Long Distance Tank Moves

[Matt L.]

Has anyone ever moved a tank long distance, as in across country? Is this even possible?

No, I don't plan on moving any time soon, but I do realize that one day, I may very well have to move outside the northeast.

I just don't see how one would be able to practically move anything living (rock, sand, corals, or fish) even if a tank were setup and ready on the other end?

The only thing I could think of is move everything to a large rubbermaid bin; rock, sand, fish, and corals. Put temporary MH pendants over this. Use only the top layer of your sand bed and aerate vigorously. Meanwhile, on the other end, have a second system set up with your lights from your main display tank, plus some clean sand. Drive the rubbermaid bin to where you are going, and empty the contents into the new system. I really can't think of another way to do it...

It would seem like such a waste to have to get rid of established fish and coral colonies

Matt

 

[SHOmuchFUN]

It may be costly, but if you have one person on one end and another on the other, you could always fed-ex overnight all your fish/corals...

It's not all that difficult, but regulating the temperature on a long trip like that could be a problem. You'd need a fairly large DC/AC converter to power an air pump/heater(s). I honestly wouldn't worry about the light. Corals can go several days without light. It's not ALWAYS sunny on the reef

 

[Matt L.]

FedEx or as baggage on an commercial airline was another idea I had. You would need two setups.

How would you FedEx your fish? I know you could just put them in a bag like online vendors do, but do they put the fish into tank water or clean water? Do they use oxygen or air? I imagine I could ask.

I was just curious...

Matt

 

[alpha0r]

I moved my 29g from Charleston SC to Salem MA. Everything (SPS, LPS, clams, and fish) survived the move however I kill a good bit of stuff though neglect while I remodeled my condo. I bought two coolers and dumped in the tank water and LR. I took all the corals to the LFS and they bagged them in pure O2. Then I put the bags in with the LR. At night while we slept I brought the coolers into the hotel room and ran power heads and heaters in them. At the time I ran BB so sand wasn't an issue. I used all new water when I set the tank back up. When I move back I will do the same thing. It really worked well. Actually my corals look the best I had ever seen them after the move. I think they liked the 100% water change.

 

[APISTOBORELLI]

I'm helping someone now for the second time do this exact thing. They both brought thier corals and fish to me and had me watch them until they were ready. I'll be shipping the second persons corals this week sometime.

 

[Matt L.]

That's very cool. How did they do it? They just brought you corals and fish and you had room for them in a tank?

Matt

 

[APISTOBORELLI]

That's very cool. How did they do it? They just brought you corals and fish and you had room for them in a tank?

Matt

Yep, each time I've set up a second tank to hold their stuff. With enough warning I was able to cycle properly and have everything ready when they showed up. My only losses so far were the 3 fish this time around. I think the Mrs. may have sprayed something in the room and I found all 3 fish dead the next morning. Everything else has done very well.

 

[naturebatslast]

I moved from here to Seattle, brought the tank and hardware, kept the LR wrapped in wet newspaper. Had a trusted shop hold and ship all my livestock.

 

[DawnOctopus]

I moved a FOWLER from Wilmington, NC to Somerville, MA.

I stuck the rocks in buckets with battery air pumps and put them in the moving truck. The sand, fish, and CUC rode in the 55 in a few inches of water. The damsels lived, of course... Sadly my brittle star Igor perished in the move.

I wrapped the tank in bubble wrap and comforters, and stuck it in the "Grandma's Attic" part of the U-Haul.

 

[flavescens]

I just left Boston and moved to DC. I decided that all the trouble was not worth it. And for one main reason:::

Its an opportunity to UPGRADE!!!!!

I get the fish that you are attached to - you can get a willing petstore or fellow reefer to take care of holding and shipping. For me, I found reefers I knew would love em so unloaded them that way.

Corals are the same thing, but coral resale value is ok and you can always re-aquascape a new (bigger) set up so its not so bad.

So the point of this post, is that, well, when god closes one door, he opens another door to a bigger and better tank!!!!!!!

Just some food for thought

Chris