Moving Livestock Cross Country

[D.Digler]

Hey,

Let me first say I've been reading posts on this forum for a while now, but finally took the plung and registered. I need some serious advise on what would be the best way to coordinate moving livestock from a 75 gallon in CA to Columbus, OH.

The time is rapidly approaching that I must leave sunny CA and its off to Columbus, OH (job transition). My timeline is as follows:

-April 12th fly to OH to find an apt., and hopefully set up holding system at my friends house for the LR I'm gonna ship.
-Lease in CA ends May 31, get in truck and drive to OH.

So sometime btwn those 2 dates I've got to tear my 75 down, sell it, and get all the livestock to Oh.

I'm also taking the opportunity to upgrade from a 75 to a 180, but I won't have the tank for at least a week or 2 after getting to Ohio. One of my buddies in Ohio is willing to take some of my livestock into his tank during transition, but has no room for the live rock (about 100 lbs). How should I ship the live rock? Will regular boxes lined with trash bags work?? Maybe wrap wet newspaper around the rock?? I've got a few styro boxes, but I'm probably using those to hold the bagged corals. If I fedex the live rock to him, what should he do with it?? Will it survive in a garbage can full of salt water with a few power heads?? How long will the coraline algae last with out lights?

Would it be better to buy a 30 gallon or so to hold the live rock? I'll probably need it for a sump anyway (do you think that's a good size or too small for a 180 gallon sump?? Maybe a 55 gallon would be better?) I've got 2 40 watt 50/50 strip lights that aren't being used, would the rock benefit from having those over them? The LR could be without permanent home and intense lighting for close to a month.

Should I save any of my sand from my current tank to help seed the new tank? Maybe I could put that in with the LR?

Any ideas/suggestions please help!!!

 

[Carpentersreef]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by D.Digler:
Hey,

Let me first say I've been reading posts on this forum for a while now, but finally took the plung and registered.

-Welcome, D.Digler!

How should I ship the live rock? Will regular boxes lined with trash bags work?? Maybe wrap wet newspaper around the rock??

-It's great that you have someone to accept your corals, but don't fret too much about the LR. I think that the important thing is to keep it moist during the move, and pack it in old towels or something to prevent it from breaking into smaller pieces. Before you pack it though, rinse it in fresh SW to remove any detritus that it may have accumulated.

I've got a few styro boxes, but I'm probably using those to hold the bagged corals. If I fedex the live rock to him, what should he do with it?? Will it survive in a garbage can full of salt water with a few power heads?? How long will the coraline algae last with out lights?

-Don't waste your money by Fedexing your LR. Take it with you in your vehicle, and treat it as uncured LR in your new setup.

..I'll probably need it for a sump anyway (do you think that's a good size or too small for a 180 gallon sump?? Maybe a 55 gallon would be better?)

-30 is fine, but bigger is always better!

The LR could be without permanent home and intense lighting for close to a month.

-Again, consider it as uncured LR in it's new home. The die-off on and in the LR will need to be processed in the new system. Make the LR the last thing that you pack, and the first thing that you UNpack, and rinse it with fresh SW as soon as you get to your new home. Set it up again in Ohio asap with fresh, heated SW, a powerhead, and a skimmer, if you can. Set your lighting up over it when you get there.

Should I save any of my sand from my current tank to help seed the new tank?

Sure, but vacuum it thoroughly first and bag it separately. You will have die-off from it as well when you set it up in Ohio.
<hr></blockquote>

Keep us posted, and good luck!

Mitch

[ March 30, 2002: Message edited by: Carpentersreef ]</p>

 

[Anonymous]

hi.
I strongly suggest you to sell as much live stock as possible. For a long trip like your, you will regret the move if any of them dies, even by FedEx overnight.

In addition, having your friend holding the corals for you is like buying a car from him. You can loose both the corals and a friend.

That's must MHO, and it may not applies in your case if you have something sentimental. Good luck.