MOVING THE REEF! EXPERIENCE AND HELP

[JonEB]

Hello all and may the flow be with you!
I will be moving this spring not to far away and need advice on how to best relocate my reef.... give me options on fastest, most effective, best... etc.
The reef is disease free- all fish were quarantined (medicated) for 3 to 4 months outside the reef as it seeded and matured from its previous tank which i upgraded last year.
I am not in any hurry to freak my little buddys out and cause an ick outbreak or cause undue stress., I would like to do this right and without any loss.

Anyone experienced in the hobby relocating tanks and species please chime in:)


All the best

Jon

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

For the tank itself they have suction cups which I believe with very well. You may be able to rent them vs buy them. Just not sure from where.

 

[slogan315]

In my moving experiences, I’d recommend setting up a holding tank at the new house. So you can first focus on safely moving the livestock, then focus on moving the tank. Trying to do both at the same time, while possible, will put extra stress on the animals and possibly make your rush setting up the tank - something that will likely be in the same spot for a long time.

For the animals, temp and oxygen are the key concerns. Fish ship in little bags across the country all the time, they’ll do just fine in a bucket or cooler 30 minutes away!

If you do have to do the move at one time, don’t underestimate the time it will take to breakdown the tank once empty and load properly. It could take over 2 hours to break it down, then another hour or 2 to get it setup and ready to hold water. Not including driving time, that could be 4+ hours of time livestock is out of the tank. Getting a vessel like a big cooler where you can provide heating and an airstone while breaking down the tank, AND being able to move it while full of water will let you work on the tank breakdown and setup as long as it takes (within reason).

Ah and making water at the new location ahead of time will keep you from having to transport a ton of water.

 

[JonEB]

In my moving experiences, I’d recommend setting up a holding tank at the new house. So you can first focus on safely moving the livestock, then focus on moving the tank. Trying to do both at the same time, while possible, will put extra stress on the animals and possibly make your rush setting up the tank - something that will likely be in the same spot for a long time.

For the animals, temp and oxygen are the key concerns. Fish ship in little bags across the country all the time, they’ll do just fine in a bucket or cooler 30 minutes away!

If you do have to do the move at one time, don’t underestimate the time it will take to breakdown the tank once empty and load properly. It could take over 2 hours to break it down, then another hour or 2 to get it setup and ready to hold water. Not including driving time, that could be 4+ hours of time livestock is out of the tank. Getting a vessel like a big cooler where you can provide heating and an airstone while breaking down the tank, AND being able to move it while full of water will let you work on the tank breakdown and setup as long as it takes (within reason).

Ah and making water at the new location ahead of time will keep you from having to transport a ton of water.

So ill have plenty of time to transfer to the new place. My thoughts after the recent youtube education was a 200 gal holding tank set up in the same room so I can pre heat, prep filtration and transfer into with buckets and or yeti cooler. I only have to go 1/4mile. Then I can move the gear and have it settled and filled over night so the sand sediment does'nt tick off the nems. I have 25 of them now lol. Do you want a nem? or several?

 

[JonEB]

Just wondering if anyone has had a few learned mistakes from moving reefs that can be shared. best strategies etc. I also have a Mandarin so Ill have to resupply the copepods for a good strong population right off. Although lots to be had in the sump and cheto already. Im sure there will be lots transferred in the sand and rock work.

 

[208reef]

How big is the tank you are moving?

 

[slogan315]

So ill have plenty of time to transfer to the new place. My thoughts after the recent youtube education was a 200 gal holding tank set up in the same room so I can pre heat, prep filtration and transfer into with buckets and or yeti cooler. I only have to go 1/4mile. Then I can move the gear and have it settled and filled over night so the sand sediment does'nt tick off the nems. I have 25 of them now lol. Do you want a nem? or several?

How big is the display? I can’t imagine you’d need more than a 100 stock tank to keep everyone happy for a night

 

[BryanM]

Well, let me take a big sip of my manhattan... I just did a tank swap, and I'll say I'm definitely not happy.

Before swap, tank was doing quite well, started with live rock and sand, and really avoided a lot of pitfalls.

Hired a local company to help with swap, and they helped with physical labor, but past that, woefully absent...

Anyway, new tank has the old live rock, but went with new substrate. Somehow this combo resulted on bottomed out nitrate and phosphate.... So now I have dinos. I'm not sure I had any options considering the hurricanes and lack of supply for live rock and sand... so bad timing for me.

