Moving Soon

[killafins]

I have to move into my apartment for college on August 15th... I have been thinking quite alot on the terms of my aquariums and here it goes...
For my twnety gallon aquarium... I plan on leaving about three inches of water left. For my 55, 'bout the same maybe less.
I doubt I will bring enough buckets to carry all my water so i think i'll keep the 20 gallon water (find like four f-gallon buckets) and take it all... but for my 55 what is the least amount of gallons of water i can take without it being a hazard? What do u think?
As for my live stock...I plan on getting bags from say ***** or something like that, and just putting them in there. Seperate each fish for there own space.... WOuld that be okay? I want to put my seahorse in a small container... i'm afriad he won't survive the move... so what can i do special for him? I was thinking just adding something to hitch onto and that's about it... i couldnt' think of anything else.
It's only a two hour drive... so i don't think i will need any special heaters or anything....
I plan to seperate the live rock into each buckets of water.
I really don't know what else i can do besides drive carefully. Well, what do u guys think about the water problem? ANy other thoughts... i'm very nervous.... thnx in advance.

 

[irenicus]

Moving is a pain in the A$$ when dealing with fish. I moved into my new apartment in June and i'm still dealing with fish problems. This will be a very stressfull time for ALL of your fish and when they get into the aquarium, more likely than not, they will get ick or something else if it was introduced ealier into the tank. Your going to want to keep as much water as you can, spring for a few more buckets and lid them. Make sure your fish have enough oxygen for the trip. If you have any other questions, ask away. Can't offer much advice on the seahorse.

 

[killafins]

Well, if i won't be able to bring 16 buckets of water... i don't think i can fit it lol... plus with lids it's going to cost huge???
Well what would u do??? What did u do?

 

[sinner's girl]

Could you borrow/rent a truck? Have a few friends/parents drive down with you and bring bins of water?
You'll really need as much of the orginal water as you can save. We just moved our tanks (down the street) and they had a cycle.
tips: Go to your apartment before moving the tank and have fresh mixed, airated saltwater ready to add (you'll lose some of it during the move).
When putting water/lr in bins, make sure you or someone can lift the bins.
Keep all lr wet so there will not be any die off.
Don't put lr in bins with fish/inverts during the car ride (it'll smash them if the lr falls on there )
Keep ls/cc wet, try not to mix it up when you move the tank.
If you have any extra filters, set them up on the tank to clear the water faster (so you can add the fish sooner) and to help if you have a cycle.
I'd move one tank at a time.
Don't mix water from the 20gl and 55gl tank
Keep lights off for the day you're moving, while adding fish/inverts and the next day (longer if fish/invert appear stressed).
Don't feed day of move.
Have a test kit ready to test water.
Wal-mart has the plastic rubbermaid bins for ~$4 each, comes with lid. It didn't cost up much, now we use the bins to store car parts and winter clothes (If you really had to, you could rinse them out and return them to wal-mart...wrong yes, but if it saves a fish's life...)
If you're only 2 hours away, maybe you can make a few trips?
What fish do you have in each tank? is it possible to set up the 20gl tank, then move the 55gl? (this way you'll have to buy less bins and be able to move more water for the 55gl).
We just moved our 75gl and 55gl down the street...a pain yes. We only lost about 5gl of water from the 55gl.
Good luck...you can do a search more tips/ideas

 

[charliecat77]

Good luck with the move! Keep us posted on ur aquarium during the move

 

[lesa]

When we moved we bought the rubbermaid trash cans as well, lost some water but hey we needed to do a water change also.
GOOD ADVICE SINNER'S GIRL

 

[cb]

The most important thing is to keep as much of the water as you can.. Do you have a friend with a pickup that could maybe haul the water for you? Good Luck with the move and I hope all makes it safely.

 

[killafins]

Yeah, I have a toyota camry so the tanks will come with me. The water will go in my step father's pick up truck... naa there is no chance of making two trips.
Well thanks for the tips... I guess I'll try to keep as much water as possible but i doubt i can take more than twenty gallons ... well thanks again...

 

[killafins]

I have a question for all u people that bring tanks to college... during hte winter holidays... what do u do? I mean, dont' u have to leave the dorm?

 

[killafins]

I'll definetely check out these tubs... i work at walmart but i havnt' seen anything like what u guys are talking about. Of course, our walmarts in connecticut are quickiemarts compared to ur walmarts...
Anyone have any problems with fish tanks and dormlife and vacations?