Moving Exisitng Weel Functioning Reef Tank

ronimom · 03/25/2012, 01:57 PM

I have recently purchased an existing well established and functioning reef tank from a party who is moving out of country and can't take it. The tank is pretty bare-two clowns , a chocolate star and 1 piece of coral, 100 lbs of live rock and ~ 20 lbs of live sand. Move day is next week end. What is the best method to move this tank? It is a basic 50 gallon (23x23x20) tank with stand that houses a 20 gal three stage sump. Current plan is to use 5 gallon buckets to transport live rock existing water, clowns and friends. I intend to disassemble the tank to its basic parts , load in the car and make the 30 mile drive to its new home, then hopefully reassemble in reverse order ( I should take good notes on the dissassembly process?). Since I have never had a tank before, other than the tararium with the box turtle, I am very nervous about screwing up this great tank! Need help with suggestions improving my plan( Do I need a truck? or is my Ford Escape okay? -thanks

jon99 · 03/25/2012, 02:42 PM

Read through these. They are a bit lengthy, but there isn't a really quick and simple answer to your question. It's a step by step of a big (280g) tank move. It may answer some of your questions http://www.melevsreef.com/days127.html http://www.melevsreef.com/days8214.html

drparker · 03/25/2012, 04:32 PM

I've upgraded several times, your just going to add the headache of the move. Here's a post where I explained how I do the move from one tank to another. I would suggest replacing the sand.

Tank upgrade thread

03/25/2012, 01:57 PM	#1
ronimom Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 1	Moving Exisitng Weel Functioning Reef Tank I have recently purchased an existing well established and functioning reef tank from a party who is moving out of country and can't take it. The tank is pretty bare-two clowns , a chocolate star and 1 piece of coral, 100 lbs of live rock and ~ 20 lbs of live sand. Move day is next week end. What is the best method to move this tank? It is a basic 50 gallon (23x23x20) tank with stand that houses a 20 gal three stage sump. Current plan is to use 5 gallon buckets to transport live rock existing water, clowns and friends. I intend to disassemble the tank to its basic parts , load in the car and make the 30 mile drive to its new home, then hopefully reassemble in reverse order ( I should take good notes on the dissassembly process?). Since I have never had a tank before, other than the tararium with the box turtle, I am very nervous about screwing up this great tank! Need help with suggestions improving my plan( Do I need a truck? or is my Ford Escape okay? -thanks

03/25/2012, 02:42 PM	#2
jon99 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Atl Ga Posts: 817	Read through these. They are a bit lengthy, but there isn't a really quick and simple answer to your question. It's a step by step of a big (280g) tank move. It may answer some of your questions http://www.melevsreef.com/days127.html http://www.melevsreef.com/days8214.html

03/25/2012, 04:32 PM	#3
drparker Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Palatine, IL Posts: 2,652	I've upgraded several times, your just going to add the headache of the move. Here's a post where I explained how I do the move from one tank to another. I would suggest replacing the sand. Tank upgrade thread