But, if it were me: I'd set up the new tank with live rock and live sand, get it cycled, which should be quick, and I'd simply move stuff over. Be that with your current live rock, and new live sand..... or maybe your live rock and newly washed substrate (I think the lack of washing my new crushed coral also has contributed to my current misery).

 

[JonEB]

How big is the tank you are moving?

100gal

 

[JonEB]

How big is the display? I can’t imagine you’d need more than a 100 stock tank to keep everyone happy for a night

well if i did a 200 i would have extra water to transfer the old tank to the stock tank and then into the new display. the theory is keeping parameters similar hopefully.

 

[JonEB]

Well, let me take a big sip of my manhattan... I just did a tank swap, and I'll say I'm definitely not happy.

Before swap, tank was doing quite well, started with live rock and sand, and really avoided a lot of pitfalls.

Hired a local company to help with swap, and they helped with physical labor, but past that, woefully absent...

Anyway, new tank has the old live rock, but went with new substrate. Somehow this combo resulted on bottomed out nitrate and phosphate.... So now I have dinos. I'm not sure I had any options considering the hurricanes and lack of supply for live rock and sand... so bad timing for me.

But, if it were me: I'd set up the new tank with live rock and live sand, get it cycled, which should be quick, and I'd simply move stuff over. Be that with your current live rock, and new live sand..... or maybe your live rock and newly washed substrate (I think the lack of washing my new crushed coral also has contributed to my current misery).

Sounds like a lot of work for you- sorry to hear that!

Plan is to add nothing new except some live sand. I have alot of Nassarius snails. a few conch snails and hermit crabs that need the gunk from the transferred old sand. Its also going to be the same tank, not a new setup.

 

[JonEB]

Sounds like a lot of work for you- sorry to hear that!

Plan is to add nothing new except some live sand. I have alot of Nassarius snails. a few conch snails and hermit crabs that need the gunk from the transferred old sand. Its also going to be the same tank, not a new setup.

Well, let me take a big sip of my manhattan... I just did a tank swap, and I'll say I'm definitely not happy.

Before swap, tank was doing quite well, started with live rock and sand, and really avoided a lot of pitfalls.

Hired a local company to help with swap, and they helped with physical labor, but past that, woefully absent...

Anyway, new tank has the old live rock, but went with new substrate. Somehow this combo resulted on bottomed out nitrate and phosphate.... So now I have dinos. I'm not sure I had any options considering the hurricanes and lack of supply for live rock and sand... so bad timing for me.

But, if it were me: I'd set up the new tank with live rock and live sand, get it cycled, which should be quick, and I'd simply move stuff over. Be that with your current live rock, and new live sand..... or maybe your live rock and newly washed substrate (I think the lack of washing my new crushed coral also has contributed to my current misery).

Actually Id prefer no live sand if i can get away with it. Ive done to much to prevent disease and pest transfer to my display. So definitely no live rock and preferably no live sand. dry sand to fill in gaps from the transfer. I have lots of media in the sump to keep the beneficial bacteria cranking.

 

[code4]

My saddest moment was moving my fish to 3 holding tanks. 40 and 20 gallons. Fully cycled. My darling husband turned on a bright light over the 40. Stressed my pyramid and regal angel. They died. Had them over 7 years. Keep your fish in the dark while moving. If you're keeping everything and just moving it I would just do it. Get some dependable friends and just get moving. 100 gallons is doable. Just walk yourself through what you will need. Nets, large rubber maid containers with lids. I personally prefer a colander for catching large fish. Drain a large amount of the water out into preloaded containers. (loaded into truck and tied in place) Catch your fish and place them in the containers. I did this with freshwater once. No losses.

 

[JonEB]

My saddest moment was moving my fish to 3 holding tanks. 40 and 20 gallons. Fully cycled. My darling husband turned on a bright light over the 40. Stressed my pyramid and regal angel. They died. Had them over 7 years. Keep your fish in the dark while moving. If you're keeping everything and just moving it I would just do it. Get some dependable friends and just get moving. 100 gallons is doable. Just walk yourself through what you will need. Nets, large rubber maid containers with lids. I personally prefer a colander for catching large fish. Drain a large amount of the water out into preloaded containers. (loaded into truck and tied in place) Catch your fish and place them in the containers. I did this with freshwater once. No losses.

