Transport 125 gallon system & Live rock

graham83oh · 05/17/2012, 03:54 PM

Hello all, First post here as i just joined

Ive read alot on here as a lurker but now i have a question.

Im purchasing a 125 gallon running reef system with sump and around 200lbs of live rock. I currently have no salt water system up and running, just freshwater.
Im a complete rookie when it comes to saltwater, but my eyes hurt from all the reading ive been doing

My Question for all of you is... Would i be able to simply drain all the systems water into clean empty containers (new 55 gallon trash cans) place all live rock and creatures/fish into cans then drive 30 min, set the entire system back up and replace it back to its original home?

I would prefer to do something along these lines instead of hauling home 200 lbs of live rock full of die off and having to re cycle the tank and have to find a home for the livestock.

any input from u professionals would help tremendously!

cheers

Graham

bnumair · 05/17/2012, 05:27 PM

hi welcome to saltwater and RC.
to answer ur question:
i am affraid if there is sand involved then sand will get shook up and release nasty in the water.
if there is no sand and is a bare bottom system then yes u will be fine with the method u wrote.

bnumair · 05/17/2012, 05:29 PM

if u pull the rock out from the tank and keep them under water at all time (meaning least possible air contact) you will probably not see a mini cycle and least die off. 30 min is not a long ways to go but putting the system togather will take time and thus making sure that water and LR remain 76-80F range and run a powerhead inside the bins to keep water moving.

acabgd · 05/17/2012, 05:45 PM

I would prepare new water and new sand (don't use old sand) and then move the LR. The only thing I would use old water for is to keep LR and fish submerged during transport. However, this is still a major undertaking. With so much LR you will also need some help.

rollermonkey · 05/18/2012, 10:54 AM

^My LFS offers tank moving services for a fee. I don't know how common that is, but never hurts to ask the dumb question, right?

If you're a frequent customer, maybe they'd help out / suggest an assistant?

330bmwgirl · 05/18/2012, 11:02 AM

I'll be watching this thread cause I will be moving my 75 and setting it up in a 120 very shortly so any tricks or suggestions that I haven't already thought of or told would be awesome

billdogg · 05/18/2012, 02:01 PM

Start early and plan on going at it until finished. It can be a long day. Lots of 5g buckets for the livestock and rock. transport the smallest amount of water possible. The rocks can be transported without water if you put wet towels or even newspaper over it to keep it moist. Have plenty of water mixed up and to temp at your place first. The sand can be reused if you must, but I would probably pitch most of it - keep a couple cups to seed new sand - you will be glad you did. If you do reuse the sand, it will need to be well rinsed, and since the only really good way is in a 5g bucket with a garden hose you will be killing it anyway. Save the work - just buy new.

I would plan on using all new plumbing for it as well. IME, what didn't leak for years will find a way to drip after being moved. Buy twice the fittings you think you will use - they are cheap and it beats the heck out of having to stop for a run to the store.

Do yourself a huge favor and save the brewskis until after you are done. You'll need 1 (or 12) by then.

I have moved my systems several times over the years and never had any real problems or major losses.

Good Luck!

thegrun · 05/18/2012, 06:27 PM

+1, it ALWAYS takes twice as long to move a tank as you think! The only difference in my approach s that I try to reuse as much water as possible from the old tank to minimize the shock of the new water's chemistry on the livestock. Be sure to have plenty of pre-made salt water on hand at the new location, you wont be able to save as much of the old water as you would think, the dirty stuff should be discarded. Reusing the sand can be done with a lot of work, but given that you are looking at a long day already I would go with new sand. 5 gallon buckets with lids are your best friend, have plenty on hand. Extra small powerheads and heaters also come in handy, it takes time to aquascape and you want to keep the water heated and moving as much as possible in the buckets with livestock. Larger containers are just too heavy to move unless you are a middle linebacker. Best of luck, let us know how things turn out.

