Moving Aquariums - across country

Gravel · 01/16/2006, 03:10 PM

I am about to move across the country for a new job, and as part of the move I was hoping to take my Oceanic 75G and 120G glass tanks. They will be going with the movers since we are flying to our new location.

All of the inhabitants of the tanks will be gone - and I will restock at my new location.

Is this a smart thing to do? Any hints on what to do, and not do?

I would really like to hear about peoples experiences with this.

roader247 · 01/16/2006, 07:03 PM

About 17 or 18 years ago I moved a 55 gallon tank in a U-Haul from Texas to Georgia. The move went ok the tank sat in the heat along time. I put it back up after we were settled and about 6 months later It split the bottom front seem. Water hit the ceiling and drained it less than 2 minutes. Any way don't mean to scare you but it was a huge mess. Maybe the tank was not level or the ride in the hot U-Haul did it, don't really know I was peaty young back then. Good Luck

rickh · 01/16/2006, 11:12 PM

I have one even better----I moved a 55 gallon about 700 miles one winter. I worked all day, went home, emptied the water into 1 gallon milk jugs and put the fish in bags in a cooler. I loaded the tank, water, fish and concrete block/plywood stand into my new 1972 Vega hatchback and drove all night. I couldn't close the hatchback all the way because the boards were sticking out the back. My 5 year old daughter was sleeping on my lap most of the way. The things we do for these fish!!
Just drain the tank and let the movers do their job. They have insurance. R

whosjohnny · 01/17/2006, 03:29 AM

I thought about moving my 150 gallong glass tank, it feels more like 180 gallon since it's 6 foot long and 2 feet high. If I were to move from LA to Washington, I'll just buy a new tank and fly the fish overnight.

Splotto · 01/17/2006, 05:28 AM

Hello:

I am facing the same issue. I am moving from PA to FLA in a few weeks and just can't see moving the tank. I have no fish in there right now, just a good sand bed and the critters in there.

I will probably just make the move without it.

Splotto

RandyP · 01/17/2006, 08:18 AM

I built a 2 X 4 frame around the outside of my tank frame and them covered the 2 X 4 with plywood to protect the glass and had it moved with no problems......good thing to because the plywood looked like it took quite a beating

kpc01 · 01/17/2006, 10:26 AM

I just moved from TX to MO, my stuff is actually still in storage for a month or so until I buy a house. They moved my 75, and I watched them pack it. It is also stored in a climate controlled enviornment. I think it wiill be fine as they were VERY careful with everything. Bad thing is the cost of the movers was 13k

I would definately give them credit though. They were very careful, as I have a lot of fragile stuff. We'll see in a few weeks for sure though.

TwistedTiger · 01/17/2006, 10:28 AM

You would definitely be better off selling the tanks and buying new or used in your new location. That's a long move for all that glass and if it doesn't survive you're out the money you would have made by selling them.

hcahan · 01/17/2006, 12:33 PM

Tagging along. Moving from DC to AZ. What do you all think about moving lighting, skimmers, etc?

Alaskan Reefer · 01/17/2006, 02:33 PM

I would sell the tanks and buy new...

Fiziksgeek · 01/17/2006, 03:05 PM

You could use the opportunity to upgrade to a larger tank!

sscherin · 01/17/2006, 03:31 PM

We moved our 55 from Washington to Colorado..

If the company is paying the $$ have em move it..

Ours brought in a crating company who brought a custom crate and packed it up..

All the equipment was carefully packed inside the tank by the crating people.

After that it was handed off to the moving company.

If the movers break it they should pay for a replacement but get that in writing before they load up.. If it's not on paper it didn't happen.

We took our Live rock with us..

We wraped it in packing paper, packed it in 2 coolers, wet everything with saltwater and sealed the coolers with duct tape..

Even after 4 days in a moving truck it was in good shape..

We did let it cycle/cure about a month before putting any livestock in the tank though.

01/16/2006, 03:10 PM	#1
Gravel Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 182	Moving Aquariums - across country I am about to move across the country for a new job, and as part of the move I was hoping to take my Oceanic 75G and 120G glass tanks. They will be going with the movers since we are flying to our new location. All of the inhabitants of the tanks will be gone - and I will restock at my new location. Is this a smart thing to do? Any hints on what to do, and not do? I would really like to hear about peoples experiences with this.

