Advice on Moving a 29 gallon reef tank

RMP · 11/13/2013, 02:48 PM

I am moving this weekend, luckily from one condo to another that is only a quarter of a mile away. I have a 29 gallon reef tank, with a hang of the back filter. I have about 30 pounds of live rock, and no fish. I currently have about 12 snails, a sea urchin, starfish, 2 green emerald crabs, 3 pom pom crabs, and 3 sexy shrimp. I have two Duncan Head corals as well. The LFS wants to charge about $550 to move this for me. I think I can do it myself. I have 6 5 gallon containers and a flat bed truck. Any advice on how to properly go about this and keep my livestock alive? Thanks in advance!

JonV88 · 11/13/2013, 02:57 PM

My local reef store said bag the water in new garbage bags put them in buckets, that they would sell me bags to bag my snails and shrimp blow air in bags tie, bucket your sand, I might be moving soon that's the advice they gave me

Deberber · 11/13/2013, 06:51 PM

You can also just bucket the live rock and live stock with airstones. That's what I did for about a six hour move.

cloak · 11/13/2013, 07:22 PM

Just put the livestock in one bucket, and the rocks/coral in the other buckets. Try and save as much of the old water as you can. Once the tank is situated in your new place, put some of the old water back in the tank and build your rock structure back up. Once that's done, move the livestock over. If you happen to be short a few gallons of water, just mix up a new batch. Piece of cake.

johnike · 11/13/2013, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cloak

Just put the livestock in one bucket, and the rocks/coral in the other buckets. Try and save as much of the old water as you can. Once the tank is situated in your new place, put some of the old water back in the tank and build your rock structure back up. Once that's done, move the livestock over. If you happen to be short a few gallons of water, just mix up a new batch. Piece of cake.

This. ^^^

greech · 11/13/2013, 07:41 PM

Tank should be the last thing you move and set back up sooner rather than later.

Siphon water into buckets and place live rock in those. Keep the rock in the water as much as possible. Ideally you'll have at least one bucket of "clean" water that you can add back to the tank once you get it settled in the new place.

Have at least 30 gallons of new water mixed and ready to go at the new place before you move. You probably won't need it all but better to be safe than sorry and if you don't use it all in the move, you'll have water ready for a water change. I wouldn't suggest keeping the water that has the cloudy detritus from under your rocks. In fact I would siphon the sand once all rock is removed and discard that water.

Bag all corals and live stock that you can so they don't get crushed and put them in a styro cooler. Chances are the crabs will duck into a rock hole when you start messing with the tank so put them in the buckets if they are too much of pain. Just try and keep the water in their bucket at the same temp.

You should be able to safely move a 29 gallon with the sand in it just keep enough water in the tank to cover the sand. If this was a bigger tank, I wouldn't suggest doing this.

Take you time and you'll be fine. I probably made it sound more difficult that it actually will be.

ER95 · 11/13/2013, 08:58 PM

$550 to move a tank that far!? Jeez...

When I moved, I put my rocks in old stryofoam boxes (from online orders) with about 2 or 3 inches of water to splash.

Then caught fish and put them in a 5 gallon bucket with my corals.

Have new water ready to go at the new place and dump the rest. (Had too much water to carry over)

Don't forget an airator for the fish..

11/13/2013, 02:48 PM	#1
RMP Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 44	Advice on Moving a 29 gallon reef tank I am moving this weekend, luckily from one condo to another that is only a quarter of a mile away. I have a 29 gallon reef tank, with a hang of the back filter. I have about 30 pounds of live rock, and no fish. I currently have about 12 snails, a sea urchin, starfish, 2 green emerald crabs, 3 pom pom crabs, and 3 sexy shrimp. I have two Duncan Head corals as well. The LFS wants to charge about $550 to move this for me. I think I can do it myself. I have 6 5 gallon containers and a flat bed truck. Any advice on how to properly go about this and keep my livestock alive? Thanks in advance!

11/13/2013, 07:41 PM	#6
greech Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 3,133	Tank should be the last thing you move and set back up sooner rather than later. Siphon water into buckets and place live rock in those. Keep the rock in the water as much as possible. Ideally you'll have at least one bucket of "clean" water that you can add back to the tank once you get it settled in the new place. Have at least 30 gallons of new water mixed and ready to go at the new place before you move. You probably won't need it all but better to be safe than sorry and if you don't use it all in the move, you'll have water ready for a water change. I wouldn't suggest keeping the water that has the cloudy detritus from under your rocks. In fact I would siphon the sand once all rock is removed and discard that water. Bag all corals and live stock that you can so they don't get crushed and put them in a styro cooler. Chances are the crabs will duck into a rock hole when you start messing with the tank so put them in the buckets if they are too much of pain. Just try and keep the water in their bucket at the same temp. You should be able to safely move a 29 gallon with the sand in it just keep enough water in the tank to cover the sand. If this was a bigger tank, I wouldn't suggest doing this. Take you time and you'll be fine. I probably made it sound more difficult that it actually will be. __________________ ~Graham Current Tank Info: Tank: 40 breeder; 20H sump w/SWC 120; Sicce 3.0 return; Vortech MP-10; Sundial T5, DIY Actinic LED (3W Cree). Livestock: Pair of Black & Whites; Midas Blenny; Firefish; Yasha/pistol; Black Leopard Wrasse; LPS and SPS

11/13/2013, 08:58 PM	#7
ER95 Just keep swimming Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Tennessee Posts: 132	$550 to move a tank that far!? Jeez... When I moved, I put my rocks in old stryofoam boxes (from online orders) with about 2 or 3 inches of water to splash. Then caught fish and put them in a 5 gallon bucket with my corals. Have new water ready to go at the new place and dump the rest. (Had too much water to carry over) Don't forget an airator for the fish.. __________________ YouTube: ChampNike Current Tank Info: 40 Gallon Breeder

11/13/2013, 02:57 PM	#2
JonV88 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: New Rochelle,NY Posts: 342	My local reef store said bag the water in new garbage bags put them in buckets, that they would sell me bags to bag my snails and shrimp blow air in bags tie, bucket your sand, I might be moving soon that's the advice they gave me

11/13/2013, 06:51 PM	#3
Deberber Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: North Carolina Posts: 451	You can also just bucket the live rock and live stock with airstones. That's what I did for about a six hour move.

11/13/2013, 07:22 PM	#4
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	Just put the livestock in one bucket, and the rocks/coral in the other buckets. Try and save as much of the old water as you can. Once the tank is situated in your new place, put some of the old water back in the tank and build your rock structure back up. Once that's done, move the livestock over. If you happen to be short a few gallons of water, just mix up a new batch. Piece of cake.