Moving a 120 Gal - 1 hr

jeepboy_90 · 08/25/2008, 09:31 PM

I just purchased a 120 gal (48x24x24) tank completely running, has 100+lbs of live rock and coral. Has a few fish and about 100 lbs of live sand.

What is the best way to transport and set-up?

I went to Home Depot and purchased tubs along with mix for extra water.

kfisc · 08/25/2008, 09:39 PM

I'd get as much of the tank water you can, without disturbing the sand; use it to transport the fish, corals, and to replenish the tank with as much of it as humanly possible.

I wouldn't use the old sand- get new, keep the corals/fish in tubs with powerheads and heaters for a day or so while the new sand settles and the water comes back up to temp, and then reintroduce them. Be prepared to do water changes if the tank starts showing signs of decaying water quality- nitrates, ammonia spikes, etc.

K' Family Reef · 08/25/2008, 09:44 PM

an easy way would be if you had a long hose that would hook up to your pump... then load the rocks in your bins stick them in a truck then fill the bins w/ the long hose from inside the house... this way one is not carrying around buckets of water thru the house and its the most convenient way to get it done... then when get home just reverse the process and pump the water right back in from out in the truck...

have done this several times
but the key is getting a hose long enough to reach and to get a pvc adaptor that will hook up to a mag 9/12 or whatever big pump you might have to move water...

good luck sounds like it will be a lot of fun once you get it set up at your place!

regards

seafansar · 08/25/2008, 09:46 PM

When I bought my 125 gallon, it was up and running too. I lined big trash cans with trash bags and emptied the tank water into them. I put the liverock in bins and the sand in buckets.

We loaded the tank and stand in our pick up truck (it just barely fit) and I made a couple of trips to get the water, rock, and sand.

Once we got it home, I cleaned it out with the hose and then started putting it back together. There weren't any fish or corals in the tank though. If I were you, I'd keep them in bins of the tank's water with a power head or air stones until the tank water/sand gets settled.

Make sure you get a bunch of friends to help you!

jeepboy_90 · 08/25/2008, 09:51 PM

The sand seems to be the question.

It is about 100 lbs of live sand very nice. Can I leave it in the tank with no water and cover it with a wet towel, transport un-cover and add water very slow? Dont have a source of sand, only mail.

K' Family Reef · 08/25/2008, 10:00 PM

some people would probably recom against
leaving the sand in the tank... we have moved one of our tanks w/ the sand still in it but all/most of the water was removed and never had a problem... obviously it goes without saying that all the rock needs to be removed though...

good luck.

regards

crvz · 08/26/2008, 12:56 PM

If it's a glass tank, at 120 gallons, I would never consider moving it with sand in it. Way too much weight to cause problems with loading on the bottom pane of glass during a move. the last thing you'd want for an established tank is to break.

I'd remove the sand and rinse it out well, or just set the tank up without sand until you can get some new stuff in the mail.

tkeracer619 · 08/26/2008, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by crvz
If it's a glass tank, at 120 gallons, I would never consider moving it with sand in it. Way too much weight to cause problems with loading on the bottom pane of glass during a move. the last thing you'd want for an established tank is to break.

I'd remove the sand and rinse it out well, or just set the tank up without sand until you can get some new stuff in the mail.

I also would not move it with the sand. I prefer to rinse my sand in a bleach solution, rinse well with fresh water, run it through a speghetti strainer, then let dry. After 100% dry it would be safe to add back. The bleach will strip it of organics and give you like new sand for free.

Anteverius · 08/26/2008, 03:29 PM

School me please....why is it bad to keep the old sand? I'm not saying it was the right way to do it, but when I moved my tank I reused the sand. No losses, no real ammonia/nitrate spike. Did I just get lucky?

toolfan · 08/26/2008, 03:41 PM

It's not bad. most people suggest replacing it because you already have the tank torn apart and most people's sandbeds get really cruddy after a while. It's kinda like replacing the rotors when your doing your brake pads..you've already got it ripped apart..might as well do some maintanence. I personally have moved my tank twice over the last 3 years and have not replaced my sandbed once. If it's reletively clean, there is no need to replace.

