Any tips on moving an aquarium?

[jokerls240]

I may be a little late on this to get a good collective of ideas, but here goes:

Last week my apartment was broken into. They kicked the front door in, took my TV, a handgun out of the end table in the living room, and a 30-year-old afghan blanket that my mom crocheted - that's all. The gun was recovered on the same day during an arrest for felony drug possession (an illegal possession of a firearm was also added to the charges). So I'm happy that no one was hurt with my weapon.

Since this is the second robbery in less than 2 years, the apartment management agreed to transferring my lease to another unit for no fee, just rent on the new apartment. I'll be moving to the new apartment this weekend.

What are some suggestions or tips for moving an established 55g tank with the least amount of stress on the fish (as well as my dad and myself) and without disrupting the cycle too much? I'm not moving far. The new building is maybe 300 yards away.

One friend told me that when he moved his 30g, he got a few 5 gallon paint buckets, drained tank water into them, put the fish in one or two, and put the filter in another. All said and done, he basically had done a 50% water change and used some "biospira" from Critter to help re-establish the bacteria colony.

For the 55, I may be looking at 4-5 buckets, and the tank is the very first thing we're moving. That way I can set it up at the new place exactly where I want it, keeping it away from a high-traffic area and direct sunlight.

Let me know what you all think. I have more questions, but need a basic idea of what supplies to get by Saturday.

[angel]

Move them as quickly as you can, and run some air in the bucket if it's going to be longer than half an hour would be my advice. I've had a lot of luck moving fish in a bucket, but I've had them die when I took too long and the air wasn't running.

[bunnie1978]

Buckets are fine for thefish and the plants. If you don't take the gravel out and clean the filter media as part of the move, you shouldn't have to worry about the bacteria. Should be easy enough!

[jon carman]

Save as much water as possible, move and set back up. As long as this only takes a few hours you should be fine. A reef tank would me more of a nightmare.

[fishme]

Yep. Your friend's plan was right on. I've done it several times with no problem.

[reagan]

Keep you filter full of water. Take the water in the tank down to the gravel. Yes it will be heavy. Use a plactic bag in the buckets so the fish dont damange their eye. At least take 10% of the water. 25-50 % is best. When you are set up add the fish just like you would if you were adding them to a new tank

[jokerls240]

Would plain white garbage bags be ok for the fish? I have some that are made for 1-3 gallon trash cans. If Critter would give/sell some large bags that would be good too.

WalMart sells the paint buckets for about $2ea, I think. 5 buckets would give me close to 50% tank water.

[jokerls240]

I'm hoping to have the fish out of the tank for no more than an hour, BTW. After thinking about the process, it may be longer.

Most of the plants have rooted themselves well. Even the crypts have grown runners. But catching the fish will be a task with the plants in the tank. So I'll pull them anyway.

Thanks for the help so far,everyone!

[angel]

If you need a hand moving them, or moving anything, just say so. I'm sure Dennis and I would be able to lend a hand as long as we're not at a show and don't have the kids, and there are others here that would pitch in I'd be willing to bet.

[bunnie1978]

I thought you had another tank... You could put the fish in the other tank with some water, which would ease your timeline. That's what I do if I need to do a major project like rescape or sterilize or change the fish population.

[jokerls240]

Thanks for the offer, angel! My parents will be coming up & my dad just got a diesel 1-ton dually pickup to tow their camper. He hasn't put the 5th-wheel hitch in yet, so I think we can manage.

I do have the 28 that is basically empty, but needs a good cleaning. Maybe I could do that tomorrow night.

I got the keys to the apartment this evening and am about to take some stuff over and measure different potential placements for the tank.

[bunnie1978]

I hate moving, but love the new possibilities that open up when getting a new place.

[angel]

Agreed! It's like Spring cleaning your life! A whole new arrangement in a new place, new neighbors, fresh fresh fresh!

[jokerls240]

The new place is nice. Even though it's only a few buildings down, it felt like a whole different neighborhood! My unit is facing a nice, grassy area w/ plenty of mature trees for good shade in the evenings - this unit faces roughly northwest, so I won't be getting the morning sun like I go now, facing east-southeast.

I've got a dining room now, which is looking like a very tempting fish room. Even the short wall on one side of the kitchen entrance is just shy of 50", perfect for a 55, 60, or 90 gallon aquarium!

Well, I've got 9 hours of planning (at work) ahead of me. Thanks for the tips and support, everyone! MCC was my first stop for this question, and has been for nearly every other one! ;D

[angel]

It sounds like a fish room to me! How often does one actually sit in a dining room for a meal anyway? Although I do--at the computer! Anyway it'll be used for dining--every time you feed the fish they'll eat in there!