Moving With Fishtanks

[RobberyinCSharp]

Hi everyone
In just over a month I'm going to be moving down from CT to PA. It's about a 4.5 hour drive not regarding rest stops, tolls, and traffic. I am going to be bringing my saltwater nano reef tank with me, as well as my 20 gallon freshwater tank. My tank contains two rams, three croaking gouramis and four neon tetra. My tank also has live plants.

Can anyone please explain the proper ways to go about moving my fish? I will be heartbroken if any of them die, and I certainly don't want to lose the bacteria in my tank!

Thank you!

 

[fluttermoth]

Ok. Here's a very rough break down of what you need to do.

Collect as many fish bags and containers as you can

Fill them up with tank water.

Catch your fish and fish (don't forget anemones must be kept totally underwater at all times) and share them out between the bags. Make sure anything spikey is in container rather than a bag. Pack all the bags (with no more than one third water/two thirds air; oxygen is more important than water volume for travelling) and put them in a cardboard box or cooler box, wrapped in a blanket. Don't feed the fish for three or four days before travelling to keep ammonia to a minimum.

Strip down your tanks, keeping the media in the filters and putting them in more bags or containers so they stay damp.

Move to your new place. Set up the tanks with the heaters and filters (but don't switch them on yet) and put as much saved water in as you have and top up enough so you can turn the heaters on.

Once the tanks are up to temp, add your plants and start drip acclimatising your fish. Then add the fish to the tanks, gradually top off with new water and finally switch on your filters.

You might need to vary that blueprint a bit; if you can't take much of the old water, for instance, you might need to fill the tanks all the way up and get your filters running while you're spending extra time acclimatising the fish, but it should give you some idea of where to start in your planning

 

[RobberyinCSharp]

Thank you so much! This has been very helpful!!!

 

[simonas]

and remember that fish are far hardier than you think Ive moved my 6 tanks twice in 12 months and as much as its stressful they are made of stern stuff. I also had lots of water containers so i didnt really have to add much bar my bigger tank

 

[Inchworm]

Hi RobberyinCSharp,

I have friends I visit in Pa sometimes and can tell you that it can be a rough trip. If your route takes you through NYC, be sure to plan your travel to avoid the rush hour traffic. You could easily be stuck for a long time. If it's still hot, keep that in mind too.

Good luck and I hope all goes well for you.

 

[RobberyinCSharp]

Hi RobberyinCSharp,

I have friends I visit in Pa sometimes and can tell you that it can be a rough trip. If your route takes you through NYC, be sure to plan your travel to avoid the rush hour traffic. You could easily be stuck for a long time. If it's still hot, keep that in mind too.

Good luck and I hope all goes well for you.

Yeah, I am absolutely DREADING the trip. Because we have to take a UHAUL truck to move things like my bed, dressers, etc., we can't take the Garden State Parkway We have to take the George Washington Bridge, and according to AAA they're doing construction on the bridge so it's down to one lane.

The weathermen *say* that it's supposed to start cooling down from the summer heat we've had, but I'll believe it when I feel it! I'm sure we will have the AC on, and I plan on keeping a thermometer in styrofoam box as well. My babies are going to have to sit up front with me!