Moving a 75 gallon tank with the sand in it?

Question

Well not too many details, just heard from a fish store that I could leave the sand in and it was actually better too to avoid killing the stuff living in the sand. Do I trust this persons opinion... nope so im asking here. Is this a sure fire way to crack my tank or is this a doable method (would be much easier). Technicle info:
Tank-75 gallons (4 by 1.5 by 1.5 feet)
Sand-60 pounds
Manufacturer-All glass
Let me know you all are batting a thousand.

Move is 16 hours btw for the sand being exposed time i was planning on leaving some water down there though also the other water is being shipped just not in the tank

Answer 1

Whether you keep the sand in or out of the tank is up to you - it's just best to keep it wet so you don't lose the bacteria and have to cycle the tank - especially if you're going to use the sand in that tank again, or a new one when you make the move.

Taking the sand out will make the tank lighter, but it won't damage the tank to leave it in - after all, it holds the sand plus the weight of the water at other times. What will damage the tank, especially the corner seals, is any torque (twisting) while the tank is being moved. If you've got a cart with wheels, or a big piece of plywood to carry it on that would help, if not, be careful to carry it by the bottom only.

Answer 2

Bottom line,you can do it,but it does increase the likely-hood of damaging the tank. If you have access to three stout lads that can each handle a corner you should be OK. Removing part of the sand would start to stack the deck in you favor. If the sand is wetted with tank water and the move is 2 hours or less the bacteria bed should be affected very little as long as the sand is put back asap.

Answer 3

Out of personal experience...you should be ok. I've move many of tanks in my time, between mine and friends. The tanks have range from as little as an All-Glass 20 gallon to a 180 Oceanic ( which I have move more than a couple of times). I've even moved an All-Glass 90 also. And each time I've left the majority if not all of the sand in and everything was fine. Obviously you still have to be careful.

Also....leaving the sand in there can help by not stirring the sediment up and releasing some of the toxins that lie within it.

Hope this helps.

Answer 4

Tanks are designed to be strong enough to hold their contents in a static position. That means moving it with the substrate risks anything from a seam leak in the future, to cracking glass during the move. If you find it easier to deal with 75 gallons of water & fish on the floor than removing the sand, then move it with the sand.

Here's a pic of an All-Glass 72 gallon bow I got for free due to the top brace cracking. The previous owner moved it with substrate. I fixed it with $10 of welding.

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/6335/dsc01479apf3.jpg

http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/9220/dsc01486amj3.jpg

Answer 5

First placed the fish in cups or pitchers or bowls, then placed the rocks and sand interior the seventy 5 gal. tank, then take a glass and get the water into the different tank or get new water, then placed the fish interior the tank and TA-DA, you have it in the different tank without hurting your fish!

Answer 6

Don't do it. Putthe sand in 5 gal buckets with some water from the aquarium, you won't kill any of your beneficial bacteria and moving the aquarium will be easier and safer.

The person who told you to leave the sand it there must be some sort of retard.

Answer 7

it would n't really matter if you take the sind out or not. it surely won't do any harm to the animal that will live in the tank after the move. as for the things "living in the sand" i don't know if anything should be living in the sand. but it wouldn't do any harm to leave it there while moving it, so long as it's covered and doesn't get rained on or otherwise altered.