Moving A 10 Gallon Tank

HI everyone.
Just wondering how we could move a 10 gallon tank without damaging it and without stressing our fish too much. Does anyone have any advice? It would just be to another room.

 

Drain it to a bucket or 2. don't move it with water in it. You might get lucky if you move it with water, or you might not. Not worth the compressive stress you put on the bottom glass.

 

The only safe way to move your aquarium is to drain it. A gallon of water weighs about 9 pounds, so 90 pounds pushing on a piece of glass plus subtrate and decor is too heavy. Drain the water into a bucket and put the fish in the bucket. Then move your aquarium.

 

The only safe way to move your aquarium is to drain it. A gallon of water weighs about 9 pounds, so 90 pounds pushing on a piece of glass plus subtrate and decor is too heavy. Drain the water into a bucket and put the fish in the bucket. Then move your aquarium.

What is the correct way to move fish and put them back in? We did it wrong the first time and I’m suprised they are even alive after all of it.

 

1. Fill the bucket with water
2. net the fish
3. put the fish in the bucket
4. Move the tank
5. put water back in the aquarium
6. if you move fast enough and the water temp is the same, go ahead and just put your fish in the aquarium, if not, I would reaclimate

Also, use the same water so that you don't need to go through cycle again.

 

1. Fill the bucket with water
2. net the fish
3. put the fish in the bucket
4. Move the tank
5. put water back in the aquarium
6. if you move fast enough and the water temp is the same, go ahead and just put your fish in the aquarium, if not, I would reaclimate

Also, use the same water so that you don't need to go through cycle again.

Ok thanks!! What would you use to reaclimate them?

 

Reaclimating them is just bringing their body temp up to the aquariums water temp to avoid shock. You could use a bag and float technique, but I would just add aquarium water to to the bowel their in until it reads the same, doing so slowly to avoid shock

 

Reaclimating them is just bringing their body temp up to the aquariums water temp to avoid shock. You could use a bag and float technique, but I would just add aquarium water to to the bowel their in until it reads the same, doing so slowly to avoid shock

Would snails be fine just left in the tank?

 

Yea snails would be fine for a few minutes while you move the tank. My Nerite snails will go above the water line in my tank for hours on end.

 

Yea snails would be fine for a few minutes while you move the tank. My Nerite snails will go above the water line in my tank for hours on end.

Ours do too! But just wanted to make sure!

 

We just moved our 12 gallon tank from our living room to our bedroom. We just drained 2/3 of the tank and left all the fish in the tank. Between my husband and I it was really easy to carry.

 

Would it be bad to put a tank in the kitchen? Or is the living room better?
Also will our filter be fine shut off for awhile or will that ruin the B.B.?

Do we leave our rocks in it and decorations?

 

I have a tank in my kitchen and I enjoy in there. I would maybe move the rocks out if they're a decent weight as to make it lighter and less stress on the bottom. And I'm pretty sure the filter will be fine for a little bit. You could keep the filter media wet in the bucket with your fish if you really wanted to though.

 

Would it be bad to put a tank in the kitchen? Or is the living room better?
Also will our filter be fine shut off for awhile or will that ruin the B.B.?

Do we leave our rocks in it and decorations?

You can leave the rocks and decor in if its not to heavy for you. The filter should be fine. Depends if you have a stand for the tank. I don't suggest 10gallons on a kitchen counter if its old or granite and could crack. If its a stand who cares.

 

Would it be bad to put a tank in the kitchen? Or is the living room better?
Also will our filter be fine shut off for awhile or will that ruin the B.B.?

Do we leave our rocks in it and decorations?

I currently replaced my 8 gallon with 15 gallon. While handling the tanks I decided to be safe and take almost everything out. I first took most of water, fish, decorations and plants out. I used the gravel vacuum to clean the gravel good at this occasion. Then I also took out most of the gravel (maybe it would hold, but it seemed heavy to me and didnt want to risk it). I had the filter turned off the whole time but you could always turn it on in a bucket where you will have the fishes. This would also give you extra time to decorate the tank again, I tried to do all this under 40 mins in hope that the bacteria in filter would survive.

