Moving Tank---Suggestions?

adpgibso · 05/06/2007, 11:15 PM

Hey all- I'm moving my 55 gallon full of live rock. I have a pair of clowns, a white sebae anemone, star polyps, and a TON of anthelia/xenia. What is the best way to get this stuff over to my new place? It's about an hour away.

Have any of you had experience moving a tank and what suggestions do you have for the process?

Thanks,
Adam

Fiziksgeek · 05/07/2007, 06:15 AM

I moved a 55 about 2.5 hours once, and I moved my 135 about 15 minutes across town just last year. Get some friends over. Put everything from the tank into buckets, rubber maid containers, trash cans, etc. Try to keep the rock submerged if you can.

If you have a sand bed, wait till the end and scoop it out, or suck it out with a shop vac. You'll want to rinse the sand well before putting it back into the tank. Some people say you can just leave the sand and try not to disturb it. I prefer to take it out and rinse everything really well. Break down the tank and equipment as fast as you can and move everything over to the new place. Put covers on the container and drive really slow to minimize spillage. Then reassemble and put everything back in.

If you can get into your new place early, start mixing some fresh salt water the night before, so it will be waiting for you. You will need some for top off.

alan214 · 05/07/2007, 07:01 AM

Here's a link with some pointers that should help you with your move.

http://www.melevsreef.com/moving_a_tank.html

gdavis17 · 05/07/2007, 09:28 AM

I've moved my 55 twice without any problems. I agree, strong friends are a must, and the more the better. I left my sandbed in the tank (it was only about a 2" bed) and never had an algae bloon or nitrate spike after the move. Save as much clean water as you can (5 gallon jugs work best), and do a water change after the move has been completed. I also put saran wrap over the top of the tank (sand was still in it) while in transport. This keep the wind out of the tank and prevented excess sand movement due to wind. Take your time; if you rush you'll make a mistake that will cost you. Good Luck.

sublime-1 · 05/07/2007, 09:34 AM

One thing I did that will help.

Go to Home Depot or Lowes, buy a sheet of 1/2" plywood.

Have them cut it for you on the big wall saw into a size that's a little larger than the size of your tank.

That way, when you load and unload it, you can slide it on the plywood.

It provide a steadier base that the bed of a truck or a van / SUV, and it also gives you a little something better to hold onto than the bottom lip of the tank.

I ended up using the plywood as a base to set up sump on after cutting it down a little smaller.

BD

thatguy · 05/07/2007, 10:07 AM

My advice is to remember that rocks and water are heavy. The first time I moved my tank I didn't think about how much a 5 gallon container filled with rock and water would be. I lived on the third floor which made it a real PITA. Only fill each container half way. It makes everything easier to move and reduces loss of water to splashing.

When you get to the new place it would be best to get everything back up and running before you try to arrange your rocks. I would say do the rock work the next day, but that's just me.

Also, promise your friends beer but have it at the destination not with the tank. Things go much faster that way.

Good luck.

05/06/2007, 11:15 PM	#1
adpgibso Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Bloomington, IN Posts: 228	Moving Tank---Suggestions? Hey all- I'm moving my 55 gallon full of live rock. I have a pair of clowns, a white sebae anemone, star polyps, and a TON of anthelia/xenia. What is the best way to get this stuff over to my new place? It's about an hour away. Have any of you had experience moving a tank and what suggestions do you have for the process? Thanks, Adam

05/07/2007, 07:01 AM	#3
alan214 Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: The Colony, TX Posts: 1,258	Here's a link with some pointers that should help you with your move. http://www.melevsreef.com/moving_a_tank.html __________________ I live really close to the airport. The other day I was walking across the living room and the stewardess told me to take my seat. Current Tank Info: 73G FOWLR

05/07/2007, 09:28 AM	#4
gdavis17 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Muncie, Indiana Posts: 496	I've moved my 55 twice without any problems. I agree, strong friends are a must, and the more the better. I left my sandbed in the tank (it was only about a 2" bed) and never had an algae bloon or nitrate spike after the move. Save as much clean water as you can (5 gallon jugs work best), and do a water change after the move has been completed. I also put saran wrap over the top of the tank (sand was still in it) while in transport. This keep the wind out of the tank and prevented excess sand movement due to wind. Take your time; if you rush you'll make a mistake that will cost you. Good Luck. __________________ Half of my life is perfect because if I think about it I'm either at work or in front of my tank. Current Tank Info: 30 cube, 40# lr, 30# ls, misc. softies, 2 maroon clowns, lawnmower blenny

05/07/2007, 09:34 AM	#5
sublime-1 Habitual line-stepper Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Forney, TX Posts: 146	One thing I did that will help. Go to Home Depot or Lowes, buy a sheet of 1/2" plywood. Have them cut it for you on the big wall saw into a size that's a little larger than the size of your tank. That way, when you load and unload it, you can slide it on the plywood. It provide a steadier base that the bed of a truck or a van / SUV, and it also gives you a little something better to hold onto than the bottom lip of the tank. I ended up using the plywood as a base to set up sump on after cutting it down a little smaller. BD __________________ 50G pseudo'cube underway Current Tank Info: 100G FOWLR

05/07/2007, 10:07 AM	#6
thatguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: CO Posts: 513	My advice is to remember that rocks and water are heavy. The first time I moved my tank I didn't think about how much a 5 gallon container filled with rock and water would be. I lived on the third floor which made it a real PITA. Only fill each container half way. It makes everything easier to move and reduces loss of water to splashing. When you get to the new place it would be best to get everything back up and running before you try to arrange your rocks. I would say do the rock work the next day, but that's just me. Also, promise your friends beer but have it at the destination not with the tank. Things go much faster that way. Good luck. __________________ #something witty Current Tank Info: in my memories

05/07/2007, 06:15 AM	#2
Fiziksgeek Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Oxford, CT Posts: 1,565	I moved a 55 about 2.5 hours once, and I moved my 135 about 15 minutes across town just last year. Get some friends over. Put everything from the tank into buckets, rubber maid containers, trash cans, etc. Try to keep the rock submerged if you can. If you have a sand bed, wait till the end and scoop it out, or suck it out with a shop vac. You'll want to rinse the sand well before putting it back into the tank. Some people say you can just leave the sand and try not to disturb it. I prefer to take it out and rinse everything really well. Break down the tank and equipment as fast as you can and move everything over to the new place. Put covers on the container and drive really slow to minimize spillage. Then reassemble and put everything back in. If you can get into your new place early, start mixing some fresh salt water the night before, so it will be waiting for you. You will need some for top off.