our offer got accepted! Now I need help moving

[Robink]

If money is no object your LFS usually offers a tank moving service. My guy does. He does it all the time and they have the experience and usually are insured.

 

[governorg]

So I know exactly how you feel... we built a home and just moved in yesterday. It is a nightmare so plan for everything and anything to go wrong. I planned it out down to the minute and things still went wrong. Have backups for everything, number 1 thing (my heater fell out of a box and broke). Rubbermaid will be your best friend. Take pictures, lots of them to recall how everything was originally set up. GET HELP from people, I had to walk 20, 5 gallon buckets to the basement, not fun. Just plan and replan, then when you are finished check it all again. Best of luck to you. I won't list what went wrong with my stuff but take my advice. All the best and congrats on the new home.

 

[4FordFamily]

I thought about moving the entire tank. Draining most of the water and just trying to move it. But I live on a second floor apartment. And there is 80 plus pounds of just sand in there. That was when it was dry. Not to mention live rock and the fact that it is all sopping wet right now. And that tank is one of the oldest tanks I have ever owned. I'm not sure the bottom would even hold

I remember moving a 180 gallon with 4" of sand up two flights of stairs with 4 guys. NOT fun

 

[jonb154]

When I moved into my new house I scrapped my old dsb and used the display sand to seed the new one moves everything in Rubbermaid totes and 5 gal buckets... I think the potential for disaster really out weighs the benefits that will happen if everything goes perfect which is what it would take not to release toxins into the tank, hope everything goes well good luck

 

[Eaj1001]

We finally got a house. A perfect house. I am so excited. Except when I think about moving my reef. My baby. Everything I've worked so hard for. I can't lose everything. Give me help. Stories. Anything that might make it easier for me to get my corals a 40 minute drive away without killing them. And move my 6-inch DSB without killing everything in there. Now I am so scared. LOL This is not going to be easy

Congratulations on the home!

 

[jsker]

@dbrewsky has some great points, how long till the move. how much time do you have before you have to move out and you can move in? It is more or less having a plan and reading all of the good responses above I think a good plan can be put together. I have move tank cross country several time before settling. Hey one year a had to move 3 times, including tank.

 

[joshkirkland83]

Congrats man. I'm just worried about that worm you got, he CANT escape into the free world. It would be utter destruction.

 

[reeferfoxx]

I have to drive 2 hours for coral or fish. They all survive the trip every time. I just put them in a styrofoam container to help insulate the temperature. When I bought my first live rock ever, it stayed the night in a bucket with 2 cups of saltwater to keep the moisture. Took 1 week for the tank to cycle after it was put in the tank. I think you will be fine moving 40 minutes :)

 

[Cory]

Congrats! I just got a new home too! Been in it now a week lol.

Unfortunately I did loose 1 fish, my tang. I would reccomended getting a battery powered air bubbler and stone, and put it in a bucket when tansporting them. I should have done that.

 

[chuck3]

Moving a DSB is actually quite easy.. IF YOU DO IT RIGHT. Here's how to do it right:
(1) Container #1: Remove the top half inch to one inch max of your DSB. Put that material into a big rubbermaid container, keeping it relatively shallow. Add some tank water on top to cover it. Now put a lid on it.
(2) Container #2: Take the next two or three inches or so... and put it in here. Add some water to cover it... and put a lid on it. Conserve some of this layer to put in container #3 as the last sand you add.
(3) Container #3: Take the really deep sand... and do the same thing. Now add the 'saved' sand. Cover it with water. Put the lid on.

When you get to your new location, reverse the layering process. Make sure to keep everything wet. Use extra containers, if necessary... but be sure you know which layer it's for. If you make your move in 24 hours or less, you should have a fully functioning DSB within hours of installation. You'll know it's working by the bubbles you see along the front glass. Good luck!