FishProfiles.com Message Forums

I would add plants before water just because I find it easier to plant in wet substrate or very shallow water than a full tank. Other than that it sounds like a good plan.

Congrats! Glad all went well

---

Water, taken in moderation, cannot hurt anybody. -- Mark Twain

It's done! Everything went very smoothly, so far no one has died (knock on wood) and nothing broke. Although my tank looks a little dirty, since siphoning all the water out and then pouring it all back it really upset the substrate, it is settling quite nicely. Thanks so much for all your advice!

Goodluck & take care.


http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/s8xi5heh/my_photos
http://www.deathbydyeing.org/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/corydoras/
Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
http://www.maltaaquarist.com

Well tomorrow is the big day...i will let you know how it goes!

you can leave the substrate and plants in the tank, if you have help moving these tanks, It isn't that they are going to seem heavy to you, but you don't want to stress the seems of the tank, and end up busting them You will still need to drain the tank as much as possible...

Yes, I know moving a tank is a pain in the rear-end, but whoever told you life was easy lied heidi

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

consider it a spring clean - move everything out of the tank, including gravel, gently clean out yr gravel while it's out, keep the water in buckets (you MUSTN'T use any buckets that have had detergents in them),keep the filters running in buckets,move the empty tank to where it needs to be, and start fresh! if you do this quickly and efficiently (i know this sounds dorky, but i always make a plan with stages when i'm doing big work...fish are expensive friends to kill, after all!!) the fish won't even know the difference.

i've heard of tanks cracking or leaking when moved with substrate still in them...i'd not take the chance!

I was just wondering if since all my plants are rooted in the substrate if i should not remove them. I was thinking it would be ok to take out most of the water and just leave a little water and then quickly replace the water. I am not taking the tank out of my house so it is not like it will be moved around too much. Also, what is the best place to get really cheap 5 or 10 gallon buckets. all the buckets in my house have been used for cleaning, so i do not think i should use those. Are buckets pretty cheap at home depot?

If you're going to leave the substrate in I'd just make sure to have one person supporting the tank in the middle as well as the two on the ends. Even the wet substrate adds considerable weight.

I moved 6 tanks in January, not something I want to do again any time soon

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

My sister who is away at college is letting me take her room so that means i am moving all my stuff to her room, all i am thinking about is that she has a window sill for tanks, but other than that, lol i need to plant how to get my tanks down to the basement where her room is. (I am on the second floor) I have a 20 gallon and a 10 gallon, the 10 i am not too worried about because it is just cycling so it has no fish in it so i can just take out a lot of water and pour it back in when i get downstairs, but what about my twenty gallon? it is planted, and it is on a stand. So...any suggestions.

Yes i think that's a good idea. Try to everything in 1 day.


http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/s8xi5heh/my_photos
http://www.deathbydyeing.org/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/corydoras/
Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
http://www.maltaaquarist.com

Ok so it sounds like this is my plan: I am going to remove all the water, plants and fish, but keep the substrate in the tank, i am not worried too much about the weight of the substrate becuase i have all my guy friends coming over to help. Then i am going to just put back the water and then the plants then add the fish and watch very carefully. This is all hapenning saturday, i hope all goes well.

Don't move any tanks with water. Just remember this, as water will swing from one side to another & the glass & silicone can burst.
Always empty the tank before you move it.


http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/s8xi5heh/my_photos
http://www.deathbydyeing.org/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/corydoras/
Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
http://www.maltaaquarist.com

You will need to empty the tanks to move them. I like to use either styrofoam coolers or rubbermaid bins to preserve as much of the tank water as possible and keep the fish safe while I move the tank. Remove all of the water while you move the tank, and put the plants in a bucket with a few inches of water with your filter media to keep it moist so you don't kill your bacteria. You will want to move FAST so your substrate and decorations stay moistened.

Fast your fish for a day before (a full 24 hours) so they won't be producing a whole lot of ammonia while they're sitting in their temporary bins. Stick an airstone in the coolers/tubs while you move the tank to make sure the fish get enough oxygen.

Make sure you grab the tank by the corners and don't jostle it around too much because you *really* don't want to bust any seams. This is NOT a one person job! I usually leave just the gravel in the tank when I move it, but if you want to be extra careful, take it out because it could move around and stress the silicone. the gravel can go in the plant/filter media bucket.

Move the tank and stand as quickly as possible, getting the tank filled and filters running as soon as you can to avoid a mini-cycle. If you have any New and Improved Cycle or Biospira or other bacterial starter, dose the tank with it when you set it back up. To be safe, I would dose with some Amquel just in case the moving causes an ammonia spike, and melafix and pimafix in case your fish might have been knocked around a bit in transit. Watch the tank closely for a few weeks after moving, do water quality tests so you can spot any problems ASAP. The tank and its inhabitants will be stressed and vulnerable after moving.

HTH for now, i have probably forgotten something but I'm a bit sleepy right now.

Hooktor, there should be no problem of placing your fishies into the 5 gallon buckets, or even 1 gallon buckets for short periods of time...if you think it will take more than an hour just add an airstone to the buckets that they are in...I'd move the gravel to it's own seperate bucket and keep enough water with it to keep it wet, thus you just have an empty 20 gallon tank...and even I can lift an empty 20 gallon tankwe won't mention I have also move my 29 with gravel by myself, and an empty 55, and was one of the 2 people who moved the 125 into the apartment I'd do the same thing with a 10 gallon, better safe than sorry.

Hope that Helps, heidi

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

I am recruiting all of my guy friends, but where should i put the fish?
Could i transfer them to the ten gallon for a little while, during the move?

Last edited by Hooktor at 12-Apr-2005 22:58

Get several five gallon containers, place the water from the tank into them and then move and refill the tank. Live a small amount of water in the bottom of the tank and your plants should be fine for the short time they will be exposed. The tank will still be heavy so you will need some help in moving it, but if you are careful you should be okay.

---

Water, taken in moderation, cannot hurt anybody. -- Mark Twain