Moving 3000 miles, how does this work?

SanDiegoreefer · 03/09/2009, 08:38 PM

I have:

2 black clowns, Corral Banded Shrimp, Yellow Tailed Damsel, Yellow leather, Mushrooms, Zoanthids, and Frogspawn.

I'm moving from San Diego to Jacksonville. I plan to be on the road for 3 or 4 days. I called the LFS and they said the fish would be okay if I put them in 5 gal buckets with a battery powered airstone. They also said the corals wouldn't make it.

So if I try to take the fish and sell the corals, what about the LR? Seems like that would cause a serious die off and need to recycle to some extent. Any other advice or opinions?

kraze3 · 03/09/2009, 08:47 PM

If you want to save your corals I would have a fellow reefer hang on to them and ship them to you when you are ready. The rock and fish will be difficult but can be done. I suggested to another member of RC a little while ago to invest in a power converter. This will allow you to plug in a heater and airstone or powerhead and it will run off the car battery while you drive. At night you may have to move them into the hotel room and plug them in. Maybe run an extension chord to your car if you stay in one of hte one level places. The fish could also be shipped to you if you think that may be better.

thegrun · 03/09/2009, 08:48 PM

They are probably not worth the trouble/expense of moving. If the buckets of water don't get to hot or cold, I would think the corals would fair better than the fish. Zoos and mushrooms are very tough. The trick of moving everything will be having enough live rock when you get there to avoid a major cycle.

emtguy · 03/09/2009, 08:48 PM

get a converter and run heater and airpump for corals and they'll make it!

davewbush · 03/09/2009, 08:49 PM

That is a long way to travel with having to worry about fish, corals, and everything else. Have you thought about takning you LR, sand and tank with you and setting it up, while taking your fish and corlas some where temp in San Diago and then when your tank is up having them mailed to you.

MileHighFish · 03/09/2009, 08:55 PM

I posted this earlier in a different thread but I think it might help you. This can be done but its not easy. By the way your going to have to change your name here on RC!!

Quote:

Originally posted by MileHighFish
I did a 900 mile move a few months back and didnt lose a coral, I would use a DC/AC converter, its enough power to run a sml heater, powerhead, and the air pump. I used eggcrate to make squares for the coral to sit in so they didnt touch one another. I put all live rock into 5 gal tubs with lids I added sand on top to keep moist. The coral road inside the truck, it was warm when I moved so we keep the AC on the entire trip and coral and fish sat at about 74 deg. The rock and the tank went in the bed of my fathers truck. Looking at the tank in your current house you wouldnt think there is much to do but plan on 12 extra hours then your thinking its going to take you now. The LR did just fine and all told after the 16 hour drive and the extra time it took to get the tank broken down I was exhausted. I didnt get the tank back up and running for four days. I had two sps that had tissue loss but other then that I didnt lose a fish CUC or even my two anemones that sat in a 5 gal bucket (i couldnt get the off the rock they were on) with out circulation did just fine. Most people will tell you to sell everything back but for me this was not an option Im to attached to each and every piece. If I had to do it again I would use a cooler to help with heat/cold issues. All my corls did brown out, and Im sure there was a small cycle but all is well now.
Good luck.. Heres a pic 5 months later.

SanDiegoreefer · 03/09/2009, 09:44 PM

Thanks for the replies. You guys are very helpful as usual. Lots of possibilities here. I'm glad I've got a few weeks to figure it out.

ReefHawke · 03/09/2009, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by emtguy
get a converter and run heater and airpump for corals and they'll make it!

+1 ...or at least most of them. I moved a tank on a 9hr drive without heating or airstone. Most fish survived! Most of corals, even an Open Brain.

PS: I'll never do it again tho LOL (hmmm ...never say never)

PRDubois · 03/09/2009, 10:47 PM

I would:
Have friend or LFS hold fish and corals and have them ship them overnight cargo when ready.

Sell most of the LR - Keep any specila pieces you might like.
You could take all the LR in Rubbermaid tubs with wet cloth over it, but you would have to cure it again when you get there.

When you get to FL setup tank and when ready have fish and corals sent.

If a company is moving you they will probally pay to UPS the fish and coral. They will not pay to UPS the rock

alextheromanian · 03/10/2009, 06:13 AM

have you thought of maybe selling everything and starting new?

bigger better tank maybe

?

Savas · 03/10/2009, 07:35 AM

Here is some quick math for you based on you having a 46 gallon tank: assuming you can fit the fish and corals into six 5-gallon buckets that have four gallons of water in them, you could run six 10 watt heater from a 100 watt power inverter. I would use battery powered air pumps for each buckets as well. I would use either my empty salt buckets or Home Depot buckets with the sealing lids. Cut small holes to run the air and power cords then seal the holes with silicone. The driving will also slosh the water, so I would wrap each hard coral losely in a drawer liner material in the water.

