Moving tank 4"

mstump · 01/08/2006, 09:03 PM

I got a skimmer for Christmas and my tank is too close to the wall. I need to move it out about 4 inches. My plan is to get 2 plastic tubs. I'm going to siphon out approx. 12 gallons into the 1st tub and put my liverock in it. The only corals I have is xenia. I'm then going to sipon out about about 5 gallons into the 2nd tub, move my 3 fish into it and then add about about 7 more gallons into it. (oh yea, I have a 30 gal tank). That should leave the water level in the tank a few inches above the sand. I will then pull the tank out a few inches and re-level it. I'll use the "live rock tubs" water 1st to re-fill the tank and put my rock back in. Then I'll put the fish in the tank and use the "fish tub" water to fill the tank back up. Hopefully this will take only about 30 minutes. Does this sound all right to all of you out there? Any other suggestions or comments are appreciated.

Mrs.kbmdale · 01/08/2006, 09:15 PM

Sounds like you've got it under control with a great plan, just don't count on it taking only 30 min.

post back on how long it did take. Im bettin it takes 45min to an hr

Good Luck,
Brianna

Dubbin1 · 01/08/2006, 09:32 PM

Sounds like a plan. Do your best though not to disturb the bed when you are putting the water back in.

EmergencyDpt · 01/08/2006, 10:10 PM

Maybe you can take a hammer and pound a hole in the wall to make room for the skimmer. LOL
JK
good luck.

Kent E · 01/08/2006, 10:41 PM

someone mentioned else where the little plastic disks used for furniture. This provides a slippery surface, unless its on carpet.

Dubbin1 · 01/08/2006, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kent E
someone mentioned else where the little plastic disks used for furniture. This provides a slippery surface, unless its on carpet.

Yes but he would need to drain most of the water out anyway to even get the disks under it

jjmcat · 01/08/2006, 11:10 PM

why cant you just slide it forward a little at a time.I moved my 58 that way.

eng55 · 01/09/2006, 01:51 AM

Ya sounds like you have pretty much everything planned out. I am going to be moving my 75g across the room shortly so I can set up my 125 in its place. Going to do the same thing except I have a 20g set up as quarantine that I put my fish in and I use a rubbermaid tub to put rock in with water. Good luck on the move.
E

scott_richards · 01/09/2006, 04:52 AM

My brother an I managed to move my 60 gallon about 4 inches or so....by brute force and ignorance. Before that, I moved one end about 70 degrees in a circle so I could get the hole drilled.

Now, THAT was a dumb move, because I spun it, then didnt relieve any of the tortional stress in the other two legs. I'm pretty sure I heard a crack when i moved it back...but hey, it's still going strong

mstump · 01/09/2006, 07:40 PM

Thanks everyone for replying. I just needed someone to say "sounds like your doing it right" !

mstump · 01/14/2006, 10:41 PM

Brianna,

You were right, it took longer than 30 minutes. By the time I got most of the water out of the tank, caught the fish, cleaned the inside front and sides with a razer blade , scrub the hair algea off the live rock, get everything back in the tank, hook up my new skimmer, etc, it was probably more like 2 hours! My powerhead would not pump the water from tubs in the floor back up to the tank so I had to do alot of bailing! Everything looks nice and clean now. The only fish that seemed stressed was my pink spotted goby but I think he will be alright. Wow, I don't want to do this again for along time!

Dubbin1 · 01/14/2006, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mstump
Wow, I don't want to do this again for along time!

LOL

Glad to hear everything went smooth.

01/08/2006, 09:03 PM	#1
mstump Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: west virginia Posts: 57	Moving tank 4" I got a skimmer for Christmas and my tank is too close to the wall. I need to move it out about 4 inches. My plan is to get 2 plastic tubs. I'm going to siphon out approx. 12 gallons into the 1st tub and put my liverock in it. The only corals I have is xenia. I'm then going to sipon out about about 5 gallons into the 2nd tub, move my 3 fish into it and then add about about 7 more gallons into it. (oh yea, I have a 30 gal tank). That should leave the water level in the tank a few inches above the sand. I will then pull the tank out a few inches and re-level it. I'll use the "live rock tubs" water 1st to re-fill the tank and put my rock back in. Then I'll put the fish in the tank and use the "fish tub" water to fill the tank back up. Hopefully this will take only about 30 minutes. Does this sound all right to all of you out there? Any other suggestions or comments are appreciated.

01/08/2006, 09:15 PM	#2
Mrs.kbmdale Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Pulaski, Tn Posts: 808	Sounds like you've got it under control with a great plan, just don't count on it taking only 30 min. post back on how long it did take. Im bettin it takes 45min to an hr Good Luck, Brianna __________________ Happpy Reefing (: Brianna :) Live, Love & Laugh like there's no tomorrow, otherwise, you miss today!

01/08/2006, 10:41 PM	#5
Kent E One Millionth Poster Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Asheboro NC Posts: 4,273	someone mentioned else where the little plastic disks used for furniture. This provides a slippery surface, unless its on carpet. __________________ 1000 gallon Current Tank Info: Dreaming up a new one

01/08/2006, 11:10 PM	#7
jjmcat Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Tulsa Posts: 4,249	why cant you just slide it forward a little at a time.I moved my 58 that way. __________________ Oklahoma Marine and Aquarium Society Support your LFS and your local club. Jarrod Lee Current Tank Info: 110 reef with a 55 gallon sump,3 metal halides

01/08/2006, 09:32 PM	#3
Dubbin1 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Findlay, Ohio Posts: 11,540	Sounds like a plan. Do your best though not to disturb the bed when you are putting the water back in.

01/08/2006, 10:10 PM	#4
EmergencyDpt Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 584	Maybe you can take a hammer and pound a hole in the wall to make room for the skimmer. LOL JK good luck.

01/09/2006, 01:51 AM	#8
eng55 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Ames, IA Posts: 356	Ya sounds like you have pretty much everything planned out. I am going to be moving my 75g across the room shortly so I can set up my 125 in its place. Going to do the same thing except I have a 20g set up as quarantine that I put my fish in and I use a rubbermaid tub to put rock in with water. Good luck on the move. E

01/09/2006, 04:52 AM	#9
scott_richards Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 121	My brother an I managed to move my 60 gallon about 4 inches or so....by brute force and ignorance. Before that, I moved one end about 70 degrees in a circle so I could get the hole drilled. Now, THAT was a dumb move, because I spun it, then didnt relieve any of the tortional stress in the other two legs. I'm pretty sure I heard a crack when i moved it back...but hey, it's still going strong

01/09/2006, 07:40 PM	#10
mstump Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: west virginia Posts: 57	Thanks everyone for replying. I just needed someone to say "sounds like your doing it right" !

01/14/2006, 10:41 PM	#11
mstump Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: west virginia Posts: 57	Brianna, You were right, it took longer than 30 minutes. By the time I got most of the water out of the tank, caught the fish, cleaned the inside front and sides with a razer blade , scrub the hair algea off the live rock, get everything back in the tank, hook up my new skimmer, etc, it was probably more like 2 hours! My powerhead would not pump the water from tubs in the floor back up to the tank so I had to do alot of bailing! Everything looks nice and clean now. The only fish that seemed stressed was my pink spotted goby but I think he will be alright. Wow, I don't want to do this again for along time!