How to breakdown and move tank.

[Philipgonzales3]

Will be moving .4 miles down the road in about a month. I called and asked my local reef shop how much they charge and they said it would be roughly $350 to $600. Basically $65 an hour per person and they would need to send two people. Plus mileage to drive out here, and x amount per gallon of water that they replaced, etc.

The guy I was talking to mentioned they would likely need to cut the plumbing. I mentioned I had unions right below the bulkhead. He said something like they still may need to cut it if they can't get the bulkhead off or something. I didn't fully understand so I didn't press that part.

So if I do it myself, this is what I'm thinking. First get like 10 5 gallon buckets with lids. Setup RODI at new house and have temp matched RODI on hand. I use a 45 gallon brute so was thinking just fill that up for now.

Then I would drain most of the water out and net out most of the fish, corner the puffer into a container. Maybe slowly and carefully dig out the wrasse. Would put my rocks, and biomedia spread across a few buckets. Fish spread across 2 or 3. Move is only .4 miles so will toss in a heater and airstone in the buckets. No need for battery powered.

Then I would loosen my unions and loosen my bulkheads and remove the nut. Oh wait the nut won't pass over the union will it? This is where the cutting part comes in?

So will it need to be cut? Or can I lay my tank on it's back when transporting? Probably not a good idea right?

Suck up the water in the sump with a wet vac. Remove the sump from the stand. Load up the stand, tank, sump and ride off to the new house.



Any advice is appreciated. I'd like to get all supplies needed before moving day.

 

[eggplantparrot]

Will be moving .4 miles down the road in about a month. I called and asked my local reef shop how much they charge and they said it would be roughly $350 to $600. Basically $65 an hour per person and they would need to send two people. Plus mileage to drive out here, and x amount per gallon of water that they replaced, etc.

The guy I was talking to mentioned they would likely need to cut the plumbing. I mentioned I had unions right below the bulkhead. He said something like they still may need to cut it if they can't get the bulkhead off or something. I didn't fully understand so I didn't press that part.

So if I do it myself, this is what I'm thinking. First get like 10 5 gallon buckets with lids. Setup RODI at new house and have temp matched RODI on hand. I use a 45 gallon brute so was thinking just fill that up for now.

Then I would drain most of the water out and net out most of the fish, corner the puffer into a container. Maybe slowly and carefully dig out the wrasse. Would put my rocks, and biomedia spread across a few buckets. Fish spread across 2 or 3. Move is only .4 miles so will toss in a heater and airstone in the buckets. No need for battery powered.

Then I would loosen my unions and loosen my bulkheads and remove the nut. Oh wait the nut won't pass over the union will it? This is where the cutting part comes in?

So will it need to be cut? Or can I lay my tank on it's back when transporting? Probably not a good idea right?

Suck up the water in the sump with a wet vac. Remove the sump from the stand. Load up the stand, tank, sump and ride off to the new house.



Any advice is appreciated. I'd like to get all supplies needed before moving day.

maybe buy a couple of sheets of insulation foam (that pink or blue stuff), layering them up and cutting slots for the bulkhead and unions may work? by the looks of it maybe 5-6 layers should get the bulkhead and unions off the ground/floor

 

[eggplantparrot]

Will be moving .4 miles down the road in about a month. I called and asked my local reef shop how much they charge and they said it would be roughly $350 to $600. Basically $65 an hour per person and they would need to send two people. Plus mileage to drive out here, and x amount per gallon of water that they replaced, etc.

The guy I was talking to mentioned they would likely need to cut the plumbing. I mentioned I had unions right below the bulkhead. He said something like they still may need to cut it if they can't get the bulkhead off or something. I didn't fully understand so I didn't press that part.

So if I do it myself, this is what I'm thinking. First get like 10 5 gallon buckets with lids. Setup RODI at new house and have temp matched RODI on hand. I use a 45 gallon brute so was thinking just fill that up for now.

