Need advice on move

[BobTheDog]

Ok, I currently have a 55 gal aquarium which is cycled and has quite a few fish in it (see my signature). However, we just found out that my wife is pregnent and I'm going to have to move the aquarium to another room to make way for the nursery. What is the best way to go about this? Note that I do not have another aquarium which I can put the fish in during the move. About the best I can do is a couple of buckets. Also, I won't have anyway to keep most of the water from the tank.

Currently was thinking of transfering the fish to a couple of containers, transfering what water I can to containers. Drain the aquarium and move. Put what water could be saved from previous aquarium back in. Put fish back in. Refill with dechlorinated tap water.

Anything I should do differently? What can I do to reduce/minimize stress on the fish?

 

[thecichlidaddict]

You don't need to keep any of the water.

Place the fish in any buckets you have. Run airstones in the buckets to keep the water moving. Empty the tank of all water and as much of everything else as you can in order to move it safely. I'd try to keep the gravel intact if you have anyone strong enough to help you move it, but don't risk hurting yourselves! Then put everything back together, fill it with new water, dechlorinate, plug in the heater and filter. You want to heat the tank up to the same temperature as the water in the buckets, which will be room temperature. Then transfer the fish and heat the tank up the rest of the way. Do not rinse the gravel or clean the filter, leae them as intact as possible.

The reason you don't need the old water is because the bacteria you are trying to save is in the filter, gravel, and any other surfaces in the tank. It is not actually free swimming in the water. Saving water when moving a tank is a waste of time and effort, why not start them with a completely fresh tank.

 

[BobTheDog]

Hey Cichladaddict, thanks for the advice.

Another question: I have 2 heaters in my tank (advice from Simple Guide to Freshwater Aquariums)... what about running one of these in each bucket with the fish to maintain the temp? Then, when I refill the tank with water, add water at the heated level? I am trying to minimize stress on my Rummynose tetras. I've had some problems with them in the past... they seem to be moderately delicate fish.

 

[easyE]

I try to save 50% of the old water. My water seems to have a high ph when it comes out of the faucet, but the water in my tank seems to have a lower ph. Don't know why, may be the driftwood. Anyway, I know the fish like the water they are in so I try to save half of it because of the ph and just in case there is any other differences. This may not be neccesary, it is just what seems to work best for me. If I stopped doing it this way I would stress, so it is easier to keep doing it when I need to move a tank!
hmm...If I did partial water changes more often, the tank water would be more like water directly from the faucet.....and maybe I wouldn't have to save any water...

 

[easyE]

I have seven rummynose in my tank too. they are definitely cool little fish, by far my favorite tetras.

 

[thecichlidaddict]

I would not start heating buckets with aquarium heaters, these heaters are too strong, and if you blink too long you can easily overheat the buckets. The time that it takes for the water to cool down in the buckets, and then the time it takes for the heaters to heat the water back up will not cause stress to the fish.