Best way to move 72g tank?

Brandon M · 06/26/2007, 11:58 PM

I am moving here in the next few weeks and was wondering if anyone had a write up or website for the best way to move a tank. I will not be moving too far, only around 5 miles from where I live now.

My tank is a 72g bowfront FOWLR with around 90lbs of liverock and 4 fish.

Any information or help is appreciated...thanks in advance.

thejamesvolta · 06/27/2007, 12:53 AM

I have been wondering how this is accomplished also.

Tony44 · 06/27/2007, 01:34 AM

When I bought my 125, I bought 4, 35 gallon rubbermaid containers, put the rock in one, the water in the others. Put the stand, tank, the containers, everything in the back of the truck I had back then, and hauled it away. Its gonna take a while, and it wouldnt hurt to have a friend or two helping. Have to siphon all the water out of the tank, you dont have to keep all of it, but its good to try to keep as much as possible. If you dont have an SUV, or truck or a car big enough for all the stuff, maybe rent a uhaul? Wont cost to much since your only going a few miles.

Whatever you do, goodluck.

ocellaris06 · 06/27/2007, 08:18 AM

Sorry! I am also wondering how can a tank be moved. Was only the live sand kept in the tank while moving? Will it be too heavy and may break the tank?

NeveSSL · 06/27/2007, 08:29 AM

Here ya go:

http://www.joshday.com/movingaquarium.htm

Hope that helps!

Brandon

Frick-n-Frags · 06/27/2007, 09:02 AM

BEFORE you move anything, completely prep the place where it is going. You want to be able to walk the tank into its new place and immediately start putting it back together.
have extra salt for mixing new water. even better have like 50 gallons of water already mixed and ready to go.

that will make the move smoother when you can focus 100% on putting the tank back together ASAP

hensleyrobw · 06/27/2007, 09:35 AM

moved my 75 several times across town, I used new 5 gallon paint buckets, separate live rock and corals into the buckets, write on the buckets whats in each, base rock corals live rock fish etc. put lids on fives for transport then take back off. Use as much of your current water as you can have extra water made up to replace what you cant and a canister filter (use only the carbon filter with the foam filter around it the micron filter will clog in minutes) to take out the detritus that will cloud the tank when puttin git back together.

Brandon M · 06/27/2007, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by hensleyrobw
moved my 75 several times across town, I used new 5 gallon paint buckets, separate live rock and corals into the buckets, write on the buckets whats in each, base rock corals live rock fish etc. put lids on fives for transport then take back off. Use as much of your current water as you can have extra water made up to replace what you cant and a canister filter (use only the carbon filter with the foam filter around it the micron filter will clog in minutes) to take out the detritus that will cloud the tank when puttin git back together.

What about sand? Did you take it out?

hensleyrobw · 06/27/2007, 10:37 AM

I havnt, just enough water to keep it covered. but you could if want to reduce weight just have to keep it wet. Dont know how much sand you have i've have about 3in. 2 guys can move it. with more its easier.

hndakd · 06/27/2007, 10:41 AM

i would not try to pick up the tank when it still has all the sand in it. I recently moved my 90 and heres what i did,
got all kinds of large rubbermaids approx 8
mixed water at final destination
took all the equipment out (heaters pumps)
took half of the water out and then placed corals in the containers
took all the rock out and laid damp newspaper on them
caught fish and put them in different containers than the corals
removed all the water that i could into the remaining containers
took all the sand out
picked it up and moved it
put everything back in and enjoyed a beer while hoping nothing died

dont get to nervous about this, just use some common sense and some buddies to help you pick stuff up. remember that water is 8 lbs a gallon so your containers can get heavy very quickly. Also make sure you mix some new water up, you will need more!!!!

hensleyrobw · 06/27/2007, 11:58 AM

Agreed about the weight as heavy as my tank was IMO a 75 would be the largest tank that could be moved with the sand in it (depending on how much you have) also the more you disturb the sand the more you mess up the bacteria in the sand bed. so on smaller tanks you should do your best not to disturb it. Also after a move you will have a nitrate surge do to all the detritus that is stirred up, but with water changes it shouldnt be a problem.

Brandon M · 06/30/2007, 12:22 AM

Thanks for the help everyone. I will report back after my move.

Anyone else with advice please feel free to post!

