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Hi everyone shortly i many be moving and i might be moving my 75 gallon tank!!! My local pet store will more than likely hold the fish for me, but need info on how to move the tank
I don't plan on cleaning the filter before the move and not sure if i should remove the gravel will probally have to to be able to lift the tank.
when i bought the tank it was 2nd hand and we had to remove all of the water and gravel to lift it.
any other info would be apreciated.
thanks

i moved my 55 with about 80 pounds of arg. on the bottom, i drained all water and had me and 2 others moving the tank

Unless you're strong and can get help, I'd suggest taking out the gravel. this is coming from a weak little girl like me, though, an empty 30 gallon is heavy for me Otherwise, get some help for the empty 75g-- if weight isn't a factor for moving it, it's still awkward. Put the old gravel back in later (make sure it stays moist), and you may want to use a bacteria starter just be sure (that's what I've always done anyway).

best way to move heavy things is buddies n beer its amazing how much work buddies will do for that precious liquid

thanks for the replys, i think what i am asking is what to do.
I planning on taking the fish to lfs, and removing the gravel to buckets with water, resetting up the tank, maybe useing stress zyme for the bacteria, and then readding the fish
does this sound right or am i missing something
trying to avoid suprises
thanks

i just did two last week but one was a 135g and the other 55g. i did the same thing u just discibed. i took the fish to a lfs then i drained out the water along with the gravel. then i got one of my fellow football players and we moved this ginormic tank just down stairs and it was a pain.

once u move a 135g it makes the 55g seem so much lighter!

go with ur main idea

good luck

ok last chance
looks like the tank might be moving anywhere from tommorow to the end of next week ( probally end of next week).
plan to remove all of the gravel keeping it in tupperwear with water, plan on putting fish either in 20 gallon long tank or at my lfs depends if fish shop has space, move the tank and set it back up as quick as possible, readd gravel, water (new), chemicals, and then fish (plan to use alot of stress zyme like 10x to help readd bacteria).
the filter, canister fulval 404, has been running for about 1 1/2- 2 months don't plan on cleaning it so I won't losse the bacteria

am i missing anything?
thanks

p.s. just to recapp tank is 75 gallon with 6 congo tetras, 7 prestilla tetras, 4 cherry barbs, 3 blue rams, 2 dwarf groumies, 6 large bronze corys, 5 small panda corys, 4 upsidedown catfish, 1 flying fox, 1 bushynosed pleco, 1 clown pleco, 3 ottos. fake plants and large piece of drift wood

thanks

Sounds good, just make sure the water that the gravel is in with is dechlorinated, or you'll kill the bacteria colonies

the best way to readd water is to fill the bath tub up get it to the temp u want treat it n then start hauling pails
its waht i do never lost a fish in a move yet

Ok moved my tanks too often and have had really good luck each time.

Go to your local donut shop (we have tons around here), first thing in the morning, and ask them for their empty buckets, with lids are better!!! Scoop out gravel into one or more as needed, and add some of the fishy water into the buckets (2 might be easiest to lift and haul).
You will want to keep as much of your current tank water as possible try for 50%.

Depending on the length of the trip to move the fish, go to the dollar store or such and get a couple of big rubbermade or such buckets with good lids, drain more water into these and put fish into them. You will want ones that are dark, less stress on the fish this way. (be sure to clean all of these buckets really well before using them) Doing it this way you won't need the lfs to care for them, you can take them with you, easier in my opinion, and less stressful it would seem on the fish

Run to Wal-Mart and go into the sports department, and in the fishing goods area (fishing as in poles and such) they will have what they call bubble boxes. The cheaper ones are the ones I own ($5.95, i beleive). Get some D batteries, it requires 2 D batteries for each box, and I usually get about 2.5 days out of each set of batteries. (I've used one for just my 29 gallon, and 1 on my 55 gallon when we loose electricity, and haven't lost anyone yet)

Then pack them up and go...don't feed them the day of the trip, and skip your weekly water changes that week, and the next as you will have to add some of the new local water i'm sure to the tank.

Best of luck, Heidi

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle