Moving

bigworm175 · 01/26/2009, 08:07 PM

Ok, I'm moving soon and I have to move my reef. I'm excited about the new place and the new tank I bought but I am very worried about losing my livestock. I finally got my tank to be pretty stable and the thought of a larger tank is great but...

My current tank is a 1-year-old 37-gallon tall, mostly softies and LPS(and 1 acro frag) with a 10-gallon sump/ref (kind of, it is mostly algae from LR that I have propagated).

The new tank is a 120-gallon. I also have a 55-gallon that is freshwater now but will be a FOWLR after the move. I mention this only because I thought maybe I could set up it up to temporally house my livestock while the tank is being transferred??

I want to transfer all of the 37-gallon into the 120-gallon but Iâ€™m worried about chemistry issues. Should I try to set-up the 37 again and let the 120 "cycle" for a while? I plan on using rock and sand from the 37 (and a 20 FOWLR). Should I use the water already in the 37 (and 20) to help fill the 120?

I really need suggestions on how to do this. I have read some threads about moving but I really donâ€™t want to mess this up. I wish I had about 5 years more knowledge before I have to do this.

cyberwollf · 01/26/2009, 08:18 PM

how far is the move?

bigworm175 · 01/26/2009, 08:20 PM

Oh, sorry. Knew I would forget something. Just across town (20 miles)

cyberwollf · 01/26/2009, 08:37 PM

If your time in the houses overlaps, have one set up in each and move livestock in tubs when everything is right.

46FiatYamaha · 01/26/2009, 08:40 PM

You don't have to let the new tank cycle if you transfer everything over as soon as the new tanks parameters are stable. I used all new sand so my stirred sandbed didn't cause any troubles, fresh new salt water, and the same live rock and had no problems from it. A good link on moving tanks http://www.melevsreef.com/moving_a_tank.html

bigworm175 · 01/26/2009, 08:47 PM

Great link. Just what I needed! Thanks.

MileHighFish · 01/26/2009, 08:55 PM

I moved my sps tank 900 miles and didnt lose a thing.. I t takes time and is stressful but it can be done. I would use styrofoam coolers and a power inverter for your car to keep air pumps and a small power heads to keep water moving, your only going 20 miles so you dont need to be too concerned about temperature issues. My tank went through a "mini- cycle" but I wasnt able to reuse any of the old water. I didnt get any ammonia or nitrite but my nitrates went from zero to 20ppm for about a month after several water changes the tank was back to zero. My tank is a 100 gal all sps and soft coral (total about 30 pieces) and several fish made the travel without issues. Good luck

cyberwollf · 01/26/2009, 09:15 PM

For longer moves, several of our club members have had one of our LFS sponsors hold their stock in a shop QT tank. When they are settled in and have the tank set up, the shop will professionally ship their livestock to them

01/26/2009, 08:07 PM	#1
bigworm175 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Denver Posts: 418	Moving Ok, I'm moving soon and I have to move my reef. I'm excited about the new place and the new tank I bought but I am very worried about losing my livestock. I finally got my tank to be pretty stable and the thought of a larger tank is great but... My current tank is a 1-year-old 37-gallon tall, mostly softies and LPS(and 1 acro frag) with a 10-gallon sump/ref (kind of, it is mostly algae from LR that I have propagated). The new tank is a 120-gallon. I also have a 55-gallon that is freshwater now but will be a FOWLR after the move. I mention this only because I thought maybe I could set up it up to temporally house my livestock while the tank is being transferred?? I want to transfer all of the 37-gallon into the 120-gallon but Iâ€™m worried about chemistry issues. Should I try to set-up the 37 again and let the 120 "cycle" for a while? I plan on using rock and sand from the 37 (and a 20 FOWLR). Should I use the water already in the 37 (and 20) to help fill the 120? I really need suggestions on how to do this. I have read some threads about moving but I really donâ€™t want to mess this up. I wish I had about 5 years more knowledge before I have to do this.

01/26/2009, 08:55 PM	#7
MileHighFish Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: NM. Posts: 1,722	I moved my sps tank 900 miles and didnt lose a thing.. I t takes time and is stressful but it can be done. I would use styrofoam coolers and a power inverter for your car to keep air pumps and a small power heads to keep water moving, your only going 20 miles so you dont need to be too concerned about temperature issues. My tank went through a "mini- cycle" but I wasnt able to reuse any of the old water. I didnt get any ammonia or nitrite but my nitrates went from zero to 20ppm for about a month after several water changes the tank was back to zero. My tank is a 100 gal all sps and soft coral (total about 30 pieces) and several fish made the travel without issues. Good luck __________________ See "Red House" for pics!! I'm sick of following my dreams. I'm just going to ask them where they're goin', and hook up with them later. Mitch Hedberg Current Tank Info: Reef tank, 100 gal Lee Mar polished.. 60 sump.. 800 watts mh 20k radium..Ran on "Taiwan HQI Ballast" 330 watt VHO.. 48 watt compacts (dawn/dusk).. sps/lps tank..

01/26/2009, 08:18 PM	#2
cyberwollf Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Dayton, OH Posts: 71	how far is the move?

01/26/2009, 08:20 PM	#3
bigworm175 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Denver Posts: 418	Oh, sorry. Knew I would forget something. Just across town (20 miles)

01/26/2009, 08:37 PM	#4
cyberwollf Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Dayton, OH Posts: 71	If your time in the houses overlaps, have one set up in each and move livestock in tubs when everything is right.

01/26/2009, 08:40 PM	#5
46FiatYamaha Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Matthews NC Posts: 990	You don't have to let the new tank cycle if you transfer everything over as soon as the new tanks parameters are stable. I used all new sand so my stirred sandbed didn't cause any troubles, fresh new salt water, and the same live rock and had no problems from it. A good link on moving tanks http://www.melevsreef.com/moving_a_tank.html

01/26/2009, 08:47 PM	#6
bigworm175 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Denver Posts: 418	Great link. Just what I needed! Thanks.

01/26/2009, 09:15 PM	#8
cyberwollf Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Dayton, OH Posts: 71	For longer moves, several of our club members have had one of our LFS sponsors hold their stock in a shop QT tank. When they are settled in and have the tank set up, the shop will professionally ship their livestock to them