Big Tank Move

[mbeer21]

This Saturday I'll be moving my fish tank from my parent's house to the city where I live now - around a 600km trip. I've been planning this for a while (and dreading it, to be honest) and I thought I'd start up a topic to share my experience and some photos, as there doesn't seem to be a great deal of info around on moving tanks on such long car trips
I've been living in the new place for 2 weeks now, and my parents are looking after my fish for me. I'll be flying back there, then driving back here with the fish.

The plan so far is...
2 days before - Gravel-vac the tank to get rid of as much poop as possible - don't need that floating about when I put the gravel back in once we get there.

1 day before - Won't be feeding the fish in an effort to minimise waste during the trip. Prepare by having all bags, buckets, towels etc next to the tank and ready to go.

The day - Up early! Pull apart filter, putting media into bucket with some tank water. Remove plants, put them in bags/buckets depending on what's available. Remove ornaments/hiding places. Drain some water. Catch and bag all fish like so.
1 bag - 5 guppies, 1 pearl gourami (they should be ok together, right?)
1 bag - 1 Bristlenose
1 bag - 1 Bristlenose
1 bag - 6 serpae tetras
1 bag - 1 angel fish
1 big bag - 1 bala shark
Sit the bags aside out of the way. Drain the rest of the tank, remove all the gravel and stick it in buckets with a little water. Line the inside of tank with some plastic wrap, then layer towels on top of that (would be pretty icky to have towel fluff stuck to the inside of the tank). Load tank safely into car. Wedge fish bags inside the tank. Cover tank with towel to keep cool and dark. Drive! Check on the fish every couple of hours. Then do everything in reverse once we get there, leaving fish in the bags until the tank has warmed up enough for them.

Well, that's the general idea so far. I'll gladly take any advice offered! I'll update this just before and after the trip, and will try and take photos of the move

Please, no remarks about how my Bala needs a new home - I know this and now I'm moving him to a city I will be able to find him one

Recent(ish) photo of tank

 

[TRAGICTRAMP]

just a random thought, has the car got air con?, if so could u set it at the same temp you run the tank at?

 

[Aquascaper]

Or just buy some heat packs, the same as livestock shippers use.

 

[mbeer21]

Weather for Saturday in the area we are driving through is supposed to be around 20°C, so pretty ideal. Should easily keep the car warm enough; and there is air-con if need be, yep.

 

[peachlids]

have you thought of grabbing an insulated box? they usually offer us one to transport our fish when we go to the fish store out of town, that will keep the water int he bags constant atleast

 

[mbeer21]

I did, but there wouldn't really be enough room in the car for the tank and the stand and another box

 

[Aquascaper]

Get some polystyrene pellets used for packing, fill the space between the bags when they're sat in the tank. Keeps heat in and stops them moving about.

 

[peachlids]

could you put the box in the tank? how big is the tank? in us gallons, or if someone would like to explain the conversion of liters to gallons i would be so grateful.

 

[mbeer21]

It's 130L which is I think around 34 US gallons. Takes up most of the backseat, if I recall correctly from when we bought it. Around 3 foot long.

 

[mbeer21]

Well I just got home for the first time in two weeks. Tank looks a bit fuzzy, so definitely needs a decent clean today. Also one of my guppies has completely vanished - can't find a body anywhere, so I assume he's been eaten. A bit annoying, seeing as just yesterday I asked if they were all still alive ...

 

[mbeer21]

And I've just found out that while I was away my dad cleaned out my whole filter - replacing the sponge with a new one and completely washing the 'bio grid'. Because it was "A bit noisy". I'm freaking out a bit; that combined with the move might set off a new cycle ... D: Will have to test the water and keep an eye on it.

 

[Aquascaper]

If all the media has been cleaned and replaced then it's highly likely

 

[mbeer21]

Well I just tested the water - 0.00 Ammonia, 0.00 Nitrites, but the Nitrates were over 40. Seeing as I'll be completely emptying the tank in the morning it's not much point trying to lower the nitrates now, is it?

 

[Aquascaper]

Not really

 

[mbeer21]

Well, the move was a success! So far at least It's been 3 days and everyone is alive and healthy.
We had a last minute change of plan when it came to moving the Bala and the Angel - instead of using bags, I partially filled my spare 23L tank and wedged that on the floor of the car between the front and back seats, and taped the lid on with those fish in it. My Bala was super calm the entire trip, which was a pleasant surprise. I think having the extra room and his friend the Angel there really helped. Put towels all around the tank to help keep it warm (not hard, as it was a nice sunny day). The other fish went in bags wedged in with towels on the car floor as well. I filled another bag with water and put the filter's sponge and bio-grid in it. Gravel was all put in the one big bucket along with enough water to keep most of it damp.
It took an hour and a half to catch/pack the fish, empty the tank, and load everything in the car. Drove for 5.5 hours, then it took about 2.5 hours to get everything set back up again, including time to let the fish float about to acclimatise to the new water. Water was pretty cloudy at first (all the gravel having been stirred up and replaced of course) but it was clear by the next morning
Here they are in their new home - I kept the same layout for now, but will be re-arranging it and adding some more plants soon enough. As well as a new mate for my Gourami