Moving Cross Country with Fish....

jennln

jennln

Member
Would you attempt it? There's a good chance my husbands job may be taking us from Florida to Colorado in the next couple of months. Of course, one of my first thoughts goes to how do I safely move my tanks and inhabitants? The way I see it, I've really only got three options...
Option 1:
I have outlets (powerstrip) built into the rear of my van. i could easily plug in several powerheads/heaters for the trip. Only catch is, if the van is off so is the power to the outlets. There will be another adult in the car with me and we already know the less stops we make the better (we will also have the kids, dogs, cats, reptiles, etc) so taking a leisurely trip is definitley not an option lol. I would venture to say the only stops we'd be making would be potty breaks and food. But, of course, then comes the problem of once we get there it will still take awhile to get the tanks re-setup.
Option 2:
I could leave my livestock behind with a trusted friend who can then ship it to me once I have everything established. Downside to this is that I would have to supply said friend with tanks to contain my livestock ~ no room in her current tanks ~ and that would consist of two different tanks to handle the stock from my pred tank and reef tanks. Then of course the risk of packing up and shipping off everything.
Option 3:
Sell everything off and start from scratch in Colorado. Obviously this would be the safest method for everything involved :( but it's really the last thing I want to do.
Any other suggestions? Do you think I could pull the move off?
 
dutchschoon

dutchschoon

New Member
If it was me.....
Option 2- even if you have to set up another tank at your friends to help out with stocking everything, I think that you'll have enough things to worry about with a cross country move!
 
salt life

salt life

Active Member
I say option 3 only because it will be the easiest on you. downside to option one is it sounds like you have alot of pets and to have to worry about tanks in your car would be a PITA and stressful the whole trip. option 2 could work, but then you have to spend money to set up other tanks that will only be temporary, then you have to pray that your fish get to you safely.
It sucks to have to sell all your fish, but it doesn't hurt to start out new, maybe there are things you would have done differently and this will alow you to change things...
just my .02 cents. good luck with whatever you choose.
 
jp30338

jp30338

Member
Originally Posted by Salt Life
http:///forum/post/2990342
I say option 3 only because it will be the easiest on you. downside to option one is it sounds like you have alot of pets and to have to worry about tanks in your car would be a PITA and stressful the whole trip. option 2 could work, but then you have to spend money to set up other tanks that will only be temporary, then you have to pray that your fish get to you safely.
It sucks to have to sell all your fish, but it doesn't hurt to start out new, maybe there are things you would have done differently and this will alow you to change things...
just my .02 cents. good luck with whatever you choose.
Option 3 IMO.
I moved my 125 and 55 about 45 miles. It was NOT fun. I could not imagine cross country!
However, as long as you keep flow and temp. going, you should be able to make the trip ok. Be sure to set up the tank as soon as possible once you get to your new location, and keep an eye on your params, in case of any die off from the live rock!
 
socal57che

socal57che

Active Member
We moved from Dayton, Ohio to Oceanside Ca a few years ago. Heater malfunctioned and cooked our fish on day 9 of the trip. (the night before we moved in) We moved in the middle of winter and stopped for 2 days in Missouri to stay with family.
It can be done, but I would not do it again. I would sell what you can, or don't want to take. If you are attached to specific specimens, have them shipped once you set up, since that is an option. I would sell the aquarium and buy a new one. They don't travel well and it's one less thing to haul across country and worry about breaking.
Remember that heaters draw a lot of power and can quickly overload the lighter plug that runs your inverter. (yes, it made smoke) Hindsight would lead me to hardwire the inverter to the battery.
 
jennln

jennln

Member
Originally Posted by socal57che
http:///forum/post/2990402
Remember that heaters draw a lot of power and can quickly overload the lighter plug that runs your inverter. (yes, it made smoke) Hindsight would lead me to hardwire the inverter to the battery.
Not a lighter plug - actual outlets. Although I'm not sure of the wattage...I do need to check on that.
 
jennln

jennln

Member
Well if nothing else, I'm thinking I may do half and half. If at all possible, I'd really like to save all of the corals that I have. In all actuality, re-doing the fish only tank would probably not be all that bad of a thing. There are a lot of things that could be improved upon and this would be a good way to get a fresh start. Even though there aren't any "rare" fish in that tank, and I could easily replace same species, I'm still kind of attached to "my" guys. Stock of all the tanks summed together includes a clown trigger, picasso trigger, lunare wrasse, gs maroon clown, 2 perculas, snowflake eel, bicolor blenny, scooter blenny, clown goby, 2 firefish, carpet anemone, condi anemone, multiple corals (mostly softies, lps).
If I transported the corals, would I need lighting in addition to the heater and powerhead? We are planning on making the drive straight through (hence the two adults, myself included, in my vehicle) ~ I would assume that the time in the dark would pretty much equate to them being shipped...right?
 