Sorry you lost some of your fish! Ive had to move my display fish also before for quarantine. We lost an original clown fish over a year ago and thats what started the QT. had them in QT for 4 months to starve any ick and brook living in the display. Not easy with large tangs. to keep them stress free in a small environment but it had to be done.

 

[208reef]

100gal

I just moved a 250g in a single day and it sucked bad.

Since you have more time, this is what I would suggest:

1. Petco is still running their 50% off tanks sale. Run and grab a 55g or 75g. Or get a 60/100/120g Rubbermaid stock tank from a farm supply store.
2. Set it up at your new place like you are starting a new tank, but seed it with some of the water, rock, and sand from your existing tank.
3. Start transferring live stock over to the holding tank
4. Once all the live stock and corals are moved, put the sand from the 100g in buckets, move the tank, put the sand back in, and fill the tank up half way with new water.
5. Transfer fish and corals back to big tank along with all water from the holding tank
6. Use 55g or 75g tank as excuse to start another tank :)

Pro-Tips:
1. Brute trash cans on dollies can be very helpful for moving rock and sand - Just don't overfill them
2. Pump, long hose, and brute trash can in the back of a vehicle is the best way to move water without breaking your back
3. Keep anything you want to stay alive warm and wet as much as possible
4. Have some extra heaters and powerheads on hand incase things go wrong and you have to leave anything in buckets or brute cans for a while
5. Have some fresh saltwater made up at both places in case anything starts going wrong
6. Be careful when catching that fox face. Getting poked by their dorsal spines is not fun.

 

[JonEB]

I just moved a 250g in a single day and it sucked bad.

Since you have more time, this is what I would suggest:

1. Petco is still running their 50% off tanks sale. Run and grab a 55g or 75g. Or get a 60/100/120g Rubbermaid stock tank from a farm supply store.
2. Set it up at your new place like you are starting a new tank, but seed it with some of the water, rock, and sand from your existing tank.
3. Start transferring live stock over to the holding tank
4. Once all the live stock and corals are moved, put the sand from the 100g in buckets, move the tank, put the sand back in, and fill the tank up half way with new water.
5. Transfer fish and corals back to big tank along with all water from the holding tank
6. Use 55g or 75g tank as excuse to start another tank :)

Pro-Tips:
1. Brute trash cans on dollies can be very helpful for moving rock and sand - Just don't overfill them
2. Pump, long hose, and brute trash can in the back of a vehicle is the best way to move water without breaking your back
3. Keep anything you want to stay alive warm and wet as much as possible
4. Have some extra heaters and powerheads on hand incase things go wrong and you have to leave anything in buckets or brute cans for a while
5. Have some fresh saltwater made up at both places in case anything starts going wrong
6. Be careful when catching that fox face. Getting poked by their dorsal spines is not fun.

Right on track then>> Thanks great info

 

[jsmkmavity]

Water needs to be in sealed containers! I have moved quite a few tanks & livestock and one of my early moves i thought i could leave a little water in the tank. I still cant believe how much water movement happens in a tank while driving. I use water jugs of various sizes filled with very warm water to help maintain the temp in the livestock containers. Smaller containers can be in a cooler, and you can preheat the cooler with warm water or jugs of warm water. Dont start with a cold cooler.

 

[santeeeyyy]

SAND! BE CAREFUL OF THE SAND! My tank crashed but only some coral and some cc were lost, I emptied out the tank with a little bit a water left to try and catch the only fish i had and transport, i was kicking up sand and at the time i didnt know a sand bed could be toxic if stirred. he survived the crash but didnt survive my rescue

Just wondering if anyone has had a few learned mistakes from moving reefs that can be shared. best strategies etc. I also have a Mandarin so Ill have to resupply the copepods for a good strong population right off. Although lots to be had in the sump and cheto already. Im sure there will be lots transferred in the sand and rock work.

 

[JonEB]

Right on track then>> Thanks great info

Also I already have extra glass lol. Used them during the QT stage. But id rather just do one very large black TS stock tank to set up in the new place next to the new location for Display.
And I get the excuse to start a new tank but im moving again in the next couple years to a permanent home and Im designing a larger... very much larger reef built into the home.

 

[JonEB]

This is gold