Need advice on transporting an established tank.

[livebait58]

So I'm looking toward buying an established 130g tank with 200lbs of live rock and about 8 fish in it. I'm sure many of you have transported several tanks and know the tips and tricks of doing so. I have access to "piano movers" which are basically 2 well engineered hand trucks with casters and horizontal handles (like a wheel barrow) so that two people can easily lift heavy objects which should allow us to lift the aquarium while still on the stand. I would like to know your advice on transporting the water, fish, etc. Thank you and I look forward to your responses!

 

[teresaq]

How Far.???
5 gal buckets for smaller fish, 18 gal rubbermaid tubs for rocks and sand. only take what water you need to cover the fish, rock and sand.
Have new water made and ready at your home.
T

 

[livebait58]

I'll be transporting it about 10 miles or so to my house. I suppose the type and size of the fish would determine the amount of 5 gallon buckets needed....correct?

 

[teresaq]

correct, if they are lrg, you would need more rubbermaid tubs.
Be sure not to leave anything in the tank while lifting. You can pop a seam. If this is a tank that has been up a while, you might be better off replaceing most of the sand. Moving a sandbed can cause major spikes, unless it is rinsed well with saltwater.

 

[livebait58]

I'm hoping to lift the tank and the stand as one unit so we don't put any unnecessary stress on the tank. I was REALLY hoping I could leave the sand and the base layer of live rock in the tank with enough water to cover it. Is this not possible?

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by LiveBait58 http:///forum/thread/384573/need-advice-on-transporting-an-established-tank#post_3369255
I'm hoping to lift the tank and the stand as one unit so we don't put any unnecessary stress on the tank. I was REALLY hoping I could leave the sand and the base layer of live rock in the tank with enough water to cover it. Is this not possible?
NO on all counts...The tank must be empty and have two people lift the tank on it's own not trying to keep it on the stand.
Like T said rinse the sand in saltwater..just put it in a tub add the saltwater..stir it up and siphon off the dirt..do that until it is pretty clear and only a sand storm. Use sometrhing besides your hand to stir..bristle worms live in the sand, they are good guys but they can sting.
Have extra water besides what you think you will need.

 

[livebait58]

I can certainly remove and rinse the sand....that shouldn't be a problem. However, could you please elaborate on why I shouldn't move the tank and stand as one? I'm not trying to argue because I know you certainly have a valid reason....I would just like to know what harm could come of it. With the moving equipment I have it would be a very controlled lift. The only real danger to the tank is falling off the stand which is highly unlikely given the lift method and even then I could easily put a strap around the tank and stand to hold the two together. Anyway I hope to hear back from you as I'm sure you have your reasoning Thank you!

 

[eric b 125]

congrats on the new tank! i agree that the tank and stand should be moved separately. moving them together you run a higher risk of something going wrong. would you move a tv stand 10 miles with a flat screen sitting on top of it? i hope you're not planning on leaving the tank on the stand for transport. i think that strapping the tank to the stand would put a stress on the glass that its not designed to handle. tanks are built to handle outward pressure and the weight of the water is supported by a tempered glass panel. putting a strap around it would put inward pressure and the straps would push down on the vertical panels. strapping it in the vehicle is a good idea, but i wouldnt strap it to the stand to move it. just my 2 cents

 

[livebait58]

Avoiding stress on the tank has been my goal the whole time, and I certainly wouldn't tighten a strap directly around the middle of the tank. Regardless.......I'll take your advice and move them separately....after all, good advice is why I'm here. I look forward to speaking more with you all as I'm sure I'll have a LOT more questions once the tank is in my home. I have done some extensive research but things like feeding and water change methods come better with practice and input from experience hobbyists. Thank you!

 

[cranberry]

I just moved 13 tanks. I remove the rock and water and leave the sand. Some people say to remove the sand, I never have. In the last 5 years I've moved 30 tanks. I am never ever EVER moving again.
Things to have on hand.

