Moving, need some good plan to keep my live stock alive

[gforce6]

Hi,
I am planning to move next Sunday. New location will be 15 mins to drive.

Now, I have to move 2 tanks (55G softy with 2 fishes, 65G SPS with 5 fishes). I have five of 5G salt bucket and one of 10G, 30G empty tank.

I will move my 55G tank with all the water out, but the sandbed. However, I have about 150-200lb deep sandbed in my 65G tank.

Shall I take the sand out? or move it with send?, dose anyone move their tank with deep sandbed? I am little bit worry that might break the bottom of the tank.

Please, tell me the best way to move my tank with minimum water cycle. Thank you in advance.

Jung

[ March 25, 2005, 05:54 PM: Message edited by: gforce6 ]

 

[loismustdie]

I moved a 55 gallon once with a sand bed. It sucked, but I think it's the way to go. You'll just need more backs to help you carry it. 4 to 6 people carrying a 55 with 200lbs. of sand isn't bad. All I had to move mine was me and my brother-in-law. We pulled it off and before we knocked out a 12 pack, we had it in place, restocked and set up with no losses

 

[cali_reef]

I moved my 180 from Queens to LI without the sand. Threw out half of the sand and washed the remaining very well before putting everything back together. Tank did go thru another cycle.

 

[jhale]

give yourself plenty of time to deal with the tanks.
moving everything else plus the tanks in the same day is going to be tough. can you make up water ahead of time where your moving too? if you can, get some 50 gal trash containers and make up all your water before you get there. that would help a lot. if you keep the sandbed intact, and all the rocks stay wet, you should not see a cycle at all.
and like chris said get as many people to help as you can.
pizza and beer goes a long way when moving, good luck!

 

[joseney21]

i've never done it but i guess a dolly would help, anyone ever do that before??

 

[mandarin]

I just moved this past wekend and we kept the sand in but we only have about 50lbs in sand. It was the absolutely horrible. But someone told my husband that if you have a thick sandbed there are toxic gasses trapped in the bottom of the sand bed due to the waste, I think marrone told me. I would check it out. How much help do you have.

 

[gforce6]

Thank you for your advice everyone.

I have some questions about moving the tank :

If the sandbed is shifting while moving the tank with sandbed, does the tank go thru cycle again?(I am on 2nd floor right now) If it is, how long does it take to settle down the cycle?

Planning to quick set up empty 30G tank to put all the live stock from 55G tank. What will be the fastest way to set it up? I am thinking about get some live sand from LFS and use the water from 55G tank, or just use the water from 55G tank no sand bed with refugium.

I will have 2.5 days to move out. First half day, I will make some make up water as Jhale says and setup the empty 30G tank and move 55G tank to new place. Wish me luck and some advice on my questions

Thanks again

Jung

 

[cali_reef]

Your sand bed will become unstable soon after you take the water out of the tank. Carrying a 65 gallon tank with 150-200 lbs of sand in it down a flight of stairs will hurt someone's back and possibility of cracking the tank is VERY HIGH. Move them in 5 gallon buckets only.

I suggest getting a large rubber-mate tub, something large enough to hold all of your rocks and as much water as possible. Set this up with some powerheads and heater in your new place with as much clean water from your existing tank as possible, move everything except the sand to it and you should be good for 1-2 days. You should not have much of ammonia spike if you do this right and don't feed the fish; corals without light for a day or two will be fine.

Move your tank EMPTY, you should wash the sand thoroughly if you do decide to reuse it. Set up your tank with new water and move a few pieces of rock in, check your water conditions and move the rest of the stuff in slowly two or three days later. You will experience a new cycle, but the cycle should be quick since most of your beneficial bacteria in\on the rocks should survive the transfer. Skip the live sand from LFS, I doubt any LFS have a better sand bed then what you have already if you feel you must have a "live" sand bed.

Last advise, be prepare to change 10% of water in the first few days if the water perimeter requires it. Don't do more then 10% or more often if the water is within the acceptable range, you will only prolong the cycling.

 

[stingnyc]

Hi Jung,

I very much agree with cali_reef, but I wouldn't keep the old sand even if it were thoroughly washed. It's probally better if you just buy new sand or go BB.

If you would like I have 1 large rubber-mate you can borrow and a few 7 gallon buckets. Plus I can give you a hand if you would like. LMK

-Steve