Moving the tank...

[Aquattro]

SO next Friday is moving day for the tank. Anyone have some good tips on making this as smooth as possible? Someone suggested that since I have a double bottom on my tank (75g) that I should move it with the sand in. Thoughts? Will this reduce damaging the DSB, or is it pointless to try. All ideas gratefully accepted!!

[Acro]

Brad,

Other then having as many tubs, buckets, and garbage cans that you figure you'll need on hand. The most important part to a move is to take into concideration the fact that you will have some die off. My last move almost proved very fatal to many of my inhabitants and for others it was fatal. If I was to do it again I would have only saved 50% of old water also I would increased water changes for say the first couple months after the move. I would have also fed less for the couple months following.Until things stablized. I'm not saying this would have saved some of my loses but not doing this I beleive was a factor in my loses.
Moving is very hard on a stocked system perhaps not as bad with a system with a low stock. My biggest error was thinking that I could just carry on with my feeding and maintanence schedule I was doing on the system after it had been at it's old location for 2 years.

Jamie

[DJ88]

Make up as much new water as your system holds. Or as close as you can get. use abotu 1/2 of the original water and 1/2 new.

If you can move the tank with the sand bed in it. Go for it. I moved mine by placing it on a piece of wood to support the whole tank bottom. I still had die off. :( you are gonna get some no matter what.

take everything out of the tank you can.

a big help is set out a plan. what order everything will happen. tearing it down and setting it up. Expect the unexpected if you can. I know that sounds funny. but try.

Make sure everyone helping knows exactly what they are exected to do and that they have a clue as to what they are handling and how fragile it is. Tell them to be careful. Make as sure as you can that they are careful.

[Aquattro]

Darren, my paln is to use all the old water and have enough new on hand to do a complete change. SInce I'm only moving about a mile away, I think this should work. I have separate containers for fish, rocks, inverts...they'll all move in water.
Bruce, Adam and Steve are helping out with the move, so I think I should be OK. Moving with the sand in place is a bit scarey, as it will be pretty heavy. The house will be empty; movers are coming the day before the tank move. I've been stocking up on rubbermaid containers and 5g buckets. I have spare pumps and heaters. And lots of towels! I expect that the whole move should take no more than 6 hours. Just hope the weather improves!!

[Aquattro]

Since my smaller tank is a 10 gallon with 3 mantis shrimp, I don't think it would be a good idea. And I take posession of the house the day before, so I'm gonna be a bit busy that day :D

[Silverfish]

Your four foot tank with a DSB won't be too heavy, will it? :eek:

Oh well,.. I guess my part of the move won't be to sit there and drink beer the whole time [img]tongue.gif[/img]

I know! Let's rent a crane, cut a hole in your ceiling, (I have a chainsaw, and it's not like it's your house anymore anyway) and lift it out through the hole and onto Steve's truck!!

comments?

[StirCrazy]

Originally posted by Silverfish:
Oh well,.. I guess my part of the move won't be to sit there and drink beer the whole time [img]tongue.gif[/img]

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">HEY thats MY Job :D

Steve

[ldzielak]

Let me know how you guys make out, I'm moving again too. House sold so I have to find another rental:(

Lee

[reefburnaby]

Hi,

My only recommendation is never touch the sand. If you disturb it....it will die and start to cycle again. So, like Darren said...try to move without touching the sand. The first inch of sand is the most important...

- Victor.

[BCReefer]

If you had a smaller tank, wouldn’t it be better to move the corals their prior to the big move and let them sit there until you have your bigger tank up and running for a few days??

Would that be a good idea?