Moving 300 miles away, where do I start??

[ssarah30]

Well, Im moving house and need advice on how to transport my fish. Its a big tank, with around 55 Cichlids and 4 Featherfin in. I cant drain the tank on the day I move, as it will take too long. I need advice on where to start and what to get to help ease the stress. Oh and what to put them in. Thanks in advance xx

 

[Bloo]

How many gallons is your tank ? Will it really take more than a day to "break down" the tank ? Can you not take all decorations out the day before (rocks etc. etc.) and half the water, and complete the rest on the morning you need to transport them ?
I would go to your lfs and ask very nicely for loads of plastic bags. Double bag your fish (depending on size of fish as to how many will fit into a bag) and put them in polystyrene boxes (also obtainable at your lfs - you should hopefully be able to purchase them at low cost like a few ££'s each). Pad in-between bags with scrunched newspaper, close lids and off you go.
Keep filter submerged in siphoned tank water and set up asap on the other side.

It's a mammoth task and I've done it before (also about 350 / 400 miles) but that was approx 50 tropical fish of various sizes including lots of plecs. Only 1 fatality (funny enough this was a few years ago when I did not know how valuable zebra plecs were to become - L046 - and he of course had to be the one that died )

Anyway, that's what I'd do.....

Edit: just saw your tank in our sig: I'd go about breaking it down as I've described but would be interested to see other comments.