05/17/2012, 03:54 PM	#1
graham83oh Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 3	Transport 125 gallon system & Live rock Hello all, First post here as i just joined Ive read alot on here as a lurker but now i have a question. Im purchasing a 125 gallon running reef system with sump and around 200lbs of live rock. I currently have no salt water system up and running, just freshwater. Im a complete rookie when it comes to saltwater, but my eyes hurt from all the reading ive been doing My Question for all of you is... Would i be able to simply drain all the systems water into clean empty containers (new 55 gallon trash cans) place all live rock and creatures/fish into cans then drive 30 min, set the entire system back up and replace it back to its original home? I would prefer to do something along these lines instead of hauling home 200 lbs of live rock full of die off and having to re cycle the tank and have to find a home for the livestock. any input from u professionals would help tremendously! cheers Graham

05/17/2012, 05:27 PM	#2
bnumair Dr. Reef at ur service Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tulsa, Ok, USA Posts: 7,751 Blog Entries: 15	hi welcome to saltwater and RC. to answer ur question: i am affraid if there is sand involved then sand will get shook up and release nasty in the water. if there is no sand and is a bare bottom system then yes u will be fine with the method u wrote. __________________ Water Quality: NO3 0,Phos 0,Cal 440,Alk 7.5,Mag 1300 "Reef Fast, You Crash, Reef Slow, You Pass" Mike's Reef 3:16 Current Tank Info: 350g DT,95g sump, 50g Frag tank, 4800gph return 4x Sea swirls. 6x AI Vega Color. 200# Pukani rock, dual recirculating skimmer, Biopellet, GFO Carbon rx's, Cal rx. Closed loop. 1.5hp chiller, genesis renew. Apex & RKE

05/17/2012, 05:29 PM	#3
bnumair Dr. Reef at ur service Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tulsa, Ok, USA Posts: 7,751 Blog Entries: 15	if u pull the rock out from the tank and keep them under water at all time (meaning least possible air contact) you will probably not see a mini cycle and least die off. 30 min is not a long ways to go but putting the system togather will take time and thus making sure that water and LR remain 76-80F range and run a powerhead inside the bins to keep water moving. __________________ Water Quality: NO3 0,Phos 0,Cal 440,Alk 7.5,Mag 1300 "Reef Fast, You Crash, Reef Slow, You Pass" Mike's Reef 3:16 Current Tank Info: 350g DT,95g sump, 50g Frag tank, 4800gph return 4x Sea swirls. 6x AI Vega Color. 200# Pukani rock, dual recirculating skimmer, Biopellet, GFO Carbon rx's, Cal rx. Closed loop. 1.5hp chiller, genesis renew. Apex & RKE

05/18/2012, 02:01 PM	#7
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	Start early and plan on going at it until finished. It can be a long day. Lots of 5g buckets for the livestock and rock. transport the smallest amount of water possible. The rocks can be transported without water if you put wet towels or even newspaper over it to keep it moist. Have plenty of water mixed up and to temp at your place first. The sand can be reused if you must, but I would probably pitch most of it - keep a couple cups to seed new sand - you will be glad you did. If you do reuse the sand, it will need to be well rinsed, and since the only really good way is in a 5g bucket with a garden hose you will be killing it anyway. Save the work - just buy new. I would plan on using all new plumbing for it as well. IME, what didn't leak for years will find a way to drip after being moved. Buy twice the fittings you think you will use - they are cheap and it beats the heck out of having to stop for a run to the store. Do yourself a huge favor and save the brewskis until after you are done. You'll need 1 (or 12) by then. I have moved my systems several times over the years and never had any real problems or major losses. Good Luck! __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

05/17/2012, 05:45 PM	#4
acabgd Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Belgrade Posts: 1,086	I would prepare new water and new sand (don't use old sand) and then move the LR. The only thing I would use old water for is to keep LR and fish submerged during transport. However, this is still a major undertaking. With so much LR you will also need some help.

05/18/2012, 10:54 AM	#5
rollermonkey Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Puget Sound Posts: 65	^My LFS offers tank moving services for a fee. I don't know how common that is, but never hurts to ask the dumb question, right? If you're a frequent customer, maybe they'd help out / suggest an assistant?

05/18/2012, 11:02 AM	#6
330bmwgirl Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 60	I'll be watching this thread cause I will be moving my 75 and setting it up in a 120 very shortly so any tricks or suggestions that I haven't already thought of or told would be awesome

05/18/2012, 06:27 PM	#8
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	+1, it ALWAYS takes twice as long to move a tank as you think! The only difference in my approach s that I try to reuse as much water as possible from the old tank to minimize the shock of the new water's chemistry on the livestock. Be sure to have plenty of pre-made salt water on hand at the new location, you wont be able to save as much of the old water as you would think, the dirty stuff should be discarded. Reusing the sand can be done with a lot of work, but given that you are looking at a long day already I would go with new sand. 5 gallon buckets with lids are your best friend, have plenty on hand. Extra small powerheads and heaters also come in handy, it takes time to aquascape and you want to keep the water heated and moving as much as possible in the buckets with livestock. Larger containers are just too heavy to move unless you are a middle linebacker. Best of luck, let us know how things turn out.