01/16/2006, 07:03 PM	#2
roader247 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Athens GA Posts: 657	About 17 or 18 years ago I moved a 55 gallon tank in a U-Haul from Texas to Georgia. The move went ok the tank sat in the heat along time. I put it back up after we were settled and about 6 months later It split the bottom front seem. Water hit the ceiling and drained it less than 2 minutes. Any way don't mean to scare you but it was a huge mess. Maybe the tank was not level or the ride in the hot U-Haul did it, don't really know I was peaty young back then. Good Luck __________________ Old Enough too Know Better But Young Enough Too Do It Anyway Mark Current Tank Info: 1 75 gallon fish only marine tank 1 55 fresh water tank and 1 29 gallon fresh tank

01/17/2006, 03:29 AM	#4
whosjohnny Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 599	I thought about moving my 150 gallong glass tank, it feels more like 180 gallon since it's 6 foot long and 2 feet high. If I were to move from LA to Washington, I'll just buy a new tank and fly the fish overnight. __________________ I wish I could live 1,000 years and get 1,000 PhDs. I have an infinite appetite to understand life. Current Tank Info: 300G glass 10 foot x 2' x2', 9 foot sump w/ 3' fug 4' frag, EuroReef CS12-2, Geo Reactor 624 30", 2x 250W DE MH, 3x 150W DE MH, RKE, 135G FOWLR w/ 50G sump ASM-G3, 50G QT w/15G sump, 12G Nano, 60G turtles.

01/17/2006, 02:33 PM	#10
Alaskan Reefer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Eagle River, Alaska Posts: 2,360	I would sell the tanks and buy new... __________________ Unattended children will be given double shot espresso and a free puppy. Current Tank Info: 125g FOWLR -- Conversion Back To SPS In Progress

01/17/2006, 03:31 PM	#12
sscherin Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Eugene, OR Posts: 697	We moved our 55 from Washington to Colorado.. If the company is paying the $$ have em move it.. Ours brought in a crating company who brought a custom crate and packed it up.. All the equipment was carefully packed inside the tank by the crating people. After that it was handed off to the moving company. If the movers break it they should pay for a replacement but get that in writing before they load up.. If it's not on paper it didn't happen. We took our Live rock with us.. We wraped it in packing paper, packed it in 2 coolers, wet everything with saltwater and sealed the coolers with duct tape.. Even after 4 days in a moving truck it was in good shape.. We did let it cycle/cure about a month before putting any livestock in the tank though. __________________ William's Law-- There is no mechanical problem so difficult that it cannot be solved by brute strength and ignorance. Current Tank Info: 14gal construction zone

01/16/2006, 11:12 PM	#3
rickh Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Lost_in_Michigan Posts: 1,306	I have one even better----I moved a 55 gallon about 700 miles one winter. I worked all day, went home, emptied the water into 1 gallon milk jugs and put the fish in bags in a cooler. I loaded the tank, water, fish and concrete block/plywood stand into my new 1972 Vega hatchback and drove all night. I couldn't close the hatchback all the way because the boards were sticking out the back. My 5 year old daughter was sleeping on my lap most of the way. The things we do for these fish!! Just drain the tank and let the movers do their job. They have insurance. R

01/17/2006, 05:28 AM	#5
Splotto Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 143	Hello: I am facing the same issue. I am moving from PA to FLA in a few weeks and just can't see moving the tank. I have no fish in there right now, just a good sand bed and the critters in there. I will probably just make the move without it. Splotto

01/17/2006, 08:18 AM	#6
RandyP Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia Posts: 99	I built a 2 X 4 frame around the outside of my tank frame and them covered the 2 X 4 with plywood to protect the glass and had it moved with no problems......good thing to because the plywood looked like it took quite a beating

01/17/2006, 10:26 AM	#7
kpc01 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Little Elm TX Posts: 551	I just moved from TX to MO, my stuff is actually still in storage for a month or so until I buy a house. They moved my 75, and I watched them pack it. It is also stored in a climate controlled enviornment. I think it wiill be fine as they were VERY careful with everything. Bad thing is the cost of the movers was 13k I would definately give them credit though. They were very careful, as I have a lot of fragile stuff. We'll see in a few weeks for sure though.

01/17/2006, 10:28 AM	#8
TwistedTiger Moved On Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: B.R. La. Posts: 925	You would definitely be better off selling the tanks and buying new or used in your new location. That's a long move for all that glass and if it doesn't survive you're out the money you would have made by selling them.

01/17/2006, 12:33 PM	#9
hcahan Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 157	Tagging along. Moving from DC to AZ. What do you all think about moving lighting, skimmers, etc?

01/17/2006, 03:05 PM	#11
Fiziksgeek Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Oxford, CT Posts: 1,565	You could use the opportunity to upgrade to a larger tank!