08/25/2008, 09:31 PM	#1
jeepboy_90 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: USA-CA Posts: 75	Moving a 120 Gal - 1 hr I just purchased a 120 gal (48x24x24) tank completely running, has 100+lbs of live rock and coral. Has a few fish and about 100 lbs of live sand. What is the best way to transport and set-up? I went to Home Depot and purchased tubs along with mix for extra water.

08/25/2008, 09:46 PM	#4
seafansar Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Deltona, FL Posts: 1,023	When I bought my 125 gallon, it was up and running too. I lined big trash cans with trash bags and emptied the tank water into them. I put the liverock in bins and the sand in buckets. We loaded the tank and stand in our pick up truck (it just barely fit) and I made a couple of trips to get the water, rock, and sand. Once we got it home, I cleaned it out with the hose and then started putting it back together. There weren't any fish or corals in the tank though. If I were you, I'd keep them in bins of the tank's water with a power head or air stones until the tank water/sand gets settled. Make sure you get a bunch of friends to help you! __________________ -Sara Current Tank Info: mixed reef

08/26/2008, 12:56 PM	#7
crvz Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: houstonia Posts: 7,989	If it's a glass tank, at 120 gallons, I would never consider moving it with sand in it. Way too much weight to cause problems with loading on the bottom pane of glass during a move. the last thing you'd want for an established tank is to break. I'd remove the sand and rinse it out well, or just set the tank up without sand until you can get some new stuff in the mail. __________________ -Chris- You don't win friends with salad. "Look! They're trying to learn for free!" ... "Use your phony guns as clubs!" Current Tank Info: rectangluar? wet?

08/25/2008, 09:39 PM	#2
kfisc Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 2,020	I'd get as much of the tank water you can, without disturbing the sand; use it to transport the fish, corals, and to replenish the tank with as much of it as humanly possible. I wouldn't use the old sand- get new, keep the corals/fish in tubs with powerheads and heaters for a day or so while the new sand settles and the water comes back up to temp, and then reintroduce them. Be prepared to do water changes if the tank starts showing signs of decaying water quality- nitrates, ammonia spikes, etc.

08/25/2008, 09:44 PM	#3
K' Family Reef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,966	an easy way would be if you had a long hose that would hook up to your pump... then load the rocks in your bins stick them in a truck then fill the bins w/ the long hose from inside the house... this way one is not carrying around buckets of water thru the house and its the most convenient way to get it done... then when get home just reverse the process and pump the water right back in from out in the truck... have done this several times but the key is getting a hose long enough to reach and to get a pvc adaptor that will hook up to a mag 9/12 or whatever big pump you might have to move water... good luck sounds like it will be a lot of fun once you get it set up at your place! regards

08/25/2008, 09:51 PM	#5
jeepboy_90 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: USA-CA Posts: 75	The sand seems to be the question. It is about 100 lbs of live sand very nice. Can I leave it in the tank with no water and cover it with a wet towel, transport un-cover and add water very slow? Dont have a source of sand, only mail.

08/25/2008, 10:00 PM	#6
K' Family Reef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,966	some people would probably recom against leaving the sand in the tank... we have moved one of our tanks w/ the sand still in it but all/most of the water was removed and never had a problem... obviously it goes without saying that all the rock needs to be removed though... good luck. regards

08/26/2008, 03:29 PM	#9
Anteverius Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: The Swamp...Go Gators! Posts: 204	School me please....why is it bad to keep the old sand? I'm not saying it was the right way to do it, but when I moved my tank I reused the sand. No losses, no real ammonia/nitrate spike. Did I just get lucky?

08/26/2008, 03:41 PM	#10
toolfan Moved On Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Boston,Ma Posts: 87	It's not bad. most people suggest replacing it because you already have the tank torn apart and most people's sandbeds get really cruddy after a while. It's kinda like replacing the rotors when your doing your brake pads..you've already got it ripped apart..might as well do some maintanence. I personally have moved my tank twice over the last 3 years and have not replaced my sandbed once. If it's reletively clean, there is no need to replace.