How to Move a Shrimp Tank

I want to move a shrimp tank across a room. I have nine adults and 10 or 15 shrimplets I am guessing a week to three weeks old in a 10 gallon tank. I would like to drain about 80% of the water to move the tank.

I understand thank generally small water changes are recommended for shrimp. However, I understand that larger water changes are possible if done properly.

I am thinking “done properly” means minimal parameter change, temp match and dechlorinate. So I am thinking that I would test tank water and source water to make sure parameters are similar. Have not tested in a few weeks, but I am fairly confident the parameters are fairly close. If not, then do 10% daily water changes until the parameters are very close.

Once my tank and source water have very similar parameters, drain 80% and move tank. Let tank sit for a bit. Then add new water slowly. Say there is two gallons in the tank, add a quart every 15 minutes for two hours. Then add two quarts every 15 minutes for another two hours. That should be about six gallons. Wait an hour, add a gallon. Wait another hour and top off.

Thinking would gather all the source water a day in advance, dechlorinate and let sit.

Thinking I would let tank drop to room temp to make temp matching easy. Tank is currently 77 to 78 deg. Was considering removing heater anyway. Room stays between 73 and 76 degrees other than during the winter and will not have to worry about winter for a while.

I am probably excessively cautious, but I am a new shrimp keeper and so far it is going well. Don’t want to mess it up.

 

Like you I am brand new to keeping shrimp. I have done 2 small water changes so far. I set up a piece of airline tubing with a control valve on the end going to the shrimp bowl and use it to replace the water I've removed. It can take an hour or so to replace the 3 quarts of water I have removed from the 2.5 gallon bowl. You might want to consider something like this but it would take a long time to replace as much water as you are removing.

 

shrimp tanks should be at room temp 100% of the time.

Drain into 5 gal buckets and refill after the move, 0% water change.

Or go through the tedious process of matching parameters and doing the large water change, no harm in this either.

I've done it before with `80% water change with non-matched water and everything went smoothly. (blue velvet shrimp)

 

Drain into 5 gal buckets and refill after the move, 0% water change.

Oy, of course. That is exactly what I will do......

 

Hi, yes, this is exactly how I've always done it.
Just gather every 'shrimp safe' bucket, spare aquarium etc that you have. Drain the water out using a siphon (you'll be amazed how low you can get the water and the shrimp will still be happily grazing along the bottom, completely unfazed!)
Carry your tank/shrimps to their new home then carefully pour the water back into the tank. As long as you do all this fairly quickly the water won't cool down enough to be a problem.
Hope this helps!
Emma

 

I set up a piece of airline tubing with a control valve on the end going to the shrimp bowl and use it to replace the water I've removed.

I am draining water using this method right now. I like it!!

Seems like a great drip acclimation method too.

 

I am draining water using this method right now. I like it!!

Seems like a great drip acclimation method too.

I use my normal siphon for removing the water. I just keep a close eye on the end of the tube to make sure no shrimp are near it. The air line tubing would remove it much too slow. It works perfect for replacing it with fresh water though. I can get it running and then just forget it. I don't have to worry about it over flowing the bowl since I just have enough in the fresh water container to replace what I have removed.

 

I set it up with a short line into the tank so that I would not drain too much and got it going. Was not too slow since I could get it going and walk away. I did not time it but seemed like I got a gallon and a half out in about 20 min. Flow rate would depend on height differential, size of air line tubing and control valve.

If I am doing other water changes or other tasks, this is a nice thing to get going and then walk away. For filling, I will have to work out how to get the source water high enough. Maybe a step ladder. That might be a bit precarious.

 

Hi,
I've always just used a jug to put the water back in. It doesn't take too long at all. I pour the water down the inside of the glass so as not to disturb the sand too much (or send the shrimps whirling around!!)
Emma