What is the best way to move a fifty gallon aquarium with 11 fish three miles?

Answer 1

Since you're only moving a short distance, the best thing to do would be to try to save as much of the water that is currently in the tank as possible. Use a cooler, or if you have them, you can use buckets.

Depending on how big the fish are, you can use bags, or a bucket. Either way, whatever you move the fish in, make sure it's dark inside, and don't feed them the day before the move. It helps keep them from stressing too much.

And don't clean the gravel... It already has all the bacteria living in it. If you don't clean it, it takes less time for the new water to get back to how it is now, and you don't have to worry about cycling it.

Answer 2

A cooler works best for transporting fish short distances. It is sturdy, maintains temperature, & has a top. For a 3 mile move no heater or airstone will be needed. Don't feed the fish for at least 24 hours before the move, bring at least half the old water with if your new location is on a different water supply.

Empty the aquarium completely. Water, deco's, substrate, everything, you want nothing but tank. Aquariums are designed to hold their contents in a static position, by moving them with anything in them you stress the seams, which leads to leaks or glass failure. This gets real messy, & always happens at an inconvenient time. Keep the substrate & filter media wet, this will keep your nitrifying bacteria alive.

Answer 3

we just moved our 90 gal we use an new trash can with a lit and wheels to moved the water from the tank and ice cooler lined with clear trash bags we kept the air pump running till we got the tank set up at the other house waitting and waited about 24 hours and put the fish in. Treated the water as if a big water change. We didn't lose any fish.

Answer 4

Place some of the water from the aquarium in a picnic cooler. Put the fish in, carefully. Connect an air pump to an air stone, and use a voltage inverter to allow you to plug it in to the cigarette lighter of your car. Drain the tank completely. Do not try to leave water in it when you move it: water weighs about 10 lbs per gallon.

At the other end, have water already aged/treated to add to the tank. Check the temperature of the fish water and the tank before adding the fish.

Answer 5

Well, if you're going to move a fifty gallong tank with 11 fish I hope the fish are strong. How are they going to grab it with their fins? I think you would be better off moving the aquarium with 11 of your human friends rather than 11 fish.

Answer 6

Bag the fish, empty the tank and put it all in the car. It's not safe to move a full tank with fish in it. The chance of it breaking is very high. An empty tank is the safest way. And the fish can survive in bags for a few hours.

Answer 7

You will want to drain the tank, & bring the fish in seperate smaller containers (but fill them with water from the tank in order for them to remain more comfortable). That would be incredibly heavy trying to move it while filled & the tank shaking while trying to move it will stress out the fish. You can run an empty hose out a window to syphin it out, to fill it back up use a hose, or if the water needs to be heated use a bucket & carry water from the tub & adjust the temp accordingly.

Answer 8

I moved more than 3 miles with a 30 gallon aquarian, first go purchase new plastic pails and clean with warm light suds and remove your fish within the same water in your aquarian to the clean plastic pails, and to where your fish will not jump out of your plastic pails, or you may purchase new plastic foot locker storage and transport your fist (the foot locker hace a top), good luck and be careful, do not lose your fish.

Answer 9

I think Jenny is right,Ithink your fish are going to have to call some friends to help move,that's what I usually do,and I hate moving.

Answer 10

this is a really awesome site. i hope it helps.


http://www.aquariumfish.net/information/moving_your_fish.htm

good luck!