Moving House!

Ok so, I’m moving house! I have finally become a home owner & the new house is about a 10 minute drive from the place I’m currently in.

So, I have a 140L tank and it’s HEAVY. Obviously. It’s stocked with gourami, pleco, Cory’s & rummynose. I know I’ll have to drain the tank and transport in buckets (the fish).

Any advice? Has anyone moved with a large tank & know the best ideas?

 

You have the right idea. A couple buckets with lids. Probably 2 for the fish. Keep you filter media wet in any kind of container or bag. Substrate can be scooped out into another bucket to lighten the tank up. Place tank on something soft for the ride like a blanket.

 

Hi, congrats on the Aussie Dream

I moved my 70L (20G) a few years ago now.

As to some advice, I wrote an article about moving a Saltwater system Guide to Moving a Saltwater Aquarium

You could adapt that to Freshwater quite easily.

For aquariums, I recommend the 'move last, setup first' approach.

Try and retain as much water as you can, and buckets will be fine for the livestock and the 10 minute trip. If you have plants, don't bother uprooting them, just drain as much as you can (say, about 5cm above substrate), get a few mates to help lift the tank, or even the removalists (I was solo, and I used the removalists)

Oh, and the heatwave we're getting on the eastern seaboard, maybe some styrofoam boxes, or esky, to help insulate... 10 minutes is not so bad, but still, try and maintain a normal water temp.

 

You’re spot on. 5 gallon buckets with lids or coolers with lids. Prepare and have a gameplan so that it is as smooth a transition as possible..

 

I don't own a house yet and move apartments every year based on roommate situations. Moving fish tanks is hands down the worst part.

That said, I own 3 tanks and moving has never been an issue.

Here's what to do:
1. Move everything first, fish tank last. This lowers the chance you'll accidently hit the fish tank and damage it while moving furniture and all that around. Since this is your house, it will be best if you unpack most things so you know exactly where you want to put it and don't have to move it twice!
2. Siphon about 20 gallons of water into four 5 gallon buckets to take with you. Use this to fill up the tank and put the fish in as soon as you get to the new house. Clean the filter media out in some of the discarded tank water and transport the filter media in one of these buckets.
3. Siphon more water out if necessary and net your fish and put them in bags like the fish store does. I wouldn't put them in buckets. The water will slosh around in transport and if they smack against the bucket too hard, they'll get hurt or die. I put them in those bags then put all the bags in a paper grocery bag and drive with them on the floor in the front seat with me.
4. Siphon the rest of the water out of the tank.
5. Pack up and you're good to go!

I have always left the substrate in my tank when moving. This was with a 20 gallon. I now have a 75 gallon so I will probably either remove the substrate or slide the tank onto a piece of flat wood so I don't blow out the bottom of it with all the extra weight. I'll think about it closer to when I actually move again haha.

Good luck!

 

A moving house!? I have never heard of such a thing.
I have not moved with a tank before, and I hope I never have to, so I can't be of much use.
Good luck anyways.
(Remember to properly acclimate your fish when setting the tank up at your new estate )

 

Sorry it’s taken so long to reply! I literally forgot that I had posted this question until I went shopping to buy buckets!
Thank you for everyone’s advice & kind words. I look forward to getting this done & finished! Between moving the fish, my cat & my dog it’s going to be a stressful time

 

I am doing things on a little bit smaller scale, however this will probably work for you, most likely you won't need to heat the water or keep aeration for just a ten minute drive. This is just my system and its worked well. Moving tanks seems daunting but it gets easier with planning ahead of time.

I will be moving a 20 gallon tall in the next few weeks in northern Michigan, my plan is to purchase a 20 gallon tote and put 15 gallons of the water from the tank into the tote. I have a small power inverter in my car that will power a heater and an air pump to keep water movement. With my ten gallon tank I have another inverter to run another heater and use a gang valve to run air to a five gallon bucket with the fish from my 10 gallon tank in it.

This may be more than they need but I have happy fish and I have moved them several times in extremely cold conditions with a 100% success rate. My normal drive time is about 6 hours

I don't feed the fish for 2 days prior to the trip and try to keep as much as the tank water as possible, also make sure that the filter media and any substrate in the tank stays wet, I do this by putting the media in the buckets with the fish and leaving about a 1/2 in of water in the tanks to keep the substrate wet.

 

A moving house!? I have never heard of such a thing.
I have not moved with a tank before, and I hope I never have to, so I can't be of much use.
Good luck anyways.
(Remember to properly acclimate your fish when setting the tank up at your new estate )

I think OP meant that she is moving to a new house. Not the she lives in a moving house lol

 

I think OP meant that she is moving to a new house. Not the she lives in a moving house lol

I know, I was making a joke. That's why I said she should

(Remember to properly acclimate your fish when setting the tank up at your new estate )