SCUGrad

I know....don't!!

But my wife is insistent. My intended plan of action:

1. Get out clean buckets and drain tank water into them.
2. Drain about half the water in the tank to reduce weight
3. Get some hefty dudes to lift the whole assembly: stand, half filled aquarium, etc. and move to new location. Fortunately new location is about forty feet from old location and no stairs to traverse
4. Set everything up and put drained tank water into the tank

Or hmm...maybe I could time this move with the weekly water change. This way I wouldn't have to put the old water back into the tank. If so, then perhaps I shouldn't drain quite so much water before moving the tank.

Thoughts?

MizRamzi

First, remove the fish. Time it at wc. I would get a very big Rubber Maid tub and drain 75% of the remaining water into it, water being heaviest. I can't tell you not to do it cause I've had to do it too. Last but not least call yer hefty dud's, have em move it then offer them a
Forward hooooooooo!! Good luck.

MissMTS

Personally, I would drain all of the water out of the tank. The substrate in the tank alone is going to be super heavy and you don't want to put to much strain on the supports of the tank. I would make sure that you put the filter media in a bucket of tank water while you move the tank so that you don't lose your cycle. Good luck!

alicem

Yup, definately go this route
Last thing you want is a leaking tank and an irritated wife because you took shortcuts.

Plus, it will give you the opportunity to change out the substrate if you want.
You'll for sure have a chance give the substrate a good cleaning this way.
hth,
alicem

aquarist48

Moving Tanks Blog
Here is a thread/blog by Shaina that may be of help to you concerning moving tanks. Best of luck and try to keep it fun.

MizRamzi

I wasn't clear when I said 75% drain, I didn't say the other 25% would be for the fish to be kept in. Therefore a complete drain of the tank. Personally I wouldn't clean the substrate as this is where the majority of your healthy bacteria lives.

alicem

While a good amount of bacteria lives on the surface of the substrate, it also lives on the walls of the tank,
on rocks and other decorations, on the fake and real plants, but I feel that the majority lives in the filter.
That is why we suggested (or I thought it was understood) to keep all of those components wet in external tubs during the move.

Completely changing out the substrate could cause a mini cycle, very true.
When I said to give it a good cleaning, I just meant a good gravel vac, not a total disinfecting...

Any time we clean or dismantle any part of the aquarium, there is a chance of bacteria bloom, especially in a newer tank setup.

Doing a good gravel vac shouldn't destroy the majority of the good bacteria.
It could stir up nitrates or anaerobic bacteria if not done on a routine basis, for sure.

I should have asked SCUGrad if he had been doing regular gravel vacs.
The advice would be to preform a good one, since the fish would be out of the tank and not be exposed to all that.

I just can't imagine moving a tank with fish in it.
Poor things sloshing around, possibly getting damaged and definately getting stressed, but that was me assuming...
Sorry if what I said was misleading...

Best of luck on your 40' tank move,
alicem

ABCDemily

I'm shifting my tank tomorrow. Only to the other side of a room though.
First, I'm putting all the fish into sterilised bowls with an air pump.
I'm draining 2/3 of the water from the tank straight into the garden.
The remaining 1/3 will be staying in.
Everything's switched off. My dad and boyfriend move the tank from the top of the stad and place on the floor. Move the stand, then move the taqnk back on top.
Fill back up with water, until 2/3 full, then add the fish. Switch on the filter, add conditioner, then slowly add more water.
I'd leave the lights off for a while.

I totally agree with everyone else, just remember to keep the filter media wet