I think kitchen could be a nice place for tank as well. Just not in direct sun and maybe in a corner, or not very busy part of the room Also consider if the temperature doesn't change there a lot while you cook/bake ^^

 

You can leave the rocks and decor in if its not to heavy for you. The filter should be fine. Depends if you have a stand for the tank. I don't suggest 10gallons on a kitchen counter if its old or granite and could crack. If its a stand who cares.

We do have a stand! That would go in the kitchen. I am just afraid of our stand maybe falling on the carpet with the tank in living room but I’m sure that is unlikely.

I currently replaced my 8 gallon with 15 gallon. While handling the tanks I decided to be safe and take almost everything out. I first took most of water, fish, decorations and plants out. I used the gravel vacuum to clean the gravel good at this occasion. Then I also took out most of the gravel (maybe it would hold, but it seemed heavy to me and didnt want to risk it). I had the filter turned off the whole time but you could always turn it on in a bucket where you will have the fishes. This would also give you extra time to decorate the tank again, I tried to do all this under 40 mins in hope that the bacteria in filter would survive.

I think kitchen could be a nice place for tank as well. Just not in direct sun and maybe in a corner, or not very busy part of the room Also consider if the temperature doesn't change there a lot while you cook/bake ^^

Our only problem is we aren’t 100% cycled as our ammonia always stays between 0-.25 so I am worried moving our tank as it’s only been set up for a month and a half. Also our fish get stressed when we do water changes so I can’t imagine how they will be when we take them out to move it.

 

Lol my brain just turned on, ive moved my 10gallons down stairs and upstairs this summer due to heat. So I took out my 4 betta fish (It was 10gallons side by side with dividers) The bettas sat in their cups. I took out like 3/4 of the water in a bucket set to the side and I put a heater in the bucket to keep it going. (It takes a while to move 2 10gallons and a huge stand down stairs cases ) Then I took out all the decor and some gravel. Put it down stairs and put the decor in as well as gravel. Then added 3/4 of the water I took out. The tank was 4/5 full andI filled the rest with fresh water. I also added in the bettas by acclimating them for 10-15mins. Then released them and took a nap on the couch.

 

Would it be bad to put a tank in the kitchen? Or is the living room better?
Also will our filter be fine shut off for awhile or will that ruin the B.B.?

Do we leave our rocks in it and decorations?

Personally, I wouldn't keep a fish tank in the kitchen because all of the cooking going on and oil, powder, and other bad stuff could easily get in.

 

Our only problem is we aren’t 100% cycled as our ammonia always stays between 0-.25 so I am worried moving our tank as it’s only been set up for a month and a half. Also our fish get stressed when we do water changes so I can’t imagine how they will be when we take them out to move it.

Well, maybe a deep gravel cleaning and a partial water change could help also with the ammonia I wish you best of luck moving it! It was so stressful for me ( I was moving and cleaning all of it alone).

 

I wouldn't do the kitchen cause we do cook fish to eat...

 

I have an aquarium in my kitchen and it's fine. It's near my table and across the room from the stove/oven so not too close to the cooking area.

 

Personally, I wouldn't keep a fish tank in the kitchen because all of the cooking going on and oil, powder, and other bad stuff could easily get in.

That was my thought too.

 

Well, maybe a deep gravel cleaning and a partial water change could help also with the ammonia I wish you best of luck moving it! It was so stressful for me ( I was moving and cleaning all of it alone).

We tried that. Our tap has 1.0 of ammonia I’m already stressed! My boyfriend is going to help though. Just scared of ruining our cycle and our fish dieing! But my brother is staying with us this summer and doesn’t want a fish tank where he’ll be sleeping. Lol

 

We tried that. Our tap has 1.0 of ammonia I’m already stressed! My boyfriend is going to help though. Just scared of ruining our cycle and our fish dieing! But my brother is staying with us this summer and doesn’t want a fish tank where he’ll be sleeping. Lol

I think you will be fine Just take your time with it ... it is really nice that you will have help with it

 

We do have a stand! That would go in the kitchen. I am just afraid of our stand maybe falling on the carpet with the tank in living room but I’m sure that is unlikely.


