moving aquarium. Help

[simple]

Ok, i just bought a 100 gallon aquarium with 100 lbs. of live rock and some live sand as well. I plan to use either my friends pick up or my van to move it. The only thing is that i dont want to have to cycle the tank again since its already been running for a while and the rock is very much live. What do you guys suggest would be the best way to move everything (live rock, sand, water) without causing too much of a disruption, so i wont have to recycle this?
Any advice or suggestions would help, Thanks

 

[Brian5000]

If you don't have corals or anything on the rock yet, they will be fine as long as they stay damp. Keep them in a covered container and that gives you a several hours to move and re-build your system.

If you're moving a long distance and/or have corals growing on them, you can keep them submerged in water (rubermaid containers work nice). Powerheads and heaters will keep the critters comfortable for a couple days while you get everything where it belongs.

Unless something dries up and dies, your tank will continue on course. You will not see a re-cycle.
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[simple]

ok, i plan on keeping everything completely submerged so as to have the least die off possible. The drive will only be 15 minutes, but since i plan to keep an octopus in it it needs to be as mature and cycled as possible. It wont have any corals though so i dont have to worry about that,

 

[Anonymous]

Hey! Its you again!

If you can leave the sand bed in tact, you should be fine. If you have to remove the sand, the tank will most likely cycle again.

 

[brandonberry]

I've moved tanks without removing the sand bed and it worked well. You may want to invest in a piece of styrofoam insulation to go under the tank in the pick-up. Also, if you leave the rock submergedbe sure to provide adequate aireation. I would either connect an air line to the powerhead or add a couple of airstones. Rock can go anoxic quick sitting in unaireated water. The best thing would be if you could have a tub of water ready when you get your tank home so you could immediately add the rock back and refill it. I like to skim a tank really hard right after a move like that as well.

 

[SnowManSnow]

I wouldn't even worry about air if its only a few hrs until it will be back in the tank. If it's going to be an all day thing.. then ya... you'll need some sort of air.

b

 

[Mthompson]

Keep the sand bed in the tank, and get a few hands to help lift. Keep air running in the rock holding tubs, this is just a safeguard. It might be fine without it, but if something dies the bacteria feeding on it will quickly deplete the oxygen. Putting oxygen in is not that much of a hassle (add a tube to a powerhead), but it will give you one less thing to worry about!

 

[engineerfish]

I moved a 100 gal. from Macon to Valdosta ( 2hrs one way) that had live rock, some corals, and fish. I used coolers ( my Igloo 72 off my boat) and others I borrowed from my fishing buddies, to house the fish and rock. You can position the rock so it will not move during travel and place some of your fish in there as well. I find that this calms the fish ( esp. tangs and angels that are jittery ) allowing them to have hiding spaces. The large coolers also allow you to retain a large amont of your existing water. Any additional water I placed in clean and sterile 30 or 55 gal. containers with lids ( depends on what resourses and help you have available). The coolers also allow very little temperature swings ( I did this in June going down Interstate in 90+ temps). Allow air space in coolers and you won't have to worry with aeration. I was able to drive there, tear it down, drive home, and set it back up that same day! I had no loss of fish or corals and still have all of them to this day ( 1 yr + ). The corals have been fragged for friends. The fish are purple tang, flame angel, panther grouper, flame hawkfish, striped hawkfisk and a oyster toadfish, as well as hermit crabs,snails and many other inverts. :lol: Just my son and I did this(we are both 6'5'' 250) and a hand truck.
GOOD LUCK HOPE THIS HELPS!!!!!!!!!!
In this hobby you must improvise or you will kill yourself!!!!!!!!!