03/09/2009, 08:38 PM	#1
SanDiegoreefer Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: San Diego Posts: 94	Moving 3000 miles, how does this work? I have: 2 black clowns, Corral Banded Shrimp, Yellow Tailed Damsel, Yellow leather, Mushrooms, Zoanthids, and Frogspawn. I'm moving from San Diego to Jacksonville. I plan to be on the road for 3 or 4 days. I called the LFS and they said the fish would be okay if I put them in 5 gal buckets with a battery powered airstone. They also said the corals wouldn't make it. So if I try to take the fish and sell the corals, what about the LR? Seems like that would cause a serious die off and need to recycle to some extent. Any other advice or opinions? __________________ Good planets are hard to find. Current Tank Info: 46 Gal, 50lbs LR, Remora, 2 x Maxi-Jet 900, Coralife 2x96 Watt w/LED's, Filter guys RO/DI, HOB fuge

03/09/2009, 09:44 PM	#7
SanDiegoreefer Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: San Diego Posts: 94	Thanks for the replies. You guys are very helpful as usual. Lots of possibilities here. I'm glad I've got a few weeks to figure it out. __________________ Good planets are hard to find. Current Tank Info: 46 Gal, 50lbs LR, Remora, 2 x Maxi-Jet 900, Coralife 2x96 Watt w/LED's, Filter guys RO/DI, HOB fuge

03/09/2009, 10:47 PM	#9
PRDubois Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chester, VA Posts: 3,626	I would: Have friend or LFS hold fish and corals and have them ship them overnight cargo when ready. Sell most of the LR - Keep any specila pieces you might like. You could take all the LR in Rubbermaid tubs with wet cloth over it, but you would have to cure it again when you get there. When you get to FL setup tank and when ready have fish and corals sent. If a company is moving you they will probally pay to UPS the fish and coral. They will not pay to UPS the rock __________________ http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2534403 Current Tank Info: 225 gal Reef, 60 gal reef & 40b frag tank

03/10/2009, 06:13 AM	#10
alextheromanian Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Binghamton NY Posts: 1,007	have you thought of maybe selling everything and starting new? bigger better tank maybe ? __________________ i just cant think of any phylosophical, deep, critical thinking quotes right now. Current Tank Info: 29g Reef, 75g FOWLR

03/10/2009, 07:35 AM	#11
Savas Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Maryland / St. Thomas once a month Posts: 764	Here is some quick math for you based on you having a 46 gallon tank: assuming you can fit the fish and corals into six 5-gallon buckets that have four gallons of water in them, you could run six 10 watt heater from a 100 watt power inverter. I would use battery powered air pumps for each buckets as well. I would use either my empty salt buckets or Home Depot buckets with the sealing lids. Cut small holes to run the air and power cords then seal the holes with silicone. The driving will also slosh the water, so I would wrap each hard coral losely in a drawer liner material in the water. __________________ If you can get your wife hooked into reef keeping, you can spend all the money you want! Current Tank Info: 24 gallon Aquapod Nanotuners 4.32 T-5 lighting upgrade; 24 gallon Aquapod with stock power compacts and actinic lighting; 12 gallon Aquapod with stock power compacts and actinic lighting.

03/09/2009, 08:47 PM	#2
kraze3 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: RI Posts: 2,373	If you want to save your corals I would have a fellow reefer hang on to them and ship them to you when you are ready. The rock and fish will be difficult but can be done. I suggested to another member of RC a little while ago to invest in a power converter. This will allow you to plug in a heater and airstone or powerhead and it will run off the car battery while you drive. At night you may have to move them into the hotel room and plug them in. Maybe run an extension chord to your car if you stay in one of hte one level places. The fish could also be shipped to you if you think that may be better.

03/09/2009, 08:48 PM	#3
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	They are probably not worth the trouble/expense of moving. If the buckets of water don't get to hot or cold, I would think the corals would fair better than the fish. Zoos and mushrooms are very tough. The trick of moving everything will be having enough live rock when you get there to avoid a major cycle.

03/09/2009, 08:48 PM	#4
emtguy Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 53	get a converter and run heater and airpump for corals and they'll make it!

03/09/2009, 08:49 PM	#5
davewbush ... Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: California Posts: 739	That is a long way to travel with having to worry about fish, corals, and everything else. Have you thought about takning you LR, sand and tank with you and setting it up, while taking your fish and corlas some where temp in San Diago and then when your tank is up having them mailed to you.