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It seems that we're going to move, I won't get into the 'politics' because I'm very unhappy about this but I need to know what I'll have to do about my tanks.

There are at least seven tanks, everything from a 55g down to a 2g. So I have lots of fish to deal with, gravel, plants, filters...how do I safely move all this stuff?

Thanks for any advice

~~~~~~~~~~~~
There is water at the bottom of the ocean

I'm SO not jealous of you right now

I was faced with the prospect of a move recently, but thankfully dodged that bullet for at least another year or two...

The furthest I have had to move was from where I used to live next door to here, and back in those days, I only had one tank to contend with (thank gawd).

These might help though:

http://www.aquariacentral.com/articles/moving.shtml

http://www.thekrib.com/Misc/moving.html

Good luck with it all, just keeping telling yourself "a change is as good as a holiday"

Dex

Thanks for the links

a change is as good as a holiday

I'm just soooo tired of moving:

2000 moved out of my ex's house
2001 moved from MI to ON
2002 moved from ON to MD
2003 moved from our apartment to a townhouse, which I thought would be our last move until we bought our own place

I have some reading and research to do.




~~~~~~~~~~~~
There is water at the bottom of the ocean

oh goodness Theresa
Large rubbermaid storage containers...get the opaque ones with the lids. That'll keep the light from stressing the fish out and let you move fish all together.

I wouldnt' suggest much larger than a few gallons though....we all know how heavy water is .

Couple battery opperated airpumps would likely come in handy too.

I hate moving as well...this january will be 2 years in my house and I'm still setteling in .

^_^
*Proud member of the Committee for Sig Line Restoration*

Move your tanks out of your old place at the last possible minute, and set them up as soon as possible. Keep all the filter stuff wet, and keep the gravel wet as well. Fish will be happier in the dark, so get the opaque containers as babelfish suggested. If it isn't a far move don't worry about the air pumps unless you already have one, or don't care about the expense. I've now done this a couple times, so if you have questions let me know. I didn't lose a single fish other than the oto that found a way into the ugf tube, poor guy.

Another thing you can do is see if a friend or the lfs will hold your fish for a day or two, that would help as well.

---

Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

When we moved last year it was only about five miles away, but had to have friends watch our fish while we stayed in a hotel for a week (big mistake). Anyway, when we picked up the fish they traveled in a cooler with the water from their tank. Once at the new house we stuck in the airstone. We re-set up the tank and let it run for several hours and hoped for the best. All of them made it, which is a suprise considering their living conditions when we picked them up from the friends.

What do you do when you're moving across country? How do you ship your fish?

Barb

Good luck! Are you fairly close (within five hours, say) to the new place, or is it a huge move? If it's the former, you can take the tanks all in one go, without much else getting in the way, then set them up ASAP.

I'm going to go the other way on one point, though - my vote goes to Bring All the Water You Can. Milk jugs, buckets, tupperware, whatever - fill it with tank water. That way when you get there, you can immediately put the fish in their own water in the tanks, and not have to worry about keeping the fish in the buckets forever while you acclimate them. Just set up the tanks with say 6" of water, get the heater running, an airpump if possible, and then move to the next tank - you'll have plenty of time to cycle back through and start adding tap water from the new location and acclimating everyone. Once the water level's high enough, you can turn on the filters.

-Molly
Visit shelldwellers.com!

I'm hoping you don't have a huge distance to travel - so if possible, devote a day to just moving tanks, seeing as you have so many, without the added stress of moving all your other house stuff too.

And if possible check on the water in your new area - with any luck it might not be much, if at all, different to your current water - making the logistics a little easier.

Good luck!

OK first how far/long is the trip?

How I've done it the past 2 times and have been successful is pretty much like everyone else has suggested...but let me add...

Gather containers from everywhere (they need lids) try the donut shops around, they usually have several everymorning that are about 5 gallons, and have lids...some won't even charge, but will be happy to get rid of them...

Take at least 50-75% of your current water, and don't do a water change the week of/before the move, you are fixing to do one anyway...

The fish are the last things to be loaded on the load being taken, and the first things to be set up...

As you are loading/draining the water from the tanks keep some pumps going into them...when you unload the fish start the pumps again...

It's awful to rush on something like this, but you have to in my opinion...Have your place chosen for where you are going to place the tanks when you get to the new place...don't feed them the day before/the day of/the move...keep it dark, try to keep the temps stabilized to the best of your ability...

If I can help let me know, unfortunately I've had to do this too many times...

Heidi

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