How much water can i leave in a 29 gal tank when moving it?

Question

I have a 29 gal tank with atleast 25 lbs of gravel in the bottom and about 15 fish/shirmp. How much water should i remove before i try to move it from my apartment to my car and to my new apartment?

thanks all, i'ts not actually mine.. it's my boyfriends and he's gettin some guys to help him...i'll make sure we drain it will tho.

Answer 1

This is not the safest way to move an aquarium! That being said, I have done it.
Item #1- If you are not a weight lifter---don't try. Get strong help! The shifting of the water and gravel makes this an exercise in controlling heavy weights. If stairs are involved it becomes doubly difficult.
Item #2- Remove every thing that you can,(decor,larger rocks,anything to remove weight).
Item #3-Remove all the water you can,(fish can survive in a surprisingly small amount for short periods of time).
Item #4- Consider moving some of the water taken out of the tank in a separate container. If the time between the two apartments is more than an hour you can add this back into the aquarium for the trip and siphon it out for the move at the end of the ride.
Item #5- The aquarium MUST sit on a firm,flat surface like the back of a station wagon or the floor of a van. Setting on a soft car seat with any weight at all in the tank invites leaks or breakage. If the tank won't fit in the trunk of the car try removing the back seat and shimming up a level board.
Item #6- Good luck,and best wishes.

Answer 2

I think you will be able to answer your question when you go to try to move it. I've tried moving just a 10 gallon with about only two inches of water in it and got nowhere. It's amazing how much water can actually weigh. I'm sure that you will find you cannot possibly pick up a 29 gallon tank with even any amount of water in it. And if you're doing it because you don't want to take out the fish, forget it. Transporting them this way would be the most stressful thing you could do to them. You must put them in another container, such as those 5 gallon buckets with lids, then put holes in the lid and then pack the bucket very securely, preferably on the floor of your car, with blankets, bubble wrap, etc., to prevent it from tipping or moving in any way. Use the water from the tank for the bucket as it has the beneficial bacteria, then drain the rest of the water in the aquarium all the way. This will be much, much easier and you will still have saved your good, cycled water and your fish will be far less stressed.

Answer 3

Remove all of it ! The force of the water sloshing around can easily crack your tank (8.34 lbs per gallon)! Which leaves you with dead fish + shrimp, ruined tank, and very wet car.
Whenever i move tanks i remove all the water with a siphon into those sturdy five gallon buckets. I place my fish and plants in the buckets, and my filter media in the others--lids on all--. Usually i only keep half of the water--it seems to be enough not to kill the pre-established cycle.
Drive very carefully, but get there quickly (it's fine to leave in the gravel and other decorations). Slowly add the salvaged water so that it does not kick up debris which has settled in the gravel. Add fish/shrimp and plants. Now begin to get your filter together and if possible run it while you are filling the rest of the tank up with new water.

Answer 4

I would take out just about all of it except what is covering the gravel. Save some of the old water in jugs or buckets. You should never try to move a tank that has water in it, it could cause the tank to crack. You should also keep the filter media in a baggie with some tank water to keep the good bacteria from dying out.

Answer 5

Take the fish out and bag them (with tank water) Get some buckets/tubs/fish bags and fill them with water, And in the tank just leave the gravel and about 1inch of water,, If you leaeve anymore water than this in it and the tank can crack, You shouldnt move the tank with anymore than 2inch of water in it, Get to your new aparment add all the water and top up with some new water then put the fish back in.

Good luck

~ GG

Answer 6

there really shouldnt be anyway, the fish should be in a bucket, with some live plants.

The eastest way to move fish in my opinion, with out bags etc..

is get a large styrofoam cooler, add some tank water, stress coat, and some plants like anarcris, and add the fish and closse the lid.

Drain the tank so it is light as possible, and bring it to the new place.

Set it up, and then add the fish about 30 mins later.

Answer 7

My opinion would be to leave about 1/3 of the water in. It will reduce the weight, but it kindof depends on how big your fish and shrimp are you wouldnt want them sitting there not having enough water to swim in and stay calm. hope it works out good for you

Answer 8

id say take out half and leave the other half