moving

[aiello]

hi everyone . i want to know the best way to move a 150 gl reef tank with about 5 corals and 6 fish .im moving about 1 and a half hour away and wont be able to do anything other than make water in the house before i go get the tank . last time i moved it was 54 gl and i lost everything

[tanked3333]

I believe the key is to not bother the sand bed too much to avoid
a cycle..keep your rock and other livestock underwater at a warm temp. Use an airstone and a battery powered air pump.

[Sk8r]

DO not attempt to keep your sandbed.
Go to the lfs in the city where you're going [or your old one, if the only] and ask if they can board your fish and corals during the week: shouldn't be a big deal for them...and they'll make a customer loyal enough to buy from them preferentially, right?

Discard almost all your sand. Down to one cup in a ziplock, and empty that in immediately on watering.

Consider whether your plumbing is going to work in the new setup: that can be a headache.


Set down eggcrate on bottom where rock will be: prevents rolling.
Set down live rock.
Add new sand: pre-washing recommended in ro/di.

Lay garbage bag over whole bottom. Add salt water. Garbage bag will float as water rises, preventing sand kickup.

Adjust rocks.

Allow one week for mini-cycle. Cycle will run off anything on rock that died during transport.

WHen safe, move in livestock and corals.

Good luck!

I did it this way and am going ok...I got stalled 2 weeks with my rock in buckets---bad news there, but my fish and corals were safe. A minicycle and I was running again, thank you, Aquatic Dreams.

[Capt_Cully]

Agree, ditch the sand. Save some, add new. I've actually had to do this. No ill effects on my system.