270g SPS tank move

[Reefanatik]

Here i am laying on a mattress on the floor at the new house babysitting the tank for the second night. Just want to be here and make sure there aren't any issues.
Things to do tomorrow:
1. Order Trident power cord. Misplaced during the move
2. Set up the RO/DI filters and water change station.
3. Make 200g new water
4. Mix x amount of saltwater.
5. Test water parameters. DKH, Ca, Mag, NO3 & PO4
6. Set up CaRx (maybe tonight)
7. Hook up Gyres(x2)
8. Install sump
9. Install tank stand, doors and canopy
10. What ever else is needed

 

[1ocean]

Night Buddy..Hope you have a good night...

 

[UncommonSense]

2. Set up the RO/DI filters and water change station.
3. Make 200g new water

How big is your RODI system? This sounds like roughly a full 24hrs worth of production, if not 48hrs!

 

[Reefanatik]

How big is your RODI system? This sounds like roughly a full 24hrs worth of production, if not 48hrs!

I have a 7 stage with booster pump. I can do roughly 200g/day

 

[Reefanatik]

Everything has been transferred. Lost a couple frags & one Gem Tang. Now to wait and see if there are more losses.
I still have some equipped to set up.
ATO Trident &Gyres

 

[Reefanatik]

 

[mrtian97]

Sorry for your loss

 

[Reefanatik]

Sorry for your loss

Thanks, wife saw my stress levels with the move and said she would buy me a replacement. so that makes me feel a little better

 

[Sensei Kona]

The time is getting near. I am moving my 270g sps tank 30 minutes away to a new home next week. I have to be out of my current house by March 26th per the sale contract. The move will be 30 minutes away. I’m starting this thread to document my move, what went well, what issues I have and any possible advice I can get. Below are the steps i will take to transfer my tank. i'm sure i will look at it a few more times and make some changes before the move.

1. Buy hose for external return pump- will use to possibly transfer large amounts of water during the tank move.
2. Clean all pumps before move.
3. Label all apex outlets and cords with label tape to make Apex hookup faster.
4. order replacement 90's bulkheads for return lines just in case there are any leaks when placing the tank back in service.
5. replace RO/Di filters
6. make 200 gallons of fresh RO/DI water.
7. Mix 100g of fresh saltwater.
8. pick up 300g brute container from my friend to temporarily store rock, fish and coral in living room while transferring tank and all equipment to new home.
9. Move RO/DI filters to new home and 100g container. Fill storage container with fresh 100g RO/DI water.
10. Move Apex Jr. to 300g. temp tank, move 1/2 Radion lights to temp tank, install heater, pH probe and pumps for circulation.
11. fill temporary tank with 100g fresh saltwater.
12. circulate water and monitor until it reaches display tank temperature.
13. test temp tank water and make sure alkalinity matches display tank. adjust as needed.
14. Once all parameters match display, drain approx. 100g tank water into temp tank.
15. transfer coral and rocks to temporary tank.
16. Top off temporary tank with more display water if needed.
17. catch fish and place in temporary tank. easier said then done. may need to empty tank real low to catch fish.
18. monitor temporary tank overnight.
19. install skimmer in temporary tank.
20. start to place remaining equipment in plastic containers for transfer the next day.
21. scrape the bottom of the tank to remove spiky barnacles/growth on bare bottom tank. i have noticed that they lead to detritus buildup.
22. pick up extra furniture dolly's from a friend. they will be used to move the tank to my back patio and lift.

Day 2.
1. pick up "material Lift" from heavy equipment rental in town. This will be used to slide the tank from the stand and on to the forks and lower the tank onto furniture dolly's and minimize any lifting and possible back strains. i rented this lift when i set up my tank. it was so easy to move and lift.
2. Lift forks even with top of tank stand. Plywood will be installed on forks to prevent any damage to tank.
3. lower tank onto furniture dolly's.
4. move tank and stand to truck and trailer.
5. transfer stand, tank and all equipment to new home.
6. Fill tank at new home with approx. 100g. of fresh saltwater.
7. set up 2nd apex controller with all available pumps, lights, and heater.
8. bring second 100g. water storage container to new home, make 200g. of fresh RO/DI water. Mix 100g of fresh saltwater.
9. verify temperature, and all parameters match temporary tank at home.
10. start to transfer all rocks, coral and fish from temporary tank from home to Display tank at New home/location. I will use multiple ice chest for transfer.
11. pray and keep fingers crossed that all goes smooth. i'm sure it will not go exactly as planned but this is the plan so far.

Attatched are pictures of the furniture dolly i will use to move the tank, the Material lift i will use to lower and raise the tank and the 300g temporary tank i will use to store the coral/fish during the move.

Do you have photos of actually lifting tank? I have a 3/4” thick tank (400lb empty), approximately 130 gal, to move for flooring contractor. They’ll move furniture, but won’t touch fish tanks. I’m considering glass suction cups on opposite ends to lift from stand, and place on rolling carts. For the fish & coral, I’ll line bath tub with koi pond liner and temporarily set up heater & fan. Drain & replace say 5-10% salt water nightly. Thinking it’ll take flooring guys 3-4 days to demo and install new laminate so fish & coral should be fine (yes, no, maybe so…). Your feedback and recommendations are greatly appreciated! Thx

 

[Sensei Kona]

Do you have photos of actually lifting tank? I have a 3/4” thick tank (400lb empty), approximately 130 gal, to move for flooring contractor. They’ll move furniture, but won’t touch fish tanks. I’m considering glass suction cups on opposite ends to lift from stand, and place on rolling carts. For the fish & coral, I’ll line bath tub with koi pond liner and temporarily set up heater & fan. Drain & replace say 5-10% salt water nightly. Thinking it’ll take flooring guys 3-4 days to demo and install new laminate so fish & coral should be fine (yes, no, maybe so…). Your feedback and recommendations are greatly appreciated! Thx

 

[W31Olds]

Suction cups are the way to go. You'll need 4 and may sure they are rated (weight) for what you want. I'd probably use a cart to set the Tank on if you don't have to refill it, but the sand will have to go. The difficult part lifting a Tank off a stand is it's hard to use your legs because of the height.

 

[Reefanatik]

I don't have any photos of the move. This was the second time i used a lift to move my tank from the stand. Both times i lowered the tank on to the Heavy Duty Dollies and just rolled it from there. I've never used the suction cups so i can't compare the difference in difficulty on lowering the tank. What i can say is the only exertion is when you are sliding the tank from the stand to the lift and it is pretty easy to do. once i slid the tank to the lift i just lowered the tank on top of the dollies. you will just need to make sure you get a lift thats rated for the tanks weight. Another benefit is that you don't struggle lifting the tank from a high position like

W31Olds referred to.​