06/26/2007, 11:58 PM	#1
Brandon M Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 1,116	Best way to move 72g tank? I am moving here in the next few weeks and was wondering if anyone had a write up or website for the best way to move a tank. I will not be moving too far, only around 5 miles from where I live now. My tank is a 72g bowfront FOWLR with around 90lbs of liverock and 4 fish. Any information or help is appreciated...thanks in advance.

06/27/2007, 08:29 AM	#5
NeveSSL Got tubes? Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 6,759	Here ya go: http://www.joshday.com/movingaquarium.htm Hope that helps! Brandon __________________ I am proof that post count is not directly proportional to "reef IQ". Zip Ties = Reef Duck Tape Geek it till it MHz!!! Current Tank Info: 180g Build in Process

06/27/2007, 09:02 AM	#6
Frick-n-Frags Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: north central OH Posts: 10,740	BEFORE you move anything, completely prep the place where it is going. You want to be able to walk the tank into its new place and immediately start putting it back together. have extra salt for mixing new water. even better have like 50 gallons of water already mixed and ready to go. that will make the move smoother when you can focus 100% on putting the tank back together ASAP __________________ Only Dead fish swim with the current. Current Tank Info: 2 50 gal tanks, sump, still BB

06/27/2007, 09:35 AM	#7
hensleyrobw Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 54	moved my 75 several times across town, I used new 5 gallon paint buckets, separate live rock and corals into the buckets, write on the buckets whats in each, base rock corals live rock fish etc. put lids on fives for transport then take back off. Use as much of your current water as you can have extra water made up to replace what you cant and a canister filter (use only the carbon filter with the foam filter around it the micron filter will clog in minutes) to take out the detritus that will cloud the tank when puttin git back together. Last edited by hensleyrobw; 06/27/2007 at 09:48 AM.

06/30/2007, 12:22 AM	#12
Brandon M Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 1,116	Thanks for the help everyone. I will report back after my move. Anyone else with advice please feel free to post! __________________ Brandon Current Tank Info: 315g 84"x24"x36" FOWLR

06/27/2007, 12:53 AM	#2
thejamesvolta Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: chandler, arizona Posts: 84	I have been wondering how this is accomplished also.

06/27/2007, 01:34 AM	#3
Tony44 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Lantana, FL Posts: 778	When I bought my 125, I bought 4, 35 gallon rubbermaid containers, put the rock in one, the water in the others. Put the stand, tank, the containers, everything in the back of the truck I had back then, and hauled it away. Its gonna take a while, and it wouldnt hurt to have a friend or two helping. Have to siphon all the water out of the tank, you dont have to keep all of it, but its good to try to keep as much as possible. If you dont have an SUV, or truck or a car big enough for all the stuff, maybe rent a uhaul? Wont cost to much since your only going a few miles. Whatever you do, goodluck.

06/27/2007, 08:18 AM	#4
ocellaris06 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 122	Sorry! I am also wondering how can a tank be moved. Was only the live sand kept in the tank while moving? Will it be too heavy and may break the tank?

06/27/2007, 10:37 AM	#9
hensleyrobw Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 54	I havnt, just enough water to keep it covered. but you could if want to reduce weight just have to keep it wet. Dont know how much sand you have i've have about 3in. 2 guys can move it. with more its easier.

06/27/2007, 10:41 AM	#10
hndakd Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 313	i would not try to pick up the tank when it still has all the sand in it. I recently moved my 90 and heres what i did, got all kinds of large rubbermaids approx 8 mixed water at final destination took all the equipment out (heaters pumps) took half of the water out and then placed corals in the containers took all the rock out and laid damp newspaper on them caught fish and put them in different containers than the corals removed all the water that i could into the remaining containers took all the sand out picked it up and moved it put everything back in and enjoyed a beer while hoping nothing died dont get to nervous about this, just use some common sense and some buddies to help you pick stuff up. remember that water is 8 lbs a gallon so your containers can get heavy very quickly. Also make sure you mix some new water up, you will need more!!!!

06/27/2007, 11:58 AM	#11
hensleyrobw Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 54	Agreed about the weight as heavy as my tank was IMO a 75 would be the largest tank that could be moved with the sand in it (depending on how much you have) also the more you disturb the sand the more you mess up the bacteria in the sand bed. so on smaller tanks you should do your best not to disturb it. Also after a move you will have a nitrate surge do to all the detritus that is stirred up, but with water changes it shouldnt be a problem.