• 
  Lots of water.... lots. For the travel containers and the tank when it lands at your house and more.... cause you'll misjudge. And you'll want spare for emergencies.
• 
  Buckets. 5g, larger Rubbermaid's for rock and/or large fish (but don't put together).
• 
  Maybe some heaters if it's too cold where you are, but be careful of them in small containers. I personally just use a toasty environment, but I live in California. The heaters would make me nervous in a 5g bucket.
  Airlines + rigid tubing for every container and enough air pumps for at least every other container. One pump can usually cover 2 containers with a "T". So have more than enough pumps, airline, extra batteries, "T"'s and valves.
  Ammonia blocker just in case.
  Filter floss the catch the debris when you set it back up.

I would remove the water from the tank into the container with some new, clip on an airline, throw in a couple of fish, secure the top and off we'd go. Some tanks were re-setup in the morning and the fish were back in by sundown. Some fish stayed out overnight. It's been reported that you could experience a mini cycle. I have never had that happen.... ever. I've never lost a fish due to that in a move. But do whatever makes ya feel safe. I always constantly check parameters and keep "ammonia blockers" on hand. But I've never had to use them. What kind of fish to you have?
I would think trying to move both tank and stand together would be risky. Glass or acrylic? If it's glass, don't do it. If it pops off the stand just a bit while you go over a bump, it may not lay back down perfectly. This is common in earthquakes and causes the front panel to just slide right off.
I'm sure I'm missing something...... oh, if you have venomous fish, don't use black buckets where you can't see the fish. It makes it difficult to safely remove them. That's my lesson from the last move. O.O

 

[livebait58]

Another very helpful post. Thank you!
Oh and it looks like I'll be moving 2 clowns, 2 zebra fish, a yellow tang, a blue hippo tang, and a snowflake eel.

 

[1guydude]

Congrats on upgrading! I too am gonna have to move my mini ocean, when i go to buy a house and a bigger tank. This is very helpful and a great insight from people who have already done this. Thxs to all ! I would also back everyone up and say completely empty the tank and move the stand and tank seperate. Wouldnt u hate to get it home and start filling it up just to have a leak or a crack! Safer is prob better.

 

[livebait58]

Well after seeing the tank (craigslist), I knew I would never be happy with all the scratches on the front glass and the constant siphon overflow box so I have ordered a 125g tank with corner overflows. I am still buying the established setup because even without the tank I still got a great deal considering the amount of equipment, live rock/sand, livestock, and stand. I've been working out of town so I don't know when I'll be able to pick it up but I'm trying to get my ducks in a row before it arrives. I've purchased salt, a refractometer, test strips, and I'm making my way through the rest of the list so that I'll be ready when it gets here. It sucks to be on a rushed time frame when setting up my first tank, but it's nice to be able to get it all at once and upgrade slowly from there. Having 6 fish immediately and not waiting on a cycle will certainly be nice as well.

 

[eric b 125]

good stuff.

 

[livebait58]

Well as the move date gets closer (next weekend) I've been rounding up everything I need and doing more and more research. I'm stuck with the question........do I buy new sand or do I try and rinse the existing sand and hope I don't get an ammonia spike? On one side I have the worry of ammonia, and on the other I have the worry of the added expense. Have those of you who have rinsed sand ever had troublesome ammonia spikes?

 

[eric b 125]

i've rinsed the sand out of a few tanks and it can be a good bit of work, but i think that in a 130 it may be worth the effort. you may still see a bit of an ammonia spike, though. in any event it would probably be smart to leave the tank fishless for a few days after set up to let the water clear and check levels whether you decide to go with new sand or the old sand. my personal opinion is to use the old sand. to me, rinsing the old sand (assuming there's nothing wrong with it) is a way to avoid an unnecessary expense. the opportunity to cut corners is rare in this hobby but this is one of those situations where if it's done right then you have all the live sand you need already and there's no need to pay for it again. as lame as it may sound, this could also be a chance to practice the fine art of patience, too, which is critical in this hobby.

 

[livebait58]

It's not that I'm impatient........it's that the fish I'm moving are impatient. If there were no fish involved then I could easily rinse the sand and let it set a week or more........but the fish in a bucket are not going to like that plan. So with an ammonia spike likely......I'm guessing that my best option (and obviously most expensive) is to buy more sand so that I know the fish will be safe in their new home.