Our only problem is we aren’t 100% cycled as our ammonia always stays between 0-.25 so I am worried moving our tank as it’s only been set up for a month and a half. Also our fish get stressed when we do water changes so I can’t imagine how they will be when we take them out to move it.

Yeah I have noticed that my stand wobbles a lot in my room on carpet. (not safe but its on the corner and there's nobody walking around.) Id go with a flat surface.

 

Yeah I have noticed that my stand wobbles a lot in my room on carpet. (not safe but its on the corner and there's nobody walking around.) Id go with a flat surface.

Our only flat surface is our kitchen..

 

Our only flat surface is our kitchen..

Then that's your best bet. Do you have kids? dogs?

 

Then that's your best bet. Do you have kids? dogs?

No kids or dogs.
No dresser to put it on either besides the one it is on now.

 

I can't even count how many times Ive moved a 10 gallon by draining the water down to 1/3rd or so and picking it up. Its pretty easy and straight forward. 3-4 gallons is only going to weigh roughly 25-35lbs, plus however much substrate you have in there (usually 10lbs or so).

 

No kids or dogs.
No dresser to put it on either besides the one it is on now.

If you trust yourself you could, I have kids and dogs in my family so its not safe.

 

If you trust yourself you could, I have kids and dogs in my family so its not safe.

This is the stand we have.

 

This is the stand we have.

hmm, mine is full enclosed with a door made out of wood. Yours may work on carpet you would have to try.

 

I can't even count how many times Ive moved a 10 gallon by draining the water down to 1/3rd or so and picking it up. Its pretty easy and straight forward. 3-4 gallons is only going to weigh roughly 25-35lbs, plus however much substrate you have in there (usually 10lbs or so).

Your tank never exploded? Lol
Did you take out your fish while doing that?

hmm, mine is full enclosed with a door made out of wood. Yours may work on carpet you would have to try.

Kind of scares me. We are wanting to upgrade to a 20 and that would only fit on a stand in our living room. We have to move our tank by May 12th and still have no idea where to put it. Our kitchen is pretty small and only have room for a 10 gallon but we are overstocked by accident and need a bigger tank for them too. Lol

 

Kind of scares me. We are wanting to upgrade to a 20 and that would only fit on a stand in our living room. We have to move our tank by May 12th and still have no idea where to put it. Our kitchen is pretty small and only have room for a 10 gallon but we are overstocked by accident and need a bigger tank for them too. Lol

Idk if you want the weight of a 20 gallon on your carpet though. My 10 gallon already makes a little inprint on the carpet. Plus think about spilling water or tanks breaking on your carpet. Not fun on carpet. I had a tank slowly siphon onto my wood floor into the basement. At least it wasn't carpet.

 

Your tank never exploded? Lol
Did you take out your fish while doing that?

! No on both counts. Ive also moved EXTREMELY large tanks across town with the same method.

 

! No on both counts. Ive also moved EXTREMELY large tanks across town with the same method.

Awesome! We just upgraded to a 20. Deciding if we want to keep the 10 or not.

 

I’ve moved tanks all around my house without a problem. I drained about 50%, removed anything that could fall on the fish and moved them. I kept water in the filters and they were fine. I have tanks in my living room, dining room, kitchen and home office so you can put them wherever you want. If you are putting them in the kitchen keep them far away from the oven and stove.

 

I’ve moved tanks all around my house without a problem. I drained about 50%, removed anything that could fall on the fish and moved them. I kept water in the filters and they were fine. I have tanks in my living room, dining room, kitchen and home office so you can put them wherever you want. If you are putting them in the kitchen keep them far away from the oven and stove.

Exactly