Preemptive Query Regarding Moving

I maybe moving soon and would like some advice on how to best move my tank. Also some personal experience stories would be really appreciated.

I've moved my fish quite a few times now.
I put each fish (or group, if they fit and won't bicker) in a bag just like they do when you get them from the store. I drain the tank leaving just enough water to keep the stones wet. Then I sat the bags of fish back into the tank (only because they fit rather snugly in my tank - otherwise they would have gone in another container where they couldn't roll about). Filter and ornaments etc in a bucket with a small amount of tank water to keep the filter media wet. I've never moved plants, but I suppose putting them into a plastic bag as they do from the pet store would work best.
Put everything in the back of the car, wedged in nicely so nothing shifted, and made sure the fish weren't somewhere they'd get too hot or cold.
It was a long trip (8 hours), so every few hours I'd retie the fish bags so they'd get fresh oxygen (not sure if necessary, but it can't hurt). Then I just set everything up as per normal, adding fish very last. In all the tank moves I've done I've not lost a fish yet.

Just a thought - if you had an external filter do you think it would be wise to open it up and leave it open to let the air in?

Thank you. That helped a lot. I actually have a marineland over the side filter so air gettig into it is not a big concern. Thank you once again.

Anyone else? I really would appreciate whatever knowledge you can bestow on me.

Bag your filter media the same as fish; 1/3 water, 2/3 air. Fast smaller fish for 24 hours before bagging, larger for 48 hours, less food means less waste produced. I bag fish for auctions using half tank water, half fresh water treated with a 6x dose of a dechlorinator that neutralizes ammonia. This will neutralize ammonia for up to 48 hours, 24 hours bagged for auction fish is not unusual at all, with no losses. For plecs or corys, as well as larger fish consider double bagging, as they can puncture a single bag. A cooler or styro for the bags of fish maintains temperature, the darkness helps keep them calm.

I'd empty everything out of the tank before moving, completely empty. Tanks are designed to be stable when filled without moving, moving with wet substrate puts stresses on the seams that the tank was not designed to take. You don't want a leaking tank at the end of the journey, or one that starts leaking soon after the move. Buckets work well for substrate, with a large enough bucket there is often enough room for the decorations on the top.

Remember the tank is made of glass, a secure location for the move, as well as a bit of padding is cheap insurance. It mat be tempting to put some household items in it, light soft things such as towels are fine, nothing hard or heavy in case there is any jarring.

Don't forget to acclimate the fish to the water supply at the new location, feed lightly for the next week, this will compensate for any possible loss of nitrifying bacteria. Consider having some extra shims on hand for leveling the stand, the floor at the new place may be a bit more out of level than where the tank is located now.

As far as personal experience, I have a 72 gallon tank I got for free, cracked center brace due to being moved with substrate, a bit of water & fish. It stays in the basement, where there's a floor drain. Being a lifetime member of my club I'm usually involved with the taking down, moving, and subsequent selling of fishrooms when the member is no longer able to care for them due to personal situations. Off the top of my head tanks I've picked up from various sources over the years include twenty 15 gallon tanks, a dozen or so 40 gallon tanks, most recently a couple 100 gallon tanks for a friend. Some of there were quite a drive, my truck gets a workout where tanks are concerned. I know there's more over the years, the 30some tanks in my fishroom came from various sources, as well as the empties that my wife may or may not know about.

With proper preparation moving a tank doesn't have to be a mad dash to get the fish back into a tank, and it shouldn't be, as there are a lot more things involved with moving beyond the fish.

Thank you Tolak I am really greatful for the information.

I actually just moved our fish tank this last Friday. It is a 10 gal with 1 Betta. I started by draining some water into a 5 gallon bucket that I have a tight fitting lid for. Then I put the fish in a cup just like the one we bought him in. I scooped all the gravel from the tank to the bucket and replanted the live plants right in the bucket too. Then I dropped the filter media into the bucket and topped up the water to minimize slosh in the bucket for the trip. Then I dumped the rest of the tank water and packed up the tank, pump, heater, filter housing and hood. One reason I took so much water is I know that the PH and hardness was very different where I was going to be moving. Then when I set everything up I reused the water in the bucket and only added 1/2 a gallon of new water every hour to let the fish drip acclimate to the new water supply.

Disturbing the filter seemed to have set my cycle back just a little as I was only getting nitrite readings every 4th day and now I got a .50ppm nitrite spike in 2 days, but still not getting ammonia readings so I must have lost a little bacteria. Other than the little cycle setback my planning seemed to work well.

Tolak said:

I'd empty everything out of the tank before moving, completely empty. Tanks are designed to be stable when filled without moving, moving with wet substrate puts stresses on the seams that the tank was not designed to take. You don't want a leaking tank at the end of the journey, or one that starts leaking soon after the move. Buckets work well for substrate, with a large enough bucket there is often enough room for the decorations on the top.

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Oh yes, of course, didn't think to mention that - I was just rattling off what I did with my old tank, which was a small, very solid 23L tank and didn't have all that much substrate in it. I would definitely empty my new larger tank completely when moving it.

Thank you all so much I feel more calm about the move now. I love my fish and it would totally devastate me if anything happened to them. But now I feel confident that everything will turn out okay. Thank you much!

I'm moving tomorrow. Nothing to add really as I think it has all been covered. Two more things I am doing is placing my fish in food safe containers rather than bags (always afraid of bags popping!), I've got cereal containers... the tall ones with a flip to open.

As for moving the tank itself... I'm using some super sturdy crates for extra support, so I only have to move my tank from its stand to the crate without support... placing a fleece blanket on the bottom of the crate for cushioning... will make the entire thing easier as the crate has handles and all.