Moving to a different state. Is it possible?

[SaltyCrew4u]

I am moving October 2026. Is it possible to move my tank from San Diego to Dallas? Obviously not as is but live rock, coral, and fish? It's only a 36 gallon and roughly 1.5 years old. Should be 3 by the time we move. Is it even worth it? I want to upgrade to 100 and I would like to put almost everything I currently have into a new system. Has anyone had any luck?

 

[Subsea]

Ten years ago, when I moved 25 year mature tank at 75G, into a new home, I first set up a 55G tank in a spare bedroom and cycled it. Then 1 month later, I broke down established aquarium with several 5G buckets of fish, live rock & corals. When I made the 200 mile ride, I transferred fish & corals into 55G tank, then I set up 75G display and added fresh mixed salt water to 75G display. Over the course of the next week, I aquascaped the display to my liking..

 

[UnnamedReef]

It definitely is possible. There's a lot of writeups on long-range moving reef tanks, one i saw recently was. https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/successfully-moved-my-reef-tank-over-1200-miles.1081392/

I'm moving from AL to CT in 6 months, and I plan to move my live rock, fish, and coral when I do. Took so long to establish what I've got, I see it as worthwhile to bring it with me.

 

[Science/G]

Check with your LFS about bagging up your fish and corals. I'm sure if you pay them they'll help you. Then everything else you're going to have to pack into a truck. You can keep your sand going in a bucket with water and an air stone buried on the bottom. And your live rock covered with wet paper towels and sealed in the cooler.

 

[SaltyCrew4u]

Check with your LFS about bagging up your fish and corals. I'm sure if you pay them they'll help you. Then everything else you're going to have to pack into a truck. You can keep your sand going in a bucket with water and an air stone buried on the bottom. And your live rock covered with wet paper towels and sealed in the cooler.

You think they'd survive a 19 hour drive bagged up? I appreciate all the feedback everyone!

 

[wasabi bean]

I mean lots of fish get shipped to the lfs over a long time especially when imported. Just make sure not to feed like a day or two prior to reduce them pooping, either that or put them in a bucket with a lid, airstone and heater

 

[Science/G]

You think they'd survive a 19 hour drive bagged up? I appreciate all the feedback everyone!

Imported fish travel from Southeast Asia to the United States without much of a problem. Your local fish store will bag the fish with pure oxygen in the bag and then hopefully pack it into some sort of a styrofoam container for you

 

[BryanM]

It is absolutely possible.

I think 19hrs is fine, its more about honestly how fast you can get a home set up for them when you arrive.... and that's much more problematic.

If it were me, I'd be inclined to sell locally, and start over, without all of the stress involved.

 

[Dr. D]

There are a few YT videos of people doing even longer moves. Search for Hillary Jaffe’s videos for instance.

 

[SaltyCrew4u]

It is absolutely possible.

I think 19hrs is fine, its more about honestly how fast you can get a home set up for them when you arrive.... and that's much more problematic.

If it were me, I'd be inclined to sell locally, and start over, without all of the stress involved.

Yea that's also where my head is at. I have made some rookie mistakes and I think if I start over I can avoid some of those that I ended up dealing with later on. But thinking of what my tank and I have been through is also tough lol.

 

[BryanM]

Yea that's also where my head is at. I have made some rookie mistakes and I think if I start over I can avoid some of those that I ended up dealing with later on. But thinking of what my tank and I have been through is also tough lol.

Totally understand.

But yeah, I vote for a fresh start, and one that can start 1-2 months after the move stress :)

 

[FrugalReeferJon]

I am moving October 2026. Is it possible to move my tank from San Diego to Dallas?

Another vote for starting fresh in a new city. Even though it would be sad selling everything that took so long to establish, I would just be glad to be living somewhere else where the cost of living isn’t as crazy high. I live in San Diego so I know.

 

[SaltyCrew4u]

Another vote for starting fresh in a new city. Even though it would be sad selling everything that took so long to establish, I would just be glad to be living somewhere else where the cost of living isn’t as crazy high. I live in San Diego so I know.

Not by choice lol. Stationed here.

 

[JumboShrimp]

There are emergency air pumps (for use with air stones) that can be charged from a USB port (including from your car, during the trip) or power bricks like you charge in advance for a cell phone or laptop. Rotate through a few of them and depending on how many fish, you can probably make the trip without a problem.

 

[Dr. D]

Not by choice lol. Stationed here.

Having a son in the Navy, I feel you.

 

[FrugalReeferJon]

Not by choice lol. Stationed here.

Same here. The only reason I’m in SD is because I have 2 young ones 10 and 13 who I share 50/50 with my ex. If it weren’t for them, I’d be back in Charleston, South Carolina to be closer to immediate family and friends I grew up with.