HELP! In need of moving advice

[CoralJunkie]

We’re moving down to FL in two weeks and I could really use some advice on what I should do to make this as seamless as possible and as safe. I don’t want to have any casualties and I’m afraid of the cold temps up here.
25 gallon IM lagoon
1 lightning maroon
1 yellow watchman
1 squamosa
A ton of zoas And chalice corals.

We’re driving straight to but it’ll take us about 18-20 hours.

 

[SteveDola]

sell all the livestock. box up the equipment. ship dry goods and reset up.

 

[43rdtank]

30 years ago, I bought a 150 tank in South Carolina, fully stocked. We tossed all the coral and fish in 5 gal pails, along with as much tank water we could carry. Strapped the stand to the top of the expedition and off we went, back to NH. Not a coral or fish was lost. Things are hardier than we think.

 

[CoralJunkie]

sell all the livestock. box up the equipment. ship dry goods and reset up.

I’m afraid I just don’t have the time to sell it all off, plus I have some very pricey zoas that I don’t want to just give away…

 

[CoralJunkie]

I was thinking of keeping the rocks in the tank and once in the SUV bracing it and filling partially with tank water…. And obviously the rest of the water will be in 5 gallon buckets

 

[43rdtank]

I think a tote for rock is a better option. One bad (or even mild) bump and you might hear glass breaking

 

[kgstei]

I was thinking of keeping the rocks in the tank and once in the SUV bracing it and filling partially with tank water…. And obviously the rest of the water will be in 5 gallon buckets

That doesn't sound like a good idea. Get a big cooler, bag things up and grab a couple of heat packs..

 

[kgstei]

It's going to be more than just transportation as you're going to need salt water once you get there.

 

[kgstei]

And if you don't have a cooler handy. Post here that you're looking for some. I'm sure people have just had fish shipped and have coolers kicking around their house. I've got to but I'm in Connecticut. Good luck

 

[afboundguy]

We’re moving down to FL in two weeks and I could really use some advice on what I should do to make this as seamless as possible and as safe. I don’t want to have any casualties and I’m afraid of the cold temps up here.
25 gallon IM lagoon
1 lightning maroon
1 yellow watchman
1 squamosa
A ton of zoas And chalice corals.

We’re driving straight to but it’ll take us about 18-20 hours.

Throw the live rock in a 5 gallon bucket(s) and some water and put a cover on them and tape/secure them and I wouldn't worry about temperature. You could even throw the live sand in there as well.

Live rock with corals don't fill up a bucket all the way so you don't squash them but cover them up and tape/secure them.

I would keep the clam and two fish in the same bucket and put the clam in a small plastic container with some live sand at the bottom and you could get a battery backup air pump of you could buy a small cheapo inverter (like this one) to plug into a cigarette adapter to run a small air pump (like this one) and air stone. You could easily T off the airline and add airline knobs to control the airflow to multiple buckets.

As far as keeping them heated, if you keep them in the passenger compartment of the car I would think they'll be fine and you could always get a bunch of small empty water bottles and put in hot tap water and float them to keep the temperature up and just empty and replace with fresh hot tap water every time you take a restroom/food break.

If you throw it all the the back of a uhaul/moving truck that might be a little more difficult but I wouldn't be too worried about the buckets with just live rock and I would try as hard as you can to keep the containers/buckets with the corals and livestock in the passenger compartment.

 

[SteveDola]

Fastest way to kill corals/fish is no air and low temp. Can you get an inverter to run pumps/airstones/heaters?

 

[CoralJunkie]

Fastest way to kill corals/fish is no air and low temp. Can you get an inverter to run pumps/airstones/heaters?

They’re going in my wife’s jeep that I’m towing behind….

 

[Cooper2]

I'd suggest you think about getting a power supply. I hate calling them generators because they're just batteries with inverters in them, but a 500W Lipo unit would heat and power your flow pumps likely for the duration of your trip. You'd also have it for back up when the hurricane comes..... you did say Florida right?

If you do transport livestock and liquids, pretend an idiot gets in front of you and jambs his brakes on. Where would it all slide? What will overflow? I would strongly advise no rock in ANYTHING other than a plastic pail or bucket. The thought of having rocks in a tank and possibly having to hit the brakes hard kinda makes me want to ask you to film your trip as it could be YouTube gold or make Aussie Man's Destination F'd highlights.

Good luck in whatever route you go!

 

[CoralJunkie]

I'd suggest you think about getting a power supply. I hate calling them generators because they're just batteries with inverters in them, but a 500W Lipo unit would heat and power your flow pumps likely for the duration of your trip. You'd also have it for back up when the hurricane comes..... you did say Florida right?

If you do transport livestock and liquids, pretend an idiot gets in front of you and jambs his brakes on. Where would it all slide? What will overflow? I would strongly advise no rock in ANYTHING other than a plastic pail or bucket. The thought of having rocks in a tank and possibly having to hit the brakes hard kinda makes me want to ask you to film your trip as it could be YouTube gold or make Aussie Man's Destination F'd highlights.

Good luck in whatever route you go!