Moving Empty Tank Cross Country

[ashtoreth]

Hi,

I finished a move cross-country and have an empty 30gal tank + stand and equipment at a friend's place. I'd like to restart now that I'm settled in and want to see if there are suggestions for how to best move the tank + stand and equipment cross country? It seems like some people suggest freight but I don't have the original packaging for the tank and don't know if I should be worried about tank integrity after the move? Are there good freight companies that people would suggest who are good at shipping aquariums?

Thanks!

 

[BryanM]

I don't know, but I am going to guess freight of any kind likely costs at least half of a 30gal tank.... Maybe I'm wrong.

But I'd be inclined to just start new.

 

[ashtoreth]

I don't know, but I am going to guess freight of any kind likely costs at least half of a 30gal tank.... Maybe I'm wrong.

But I'd be inclined to just start new.

Yeah I think the tank is the least worth it but I'm seeing it costs ~$1000+ to get a new tank with a stand of roughly comparable size and unfortunately they don't make my tank anymore so I can't just buy a new copy of the tank...

 

[Fish Fan]

Well, I was recently shopping for 30-40 gallon AIO tank, and freight shipping for anything in that range started at $350, and quickly hit $500+.

What kind of tank is this? If it's a standard 30 gallon, I would gift it to your friend and buy another tank locally. I think that would be the least expensive option.

If you do have a rimless AIO 30 gallon that maybe cost you $500, I still think it may be best to just buy a new tank locally.

I'm not trying to be a downer, maybe someone else knows a great way to ship a tank cross country.

 

[ashtoreth]

Well, I was recently shopping for 30-40 gallon AIO tank, and freight shipping for anything in that range started at $350, and quickly hit $500+.

What kind of tank is this? If it's a standard 30 gallon, I would gift it to your friend and buy another tank locally. I think that would be the least expensive option.

If you do have a rimless AIO 30 gallon that maybe cost you $500, I still think it may be best to just buy a new tank locally.

I'm not trying to be a downer, maybe someone else knows a great way to ship a tank cross country.

I have a 30g IM AIO with a APS stand. I agree the freight is probably at least half the tank but the closest options I see on IM today (40g Fusion PRO w/ APS stand) is $1000+ so thought it may be worth it. Do folks think the risk is just too high / not worth the hassle given the cost will probably be half of what I pay for a new one?

 

[TheWB]

I have a 30g IM AIO with a APS stand. I agree the freight is probably at least half the tank but the closest options I see on IM today (40g Fusion PRO w/ APS stand) is $1000+ so thought it may be worth it. Do folks think the risk is just too high / not worth the hassle given the cost will probably be half of what I pay for a new one?

I’m in the moving and freight industry. There are smaller companies like ShipSmart that may have a solution for you that is somewhat cost effective. I have not checked their rates in a long time so not sure but it’s worth a look. They will pack and palletize for you. Otherwise you are probably better off trying to sell your old stuff wherever it currently is and then buy a new tank and stand. If you have other misc equipment they you want to reuse then have it boxed up and shipped ups. Once you get out of the size items that can be easily sent ups or FedEx the pricing becomes unreasonable pretty quickly. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

 

[Fish Fan]

I have a 30g IM AIO with a APS stand. I agree the freight is probably at least half the tank but the closest options I see on IM today (40g Fusion PRO w/ APS stand) is $1000+ so thought it may be worth it. Do folks think the risk is just too high / not worth the hassle given the cost will probably be half of what I pay for a new one?

From what I remember, the IM Nuvo Fusion 25 gallon lagoon AIO is the largest tank that they ship by UPS. Anything 30 gallons and up is going to be shipped via freight, which again is going to be a minimum of $350 and likely $500+ and that's in addition to the $1000 price of the tank.

Do you have a local fish store (LFS) that stocks any of these tanks? That's the best way I know of to purchase a tank and (sometimes) avoid the freight shipping when you buy from the manufacturer.

Consider that your 30 gallon tank would have to be created or packaged perfectly to survive the trip, and then you have to pay to have it shipped.... I'm not try to be a downer, you can make some phone calls and see, but I seriously think it's cheaper to buy a new 30 gallon locally.

 

[charleydavis]

Hi,

I finished a move cross-country and have an empty 30gal tank + stand and equipment at a friend's place. I'd like to restart now that I'm settled in and want to see if there are suggestions for how to best move the tank + stand and equipment cross country? It seems like some people suggest freight but I don't have the original packaging for the tank and don't know if I should be worried about tank integrity after the move? Are there good freight companies that people would suggest who are good at shipping aquariums?

Thanks!

30 gal is not so big - just put it in the trunk or back set and drive carefully.