Is it OK to move 40 gallon tank with small amount of water?

Hey everybody! Happy shrimp keeper here. I have a “40 breeder” double tank in my living room, but I would like to move it to the corner in the pictures shown. Destination is only about 6 feet away. I am planning on getting rid of the small tank already in that corner, moving the 40 breeder to the corner, and placing a new couch where the 40 breeder currently is.

There are about 150 shrimp and 200 snails in my 40 gallon tank. The bottom tank is empty. My plan is to buy a big plastic Tupperware storage container from target or Walmart, slowly siphon the water from the top tank into the large bucket, until there is about 2 inches of water in the shrimp tank. My hope is that hundreds of shrimp and snails will be just fine to live in the small amount of water while I carefully push the tank and frame into the new corner. Then, bucket by bucket I refill the tank from the Tupperware container back into the tank. Here are my questions:

1. Is a corner in the living room structurally safe for 40 gallon tank to hold the weight?

2. The tank is sitting on metal shelves that advertise holding 500 pounds per shelf. If only 2 inches of water, can I get away with “sliding” the tank across the floor only 5-7 feet away? The tank legs are placed on furniture sliders, so I figured that would work.

3. Is siphoning all tank water into a plastic container, and then bucketing it back into the tank again harmful to my shrimp? I would hate for the water to react with some material the container is made of and be toxic to the shrimp. But it should be fine, right?

And that’s it! To move this tank just several feet I thought wouldn’t be that tough, but now I’m worried about the structure of the tank and the health of my pets with transferring water in and out. Pictures are below. Thank you so much for any insight!

 

I've moved my 50 gallon tall corner about the same distance, livestock and all around 3 times now, Never had an issue. Key is to cause as little disturbance as possible with slow and deliberate movements. if you go through with it. Dose seachem prime or api aqua essentials to detox any potential ammonia. Other than that, i don't see why not. I just recently carried my 10 gallon with a betta in it to a different room with no issue as well.

Edit: to note, when i say "livestock and all" i mean to say i never took the fish or plants or hardscape out of the tank when moving. You can and it wouldn't hurt but, you don't necessarily need to if careful enough.

 

Usually if i move something with water in it still, i try to slide it along still on the stand. Otherwise, if it is over a 10 gal tank i try to get as much water out as possible. But also paranoid of popping a tank seal or throwing out my back again.

 

If anything the corner will be stronger.

I'd get someone to help but think it will be fine.

 

Thank you everybody for your replies!
So, no issue with draining the tank water into a big plastic container, and then putting that same water back in once it’s moved? That was my biggest concern besides for actually pushing the tank itself. Thanks again!

 

Unless something toxic has been stored in your container, the water should be ok for a short time. If it's food grade plastic then it would be good for a long time.

How big are your usual water changes? You could combine the move with a water change so some of the water is new.

Good luck.

 

I would only add enough of the old water to fill it to half, fill the rest with new water.

 

Thanks again everybody. I thought this was going to be tough but I see that it’s possible. Now I will begin my search for a 40 gallon plastic tub LOL

 

I have moved 2 tanks with a little bit of water in them. It’s totally fine, your shrimp and snails will be fine. When I moved my shrimp to a new tank I put 50% of the old tank water into the new tank and filled the rest up with the normal fresh water I do my water changes with. You will be fine putting the water in a tote/bucket then adding it back to your tank as long as the temp stays the same.

 

Thanks again everybody. I thought this was going to be tough but I see that it’s possible. Now I will begin my search for a 40 gallon plastic tub LOL

or four 5 gallon buckets for 20 gallons of old water, and then for 20 gallons new. It would maybe be easier to move.

 

When i had to get a new carpet i had to move my 60gal tank to another room i drained the tank like 85% and slowly moved it from the stand to the other room, I drained most of the water in a new unused Rubbermaid garbage bin with the wheels ,I also didn't take the fish out i just left them in i felt it might stress out more if i moved them they were fine staying in the tank. The water should be fine in the tub until you can put it back. When i filled it back i used most of the water from the bin and filled the rest with fresh water with some prime.