jennln

jennln

Member
Originally Posted by socal57che
http:///forum/post/2990402
I would sell the aquarium and buy a new one. They don't travel well and it's one less thing to haul across country and worry about breaking.
Oy...now this scares me lol. I just managed to get my hands on the tanks that I wanted, to sell them off and start over with tanks too would hurt

As far as all of our stuff, I want to get a moving company that will pack it up and drive it out there for us. With insurance, if any damage did occur to the tanks, wouldn't they cover it? Hmmm.....something else to look into.
 
jp30338

jp30338

Member
Originally Posted by jennln
http:///forum/post/2990423
Oy...now this scares me lol. I just managed to get my hands on the tanks that I wanted, to sell them off and start over with tanks too would hurt

As far as all of our stuff, I want to get a moving company that will pack it up and drive it out there for us. With insurance, if any damage did occur to the tanks, wouldn't they cover it? Hmmm.....something else to look into.
Moving companies will only insure a tank if it is in a crate. I did not trust the movers to move my 125, I stood there with an eagle eye the whole time they moved it. They even called in to their supervisor to ask if they HAD to move it... I had garbage bins with tops on filled half way with the water, and they refused to load them.
 
socal57che

socal57che

Active Member
Originally Posted by jennln
http:///forum/post/2990421
, carpet anemone, condi anemone, multiple corals (mostly softies, lps).
If I transported the corals, would I need lighting in addition to the heater and powerhead? We are planning on making the drive straight through (hence the two adults, myself included, in my vehicle) ~ I would assume that the time in the dark would pretty much equate to them being shipped...right?
Water quality and temp will be your major enemies, not lighting. The nems will not like being shaken around in a car.
Originally Posted by jennln
http:///forum/post/2990421
Not a lighter plug - actual outlets. Although I'm not sure of the wattage...I do need to check on that.
That's gonna be one LOOOONNG extension cord.
There has to be an inverter somewhere to turn your car's 12vdc to 110vac. A factory installed inverter may not like a 300 watt electric heater plugged into it.
 
jennln

jennln

Member
These:

I have four of these in the back of my van....how would I go about figuring out the wattage so I don't smoke them lol
 
jennln

jennln

Member
Originally Posted by meowzer
http:///forum/post/2990693
You must have a BIG van...kids...pets...fish tanks...can all that even fit?
It's going to be a tight squeeze that's for sure.
I think the dogs may have to ride with my husband....I may be able squeeze someone else in there too, but not likely. We will be down to two cats by then, so he may get to ride with them too. He's got a pickup so I have no choice but to fit as much as I possibly can in the van. The backrow will be folded in so I'll have workable space, and nothing but the animals will be there. Carriers are manageable enough....when I go to the vet EVERYONE goes at the same time (dogs, cats, reptiles). One trip is way easier than back and forth. Only thing I haven't done is add the fish
If I remove the trays between the seats I can fit my huge rubbermaid lengthwise. I'm planning to use that for the liverock and then I don't even know what......I'd love to be able to make use of the back of my husbands truck, but there would be no way to use a heater or powerhead. This is going to be interesting for sure.
Oh and the tanks aren't going in my van (No way they would fit)...I was going to use these other containers I have for liverock and anything else "live" I end up trying to bring with us.
 
jennln

jennln

Member
Okay...here's another scenario. How long could I keep corals in a temporary container with heater, powerheads, and once at my destination lighting?
If I was to put the liverock in water in the back of dh's truck for transport (wouldn't be able to use a heater or powerhead for the trip) and re-cure it when we get to CO ~ would the corals be able to hang in say a rubbermaid for the duration?
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
I can understand your dilemma...I sure would not want to have to start over and my tanks are only 9 months old....I would probably have to try to get there with everything I already have...I would definitely drive straight thru too.
 
jennln

jennln

Member
Originally Posted by meowzer
http:///forum/post/2990693
You must have a BIG van...kids...pets...fish tanks...can all that even fit?
Actually, here's a visual for you. A couple years ago when we headed down here from Jersey, I had four kids, two dogs, two cats, the reptiles, my grandmother, and a fish on my dashboard all the way down
Where there's a will, I'll find a way
 
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