bolivianbaby

I want to move my 20 gallon aquarium into my bedroom from the family room. Thank goodness both rooms are on the first floor. However, it is only myself and my daughter (who is 11) here.

My plan is to take out 80% of the water (hoping to only have 1-2" of water on the bottom) and the substrate so the tank is light enough to move. I can only lift and walk with 40-50 pounds. I was going to keep the substrate wet in a bucket so I don't lose any bacteria.

Will this plan be okay as far as not stressing out the fish too much? I don't spend a lot of time in the family room and the aquarium is a really good stress reliever. I've found myself just sitting in front of the aquarium for 15-30 minutes at a time when other things need to be done (checking the classifieds for employment, etc) and if the aquarium was in the bedroom, I could enjoy the fish while I was handling household affairs. Fido (one of my bolivian rams) always comes over to say hello whenever I approach the tank (even when it's not feeding time).

I know I should have considered this when I first set up the tank, but I couldn't figure out until recently how to rearrange the bedroom so the aquarium would fit in here.

Any advice, thoughts, suggestions would be great! My stress level is EXTREMELY high right now (I just got laid off because there is no work, single mom with no child support, etc, etc, etc) and Fido and his "crew" have become an integral part of keeping me sane while I handle everything that is going on.

Once they are in the bedroom, they will be staying here. Both my daughter and myself have kind of turned my bedroom into a family room. She watches TV in here while I'm on the computer or paying bills or whatever. We even play board games in here, so it also only makes sense that the fish should be in here as well.

Lucy

I'm sorry about the troubles you're having. Good luck on the job hunt, I hope you find something soon.
I like my fish in the living room where I spend most of my time, so I understand.
If it were me, I'd put the fish in something smaller...like a baggie with tank water.
Return them slowly to the tank once you have it moved.
I'd hate to see them get banged around.

AlyeskaGirl

Most of the bacteria is on the filter media.....so keep that in the bucket of tank water too while you set it back up. It's a good idea too to take out the gravel because the weight can break the bottom of the tank glass, i've seen it happen.

I agree with Lucy about taking the fish out while you move it and fill it back up......then they wont get sloshed around.

Beth1965

Looking at your situation from the outside, maybe you could change your lifestyle into the familyroom. I'm thinking if you stick "all of you" into the bedroom, you're gonna get cooped up--that might not be too healthy. Forgive me, you didn't ask for that opinion.

Your plan sounds like a good one on the moving. I think though that most of the good bacteria you want to take care of is in the filter-but you'd still want to keep the substrate wet (in the same tank water) as you said you wanted to do.
I wish you well. I hope things improve,the fish help a lot don't they?
Beth

bolivianbaby

Oh my goodness, I didn't even think about the bottom of the tank breaking. Thanks for the warning. That would've made things worse, wouldn't it? That would've been a necessary credit card swipe that I would like to avoid. And if the bottom of the tank broke and I lost a fish because of it, my heart would break with the tank.

I'll definitely take the fish out and keep the filter cartridges wet as well.

Thanks to everyone for your good wishes. They said if anything came up, they'd hire me back in a heartbeat and it's construction (I'm an administrative assistant) so things could change at any time, but bills don't get paid on maybe's.

Beth, no forgiveness necessary and no offense was taken. We are all entitled to our own thoughts and opinions and have the right to share them and thank goodness we live in a country where we can exercise those rights.

Thanks again, everyone. I'm hoping to tackle this tomorrow and now I feel much better about doing it safely for the fish and for me.

It still amazes me how something so small can provide such an important role in our daily lives. Little fish make a huge stress-reducing impact. They are incredible.

I gotta tell you guys something. I don't socialize much, but this forum has really made me feel like I'm not out here on my own and I just want you guys to know that your support is VERY MUCH APPRECIATED! I feel so blessed. THANK YOU

Beth1965

Let us know how it goes!
Beth

bolivianbaby

I moved all of the furniture except for the aquarium, and then realized that it won't fit because of the window. I don't want any part of the aquarium in direct sunlight.

Well, at least I hadn't messed with the aquarium yet. I was going to handle that just before I moved it to decrease the stress on the fish.

I guess some things just aren't meant to be. I'll give it some time. Maybe an idea will come along that will work.

Thanks to everyone for your advice and assistance.