long? should i use battery powered air pumps, heat packs... coolers to move it in ? i don't even no where to start... stressed out... I'm pretty attached to all my corals and no i would not get the money there worth selling everything off .. any one have an idea for step one?
Thanks Jeff
 

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Here is what I would do:
Buy a styrofoam cooler for each one of your tanks. Double line it with thick trash bags. Pour some of your old saltwater in the cooler and add a small bag of carbon - the carbon will soak up some of the toxins from those mushrooms being so stressed. In fact, I would try to bag mushrooms separately. Then, check your local weather and the weather at the locations that you are going to drive through. If the temps are going to average higher than 83F, tape a couple cool packs to the lid of the cooler and have a couple more chemical cool packs on hand to replace them when they are spent. If your temps are lower than 75F where you are traveling through, tape a couple of hand warmers to the top. If you seal off the cooler completely with tape and you have that handwarmer in there, it will use all of the oxygen inside the box - so don't do this unless you have your corals and everything packed tight in bags.
There are two ways you could transport... in individual bags, or in a semi-open container. I personally would put everything in bags and make sure the temp is pretty constant by the heat/cool packs and being in a styrofoam bag. IF you do the open container, it would be very wise to add a battery powered air pump for each container and have extra batteries on hand. But, if you do open container, do not seal in hand warmers and make sure to pack your mushrooms separately.
That's pretty much it... it takes a little luck, but 36 hours really isn't that bad. You will have to consider setup time on the new systems as well... Make sure you save any of your old filters and keep them wet in old tank water for the trip. If you keep it wet, you can quick cycle the new tank. Try to start the new tanks with completely new dry aragonite - you won't introduce old nitrates and phosphates into the new system. Keep a cup of your old live sand for each tank and keep it wet for the trip.
Well, now that should be pretty much it. lol
 

wallie03

Member
yea its a huge move... i have been trying to find a local lfs in so-cal that would hold my corals and fish for 2 weeks then over night them to me.. not having very much look they all look at me like I'm an idiot... any one in the costa mesa area have an extra tank and want to make some extra money for baby sitting corals
 

rickross23

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by wallie03 http:///t/392010/moving-a-tank-2294-49-miles#post_3479043
yea its a huge move... i have been trying to find a local lfs in so-cal that would hold my corals and fish for 2 weeks then over night them to me.. not having very much look they all look at me like I'm an idiot... any one in the costa mesa area have an extra tank and want to make some extra money for baby sitting corals
can you move to missouri???/PLEASE??
 

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
You could have a friend babysit your corals where your at and then overnight them once you move in to your new home...
Hook up with your local reef club and meet a few fellow hobbyists... at least one of them won't mind holding your corals for you and shipping them. Lots of nice people in reef clubs. Maybe offer them some free frags for the babysitting.
 

wallie03

Member
Thanks i have been looking into that.. i also called all the lfs in my area and all the saltwater maintenance company and only on has replied this is what he said:
We can provide the service. The most cost effective shipping method would be through aircargo, averages about $50 a box which measures approximately 20"x15"x18" high.
Cost would be $15 per day to hold the animals and a $85 per pox packing fee includes boxes, bags, ice packs and a $50 airport drop off charge . If you want us to come to your house and get all your animals and prep the tanks for moving the charge is $85/hr. Let me know if you have any questions .
i just feel like this is way to much $$
boxes 85x2=$170
air port charge $50
shipping $100
holding 7 days x 15= 105
$425 rather take my chances travailing with them
 

wallie03

Member
yea there is no way i would pay that.. I'm going to stop by some more of my local LFS this week and see if they would be willing to hold then ship them to me, or see if they could help me bag them up individually with o2 and place them in a cooler for transport.. Ive also been talking with a friend that has no experience with corals or fish at all and seeing if he could set up a qt tank at my final destination so i could ship them before i arrive he sound a little uncomfortably doing this, so we will see
Keep the ideas coming
 

wallie03

Member
yea that's if i can get it all into two boxes i do have a very large colony of star polyps and zoos that are in crusted on two large pieces of Lr so i think i will be travailing with both of them.. i think they re hardy enough to make it
 

wallie03

Member
my only problume at this point is my star polyps and a large colony of zoos that are incrusted on two large rocks i dont want to ship these huge rocks do you think they will be ok in a cooler for 3 days with water of course i will buy a battery powerd air pump.. im going to be traviling with all my lr in 5g buckets filled with saltwater... replacing the sand bed when i start up the tank... I now that the stars are pretty hardy i just cycled a 5 gal tank and had a couple of frags of this stuff and it totally made it and i had a relly high ammonia spike
 

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New Member
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