Then I would drain most of the water out and net out most of the fish, corner the puffer into a container. Maybe slowly and carefully dig out the wrasse. Would put my rocks, and biomedia spread across a few buckets. Fish spread across 2 or 3. Move is only .4 miles so will toss in a heater and airstone in the buckets. No need for battery powered.

Then I would loosen my unions and loosen my bulkheads and remove the nut. Oh wait the nut won't pass over the union will it? This is where the cutting part comes in?

So will it need to be cut? Or can I lay my tank on it's back when transporting? Probably not a good idea right?

Suck up the water in the sump with a wet vac. Remove the sump from the stand. Load up the stand, tank, sump and ride off to the new house.



Any advice is appreciated. I'd like to get all supplies needed before moving day.

laying on the side/back for a short trip shouldnt be a problem either since you dont have a monster that would crush itself under its own weight

 

[ryeguyy84]

You'll need to cut the plumbing unless you can lay the tank down and drive it to the new house. When I moved I opted to replace the bulkheads since how often do you get to do that? Load everything in buckets and move it over. Plan for the whole day have extra salt water on hand I was 10g short when I moved and it was a PITA.

It's a short trip so just try to work quick

 

[ryeguyy84]

maybe buy a couple of sheets of insulation foam (that pink or blue stuff), layering them up and cutting slots for the bulkhead and unions may work? by the looks of it maybe 5-6 layers should get the bulkhead and unions off the ground/floor

That's not a bad idea... Wish I thought of that

 

[eggplantparrot]

You'll need to cut the plumbing unless you can lay the tank down and drive it to the new house. When I moved I opted to replace the bulkheads since how often do you get to do that? Load everything in buckets and move it over. Plan for the whole day have extra salt water on hand I was 10g short when I moved and it was a PITA.

It's a short trip so just try to work quick

his tank is pretty new though so i doubt he needs new bulkheads

 

[eggplantparrot]

if you can get RODI set up at your new location and get a couple of Brute cans, you can pre-make some saltwater and consider it a big water change lol

 

[Philipgonzales3]

So I would prefer to lay it on the side, vs cutting the bulkheads. I think... unless there is a reason I shouldn't.

 

[eggplantparrot]

So I would prefer to lay it on the side, vs cutting the bulkheads. I think... unless there is a reason I shouldn't.

it should be fine, its not a huge tank. just make sure you take the rock structure out BEFORE you flip it lol, you never know what your brain will do when stressed haha

 

[Philipgonzales3]

it should be fine, its not a huge tank. just make sure you take the rock structure out BEFORE you flip it lol, you never know what your brain will do when stressed haha

Well I guess laying on it's front would be easier to set it on the tailgate and slowly tip it over on it's front. The bulkhead pipes would be in the way to set down on its back I think. Either way I'm already starting to freak out lol.

 

[flooddc]

Looks like you don't really need any cutting on your plumbing. Remove unions and carefully lift the tank off the stand. Lay on its side when move. Be VERY VERY careful not to pull on those pipes while the bulkheads are attached to the tank. Otherwise it could possible damage the tank.
2nd, pre-made saltwater for your tank for at least 50-75%. RODI alone is not going do any good. You want to change at least half of your tank's saltwater.
Other than those above, your plan seem good.
Move your corals and LR into buckets first then catch your fish.
You can take some old tank water to new place, but it's not necessary as it doesn't really have much beneficial bacteria in the water.
If you have sand, get new sand or go bare bottom.
Set up tank at new place and check for leaks. Place LR in first and then acclimate corals and fish.

 

[eggplantparrot]

Well I guess laying on it's front would be easier to set it on the tailgate and slowly tip it over on it's front. The bulkhead pipes would be in the way to set down on its back I think. Either way I'm already starting to freak out lol.

im the DIY type and i have wild ideas sometimes. if i were you id would do what i mentioned first. layers of insulation foam that keep the tank off the ground. you can even cut out the corners so you can pick up the tank easily. i wouldnt put the tank on its front though, you never know what may be on the surface your laying the tank down onto, id be too afraid of a nice scratch on the primary viewing surface.

