I'm moving with a 55gal fish tank so?

Question

I've heard 2 different ways of doing it. What do you suggest? I'm moving 5 blocks away this weekend (2/24 & 25) from where I am now. I have Bala sharks, Silver tip sharks and Clown Loaches in it with ornamentals. This is the first time I've moved since I've had the tank so I've never done this before and I am NOT getting rid of my fish so don't make that suggestion.

Ifyouonly - When I was looking for a new place (to rent) I had some people tell me that a fish tank was not allowed because it was a pet. Which OK I agree to an extent. I really liked this one place but the lady was dead set on me "FLUSHING" them down the toilet & I could have the place. NOT!!! My response back to her was this "Fine get rid of your wig & I'll think about renting it". She was shocked that I would say that but hey I was shocked she would suggest me to "Flushing" my fish. I mean it's a 55gal tank so of course one would think it means something to me being that big. Not that it would make a diff if it was a small bowl but still!!!!

To All - thanks for all the advice so far. And I have plenty of strong guys helping me so the weight isn't a real factor here. And I know all about keeping some of the water for the eco factor.

Answer 1

I moved a 55 gallon tank about 5 miles and this is how I did it.
You will need:
2 strong men
A vehicle to hold the tank and the stand and any other fish equipment.

I made a special moving trip and only moved the tank and its equipment. I drained 30 gallons out of the tank and removed all rocks and anything that would fall on the fish. I then moved the tank (fish and gravel in tank), stand and accessories into the moving vehicle and drove to the new house and reassembled everything.I had the tank up and running in less then 90 minutes.

My tank was well established and the water that was in the tank was do for a water change and the filter was in need of cleaning. So when I added 30 new gallons of water the old water and older filter carbon helped bring the tank biological levels back up. All the suggestions of placing the fish into other containers is just creating more stress then is needed.

OT

Answer 2

The best thing to do is go to a pet shop and ask for extra styrofoam shipping boxes and large bags that they get their fish in. If you can find a shop that has some left around or will be getting new fish between now and the time you move they should give you a couple or at least sell them at a fair price. Bag your fish in the shipping boxes with plenty of water and plenty of air trapped in the bag. Save as much water from your tank as possible. Try to move the tank with the gravel and a few inches of water still in the tank. If you can manage that all the better. Once there put a little water in the tank, correct temperature and dechlorinated of course, and float the bags of fish with the extra water from your old tank added as well. Release the fish and all the old water into the tank and top it off with fresh water. Clean your filter and replace the cartridges and all should be well. The main idea is to keep as much water as you can and to keep your old gravel in water but not sealed up. That will keep your cycle in place.

MM

Answer 3

when i moved my tank we went to big lots and bought a large Tupperware like tub and transfered the water and fish into it (the more water you take from the tank the better your fish will do)
you can put the lid on tightly for just 5 blocks and when you get them moved you can put an over the back filter onto the side of the tub and maybe add an aerator so that they can stay there until you get the tank set up in your new house that way you dont have to rush yourself getting the tank set up and you dont have to worry about the fishes living conditions i moved across the country like this stopping at a motel every night to sleep and plug in my fish they all made the move just fine

Answer 4

Keep about 5 gallons of water in the tank if possible,and find someone really strong to help move it.Fish can stay in tank if there isnt anything that can fall over and squish them.Whatever you do,DO NOT attempt to reestablish the tank with all new water because you will disrrupt the bio-bed.Keep some of the old water even if you have to put some in milk jugs.Good Luck

Answer 5

Here's how i did my 55.

Got styrofoam boxes from Local fish store & bags.
Bought portable airators & airstones from fish store. They run on standard d cell batteries.

I Dumped the fish in the boxes & hooked up an airstone to each box.
Emptied the tank water into the street.

I Put the gravel in 3 gallon buckets, with tank water to keep bacteria alive. A 55 gal with 3 inches of wet gravel is too heavy to pick up. The gravel should come out into smaller containers... I used cheapo 3 gallon buckets from wal-mart. like $1 a peice.

The power was not turned on yet when I moved in, so it was a good thing i got the battery operated bubblers.

Answer 6

i have never done this my self but i am planning on moving out soon so i will :(

I would suggest just getting a either a large tupperware container of sort that you can put some water in or maybe a vase that is big enough for the heater to sit in while you setup the tank at your other location.
and then of course syphon out the water of the tank and hopefully just lift and carry :) But the fish should be ok for awile if you live in a warm area then the fish should be fine for like 20 min or so alone

Answer 7

a thank you to restoration this situation is to eliminate ninety p.c. of the water and replace it with clean dechlorinated water and then clean out your filter out and upload some carbon to the filter out. The carbon will wreck down the organic and organic cloth ( that's all the foodstuff your son put in) that's the main efficient thank you to bathe the tank up i might additionally turn the tank gentle off for no less than 24 hours after cleansing out the filter out and changing the water. the gentle out will cut back rigidity on the fish and in case you could cut back the fish rigidity you will be waiting to save them. additionally dont feed for a pair days.

Answer 8

Since you arent moving all that far I would suggest right before you move at the new place get some containers and fill them up with water from your tank . then put your fish into some plastic bags and use the air hose to fill the bags up with air like they do at the pet store. Tie the bags and then put them into a box for easy moving and take them to the new place. Once there you can stick the air hose into the plastic bag or transfer the fish into something temporarily with the air running. Go back and finsh draining the tank and carefully load it up and take it to your new place. Set it up and fill it with half new water free from clorine of course and the other half with the water you saved from the tank . Make sure the temperature is right then place your fish back into the plastic bags and float them for 10 minutes giving them time to adjust to the the water temperature. Then turn them loose. Why on earth would any one suggest you getting rid of your fish? Hell when I was younger my mom and me and my sister drove all the way from the state of washington to southern california with a 20 gallon tank full of fish and not one died. Of course the tank was only partially filled with water and every now and then either me or my sister would blow into the air hose to give them oxygen and we stayed over night at a hotel and hooked them up. 5 blocks is a piece of cake. I have a 80 gallon tank right now and Willy. Willy is a pacu around 22" long and 41/2 " wide and around the same height wise. I know what you mean about not getting rid of your fish. I need to free willy since he is out growing the tank but just cant seem to do it. I offered him to sea world but they never got back to me. Truthfully I dont know how I would even move willy since he is so big. As it is to take him out of the tank for any reason I use a clean towel and lift him like they do whales. Its the only way without him thrashing around and maybe getting hurt. I like the sharks and i am sure your tank is lovely. I cant have anything with willy in the tank except one large algae eater that I have thats about 8 inches long. Anything else he eats. Including decorations. Willy eats raw liver , garden worms , those nasty looking water bugs and dry dog food. and anything smaller than him. I put a small ceramic turtle in there for decoration and he bit its head off. When my cat tries to drink water from the tank willy tries to grab his tonge. If willy gets any bigger he just might eat the cat one of these days. Move your fish like i said and they will be just fine. Remember to save at least half of the water that is in the tank already so you wont shock the fish.

Answer 9

When I moved I used my big igloo cooler(cleaned) that way it has a top,keeps the water temp. and when I got them to my place I could put my submersible heater and a aerator in it while I got the tank set up.I didn't have to rush around and the fish survived the ride.