I need to move a 55 gal tank to a new apt, any advice?

Question

The tank has 10 mollies, 2 hatchet fish, 6 tetras, 3 sword tales, 4 shrimp(~1.5" long), 2 unknowns but tropical community, and an algae eater, 200watt heater set at 78deg, under gravel filter and a rena filstar xp3 filter, and live plants. i want to do this with the least amount of stress on my fish, all tho i realize it will stress them anyhow, any advice would be appreciated, i know i need to save as much of the water as possible, was looking at probably saving 25 gal. would this be enough? and as for the filter should i leave water in it to avoid killing the good bacteria? i figure when i move the fish themselves, i will put them in a 5 gal bucket with a bubble stone to keep them happy :) the move is only about a 1/4 mile but will of course take time to get the tank down and set back up (probably a few hours). again any advice is appreciated. thanks

Answer 1

Try to save as much of the water as possible by siphoning (without disturbing the gravel) into large clean garbage cans.
Afterward will be a good time to remove all the waste from the under gravel filter. You want to get rid of as much as the waste as possible because having disturbed it, the nitrite and ammonia levels will spike after the tank is set up again. Leave the Rena filter alone so as to maintain some bacteria.
Try to keep the fish in a deep bucket because Hatchets, Swords and Shrimp are most likely to jump out.
Add a little aquarium salt and stress coat or start- rite to the water before releasing the fish again.
Watch the tank for a couple days for stressed fish. They may get ick or a bacterial infection.
Good luck with the new apartment. I wish more people would remember to save the water when making a short move, it is so much better for the fish than the tank cycling again.

Answer 2

I have moved my 40 gallon tank several times in the last 2 years and have lost no fish.
Drain most of the water out of the tank after turning off the heater and let it cool down. Leave the fish IN the aquarium with about 2 inches of water above the gravel. Try not to slosh the water too much and keep the aquarium level while you move it.
CAREFULLY load the aquarium into the back of the pick up (SUV or what ever has a flat space to carry the aquarium). The aquarium will be heavy, you will need an extra person to help move it.
Load the stand last so that it will be first out of the vehicle and then set up the tank. Find a garden hose connection or use the faucet nearest the aquarium and try to match water temperature that is in the aquarium to the NEW water. Add chlorine remover and then fill the aquarium. While the aquarium is filling, adjust the ornaments and plants as you want them.
The total down time from when the water is removed and returned should be only about 20 minutes or so and you will not need an airstone (or if you want to do so, drop an airline and stone into the tank just before the move and after, while you are setting up the stand).
Let the aquarium set for about an hour before turning on the heater. You will be good to go and the fish will make the trip just fine.

Answer 3

Keep the 25 gal if you think you can carry that over there. I think that you should clear the filter and clean it whether or not it has good bacteria. I think that would much easier.
Basically, set the fish in a new setting a few days before. Then, take all the equipment off your old tank, relocate and reset, replace the fish. When you move the fish, make sure the temp is the same because or the fish will die ( some of my fish died this way).

Answer 4

Sounds like you know what you need to do. Make sure to empty the tank completely, not even a little water or gravel.

Answer 5

u can warp the planets with wet newspapers, i think 25 gal is enough, and leave the filter and the gravel wet to keep the good bacteria, and good luck

Answer 6

With a tank that great, you could drain it completely. attempt to maintain as lots water as you could. a extensive new trash can might artwork. do no longer fill it too finished, water weighs 8.8 lbs. according to gallon. bypass on your community fish shop (LFS) and tell them what you're doing. they could provide you some fish bags, or sell them to you low-priced. i bought some and paid 3 cents each and every for them. in case you're only shifting in the process city, you will have no problems with the way long they're interior the luggage. Use their tank water and fill the luggage only one 0.33 finished. Have somebody carry the bag open on an identical time as you internet your fish out of the tank. Take each and every of the decorations out first, it makes it lots greater convenient to catch them. additionally, a extensive internet makes it greater convenient too. whilst they're interior the bag, blow air into the bag and placed a rubber band around the actual of the bag like they do on the LFS. attempt to maintain them coated up for the trip. each and every of the lights furniture and shadows will reason them very much of rigidity. a reliable theory is to place them in plastic grocery bags so that they do no longer grow to be terrified. once you get on your new abode, placed in spite of water you stored interior the trashcan into the tank and flow your fish bags in it to equalize the temp. in case you do no longer shop any water, confirm your filter out does not dry out in any respect. there's most of the effective micro organism you will could desire to recycle your tank in there. in any different case, you will face 2-3 weeks of the nitrogen cycle earlier that's up and working nicely back.

Answer 7

get one of those carts put it on and push u know like the ones in home depot!? that should work. u wont have to carry it just push and enjoy the fun of it.