Tank Moving?

Question

I am moving bak to my real house down the street in a few eeks(long story why I am at a dif house) I have a 5 gallon tank with a betta and a 10 gallon with the rest of my fish. How am i supposed ot move them? I really don't want to empty the water because I would hjave 2 cycle the water...any tips??

I do 40% water changes-but i dont want to do a complete water change

Answer 1

Here's what I would do -

Get a small jar, fill it halfway with water from your Betta tank, and put your Betta in it. Now get a 5 gallon bucket - like from a paint store or home improvement store, and put a new garbage bag in it. Dump about half of tank water into it and throw in all the tank decorations, gravel and the media from your filter.

Toss the rest of the water away - water some plants with it. Now you can move the betta tank to your real house, set it up, add back the gravel, decor and the old water, add new tap water to fill it up - add water conditioner, put your filter media back, fire up the filter and your heater. Once the temperature has stabilized, you can put your Betta back in.

Your 10 gallon is a little more challenging, but the idea is the same - save about 50% of the old water, more if you have enough buckets, and put your fish in a bucket with the old water.

Since your move is so close, you don't need to worry about adding an air pump to the bucket while your fish are in there.

The beneficial bacteria that will maintain the "cycle" live mostly in the gravel and in the filter media, so changing out 50% of the water should not cause an ammonia spike. Just make sure that the filter and gravel stay submerged during your move.

I am really glad to hear that your Betta has a 5 gallon tank!

Put a new plastic garbage bag in each.

Answer 2

Your water doesn't cycle, your filter media does. Empty the tank 1/2 way, less water means easy to catch fish. Since you are moving down the street the fish can be kept in a bucket half full with tank water, just keep it covered and at least at room temperature. Drain the rerst of the tank, remove everything, including decorations. Keep your filter media wet, a small bowl works fine for this. Now you can move the completely empty tank, fish, decos, and media.

Before moving, fast the fish for 24 hours, and feed lightly for the next week. This feeding schedule keeps the fish from producing too much waste, which will overwhelm your bio filtration if there has been any die back. Some will advise keeping as much of the old tank water as possible, with such a short move the tap water will be the same.

I do this all the time with angel fry, moving from a smaller bare tank to a larger one as they grow, with their corresponding filter. The new tank gets 100% fresh water, the fish and filter. I am constantly filling & draining tanks breeding & selling angels, not to mention moving filters.

Answer 3

Water doesn't cycle the tank because that's not where the bacteria settle. Drain some of your tank water into another container and put your substrate and filter media in it to keep them wet (and keep the bacteria alive) Move your fish to a separate container or bag them in aquarium water and drain the tanks all the way. Trying to move the tanks with any water in them will stress the tanks and could cause either the glass to break or the seams to separate.

Answer 4

You have to empty some of the water. You may want to put some of the water in a bucket with the fish until you set up at the new home. Fish enjoy water change anyway...should do that once a week at lease,

Answer 5

You need to remove most of the water so it will be light enough to move without causing water to splash or develop leaks etc. You may have to remove the fish and transport them separately also, but I have moved mine short distances in tanks very low on water, just depends on how long the trip is.

Answer 6

1) You can get a skateboard and wheel it down the street

2) You can (Which I would do) is take the fish and put them in small temp containers like they give you when you buy a new fish and take 50% of the tanks water out then put the bags with the fish in them so the bags float on the surface of the water (half full) for a smoother ride for the fish plus it will be a lot lighter to carry for you.

Anyway, good luck ;)

Answer 7

when i move i leave just as much water that can hold the fish i move the tank and fill up when I get to the new place risky i know but i haven't lost any fish. good luck