 

[Gonebad395]

1st when you make this move make the tank the first or the last thing so you can devote time to resetting it up right away. If it was me if it’s only .4 miles set the tank on something like a dresser and let the pipes just hang off and ride with it holding the tank it’s only .4 miles then slide the pipes right back into the stand and continue with setting it back up. That way you wouldn’t even have to disturb the sand. Remove rock and fish put in buckets. Remove water leave about a inch of water to cove sand and go.

 

[Gonebad395]

Sorry drew it with my finger

 

[Philipgonzales3]

1st when you make this move make the tank the first or the last thing so you can devote time to resetting it up right away. If it was me if it’s only .4 miles set the tank on something like a dresser and let the pipes just hang off and ride with it holding the tank it’s only .4 miles then slide the pipes right back into the stand and continue with setting it back up. That way you wouldn’t even have to disturb the sand. Remove rock and fish put in buckets. Remove water leave about a inch of water to cove sand and go.

Sorry drew it with my finger

You good sir, or ma'am win the internet today. Go ahead and put your feet up and relax that genius mind of yours!

 

[Polishpower]

like other said and I experienced dont move with sand. get rid of it and get new or go bare bottom. lost all my coral after the move because of all the junk from the sand mixed into the new water added. later had to break down again and took out the sand. wish I would have just done it the first time. dont make the same mistake as me it sucked. I also used a trash can with rollers and filled it up as much as I could. I did this so I could keep most of the original water from the tank. just make sure you are able to lift it into the truck.

 

[Philipgonzales3]

im the DIY type and i have wild ideas sometimes. if i were you id would do what i mentioned first. layers of insulation foam that keep the tank off the ground. you can even cut out the corners so you can pick up the tank easily. i wouldnt put the tank on its front though, you never know what may be on the surface your laying the tank down onto, id be too afraid of a nice scratch on the primary viewing surface.

Isn't the insulation soft? Won't the tank just crush it and end up sitting on the pipes?

 

[Philipgonzales3]

Looks like you don't really need any cutting on your plumbing. Remove unions and carefully lift the tank off the stand. Lay on its side when move. Be VERY VERY careful not to pull on those pipes while the bulkheads are attached to the tank. Otherwise it could possible damage the tank.
2nd, pre-made saltwater for your tank for at least 50-75%. RODI alone is not going do any good. You want to change at least half of your tank's saltwater.
Other than those above, your plan seem good.
Move your corals and LR into buckets first then catch your fish.
You can take some old tank water to new place, but it's not necessary as it doesn't really have much beneficial bacteria in the water.
If you have sand, get new sand or go bare bottom.
Set up tank at new place and check for leaks. Place LR in first and then acclimate corals and fish.

like other said and I experienced dont move with sand. get rid of it and get new or go bare bottom. lost all my coral after the move because of all the junk from the sand mixed into the new water added. later had to break down again and took out the sand. wish I would have just done it the first time. dont make the same mistake as me it sucked. I also used a trash can with rollers and filled it up as much as I could. I did this so I could keep most of the original water from the tank. just make sure you are able to lift it into the truck.

Why do I need to replace the sand? I don't have any coral yet. It's a FOWLR with one frag of macro algea. Can I keep the sand in that case or I still need to ditch It?

 

[eggplantparrot]

Isn't the insulation soft? Won't the tank just crush it and end up sitting on the pipes?

insulation foam is actually very crush resistant if the weight is spread out. it doesnt even crush in partial vacuum when i vacuum formed parts for my rc things.

 

[eggplantparrot]

insulation foam is actually very crush resistant if the weight is spread out. it doesnt even crush in partial vacuum when i vacuum formed parts for my rc things.

as long as you dont get the white stuff where you can see the individual pellets