Moving Tank ????

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Emoney

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Ok, so I need to move my tank Asap!

Org. Plan was to have a 180 set up at my new house with some water in it and transfer the LS from my 135 into the 180...Doesnt look like i can afford the 180 at this time. So only choice i have is to move the 135..

I have a Very shallow crush coral sand bed..
6-7 fish and Alot of NICE corals!


My new location is about 2 miles away, but i would like to drill the tank and set up new overflow before i set it back up and new shallow sand bed..Could be done in 12-16 hours with some help

Wondering what would be the best apporach to moving the tank..Might be able to borrow a Large tub to hold stuff in, but was wondering if any tips from the pros that may help make my move more successful and not lose any corals or fish
 
I would get a couple big tubs and transfer water from the current setup with the corals into the tubs for transporting. Make sure you've got some flow and a heater in there for them and they should be fine. Sounds like you're planning on adding new sand so that won't be an issue. I've done this a few times myself and haven't lost anything so far!
 
I agree with luvmyacans. Set up the tub(s) with a heater, flow and water from your existing set-up and transfer your livestock in there and make the move and changes to your existing tank. Be sure to have extra saltwater on hand for any emergency waterchanges and also to complete the fill on your exising system that is being moved.
 
i dont' think every one is thinking on this and i might be wrong!! I moved a 75 gallon and went with a 110 used all old sand that was in my 75 and put it in my 110 and moved the rock .that was in the 75 you will start a new cycle just by moving the rock you have rock that has not seen light for ever and i would move if this can be done? get the coral to a friend for safe keeping your tank will swing alk and mag and cal for week's the fish can take this but your coral will not IMO i told you RTN suck's DONE THIS
 
I've moved around 20~30 reefs at this point, from short distances to 75 miles or so. A few have been into new tanks, but almost all have been resetups. So I won't try and tell you what to do, I'll just tell you what I've done every single time, and put in some suggestions that might work better for you. And yes, these have been full mixed reefs, and I've yet to have a crash, a recycle, or anything negative from these moves.

Step 1-Breakdown %

Move corals to the side (or somewhere out of the way) and begin pulling live rock out of the tank, placing into 55 gal trashcans with wheels (the brute brand is what I've used due to reusing, for a one-time move, just anything will work that you can still move around). Fill up to about a halfway point on the trashcan, or if heavier, slightly less.
Save at least 50% of water, more is better. Fill up the trash cans till the live rock is at least covered, slightly more if you'll be placing corals in here.
Place corals in the trash can on rock that is firmly wedged, or in 5 gal buckets with lids, ideally the trash can though as it has more water, will be more stable in those regards, but if you don't trust the rock not to shift, don't risk your prized piece in here obviously.
Tank should be empty besides fish and sand at this point. Whatever fish you can catch, do so and toss them in the trash cans, if big tangs, ideally a trash can with no or little rock (this trash can is also ideal to have just a thin layer of rock on, where you can place your prized corals with less risk of massive shifting)
any fish you don't catch, no worries, come back to them.

Time for the sand- first up, stir the heck out of the sand bed. This will turn the water a lovely mud color, no worries, just get it stirred as best you can. Place a 5 gallon bucket in a trash can, or a rubbermaid tote, whatever. Now start a siphon with a good sized hose (3/4 or 1 inch) placing the output in the bucket. Use this hose to siphon the sand, really digging it in the sand bed (should be PLEANTY of siphoning power with the larger hose unless your tank is low to the ground.) When the 5 gal bucket is 80% or so full, stop siphon, swap for a new bucket. Repeat till you're either out of water or sand (ideally sand, this is a great way of cleaning debris out of the sand that will be that much less debris transfered over.

Break down your equipment at this point (that which you haven't already done, ideally do as much as you can before you begin breaking down everything else, so lights, fuge, skimmer, etc should all already be packed up.)

Step 2-Load up and drive
I use a pickup, though in the past I've used a mini-van, a U-haul, a small SUV, and a corolla, so whatever works. Yours is a 135 so Hopefully you'll have a truck.
Tie everything down TIGHT! Don't be gentle on stuff expecting that to help, the slipping and sliding will cause you loads of problems. I'd also suggest not to bother using lids on the trash cans, IME these just pop off in transit and if you're having water splash out, you're either driving way too aggresively, or filled them up too high.
Take the freeway as much as possible, otherwise just drive carefully, no need to go 5 mph, just be real slow on your slow-downs and speed-ups.

Step 3-Unpack
At this point you've brought everything into the new place. If you're doing some plumbing work, drop a SMALL powerhead in with the fish bucket (if lots or large fish), a heater if you expect this to be taking more than 5 hours (or the place is really cold, in southern cali I've never bothered with a heater.) and otherwise leave everone alone in the dark and just leave them be. Constant checking on them with a light will just freak them out, leave them in the dark to chill out-Same with corals, though do ensure noone is touching/within stinger distance due to the dark.

Step 4-Setup
Put your tank back together-that's pretty much it. Just put it all back as if there was no major move, dont overcompensate thinking something major or trajic has happened. Don't scrub the heck out of your rock, or dose tons of anything-just reset it up. Depending how much water you move, either start mixing (yes, mix it up with a big pump and use it as soon as the water turns clear again, waiting for 24hours is not nessecary) or start filling from your jugs.

Total time on a 200 gal reef was about 10hrs including a 10 mile drive, using the above method. Mixed reef, no losses of any sort, no RTNing, only thing I noticed was the corals coming out a lot plumper due to the new water and the stir up in nutrients (they seemed to be "feeding" from the water column, so the LPS's were plumped up, the SPS's were fuzzy, etc)

Step 5-Most impotant step
Have a beer/whiskey/relaxant and unwind after the day. If need be, do this between steps 2 and 3. Going into a tank move uptight and worried is a guaranteed way to create problems, being relaxed and just taking your time will work out MUCH better for you.
 

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