Moving *very* small tank

I am going to be out of town for a week starting on Monday. I am concerned about leaving my tank at home because I won't be able to have an air conditioner running. It's on the fritz (I manually have to switch it on and off) and I am not going to be able to get it repaired until after I get home. It gets much too hot here in the summer, so I'm afraid I'd come home to dead or sick fish. As an example, I was out of town in the summer once and left the AC off -- came home to a 95 degree house. I don't think leaving the tank here is a good idea.

So, I need to take the tank to my mom's house about 20 minutes away where it will be in a stable temp environment. The tank is 3.5 gallons, contains a betta, a few ghost shrimp and several live plants. I finished cycling the tank a week ago. I want to disrupt this environment as little as possible because the cycle is new and I don't want to wreck it. My mom doesn't really "do" fish and won't know what to do.

Can I put the betta in a bag or jar with tank water for transport and then drain out half the water into a jug (leaving the shrimp and the plants in the tank for the 20 minute drive, then refill the tank with thank water and put the betta back in? Should I put the fish and shrimp in a bucket? My parents live close, but it's in a different water district, so I have no idea how the qualities of her water compares to mine.

Thoughts?

Thanks!

 

Yes, you have the perfect idea. I would just leave the Betta and all in the tank half full of water.

Then put the water back in, just the way you said.

 

I am far from being an expert but maybe you could put a couple gallons of your water in jugs so if the need arose and your mom had to add water she would have the same type as what is in there.

I'm sure someone with more experience than I will be along to help you.

There before I even finished

 

I wouldn't recommend leaving the betta in the tank for the drive, I would personally use a bucket or something of the like. But I suppose if necessary a jar or bag would be okay, so long as he wouldn't hurt himself on the jar lip or anything like that. But the shrimp and plants will be fine left in the tank, I've moved a 10 gallon and 5.5g with shrimp and plants like that- and that was a two hour trip, yours is much much shorter

So long as you remove enough water that the tank is easy to carry and the seams aren't stressed, you'll be fine.

Good luck!

Edit: Also, your tank should be okay without needing a water refill for just a week. But if you do want your mom to add some water, make sure she knows to condition it first and basically to just not change too much. Adding a little bit of "new" water (if different from the water you have at home) won't bother your fish. It's if the chlorine and such isn't removed, or if the water is vastly different and a lot gets changed, that you would need to be concerned.

 

Putting the betta in a bag would be preferable to a jar. Add the water, the betta and then air to cushion. Just like when you bring fish home from the store.

 

If it were me, I would go to Lowes and buy a 5 gallon bucket with a lid, put the Betta, Shrimp and all the water into the bucket. Move, and put the betta, shrimp and water back into the 3.5 gallon tank.

 

I don't see any benefit to using a 5 gal bucket for a 3 gall tank. I would get rid of half the water and move everything together, but I am lazy like that. I would just saran wrap and tape the top and punch a few air holes in it and drive the least bumpy route to moms.

 

The OP was worried about the water chemistry being different in the new location, so this would insure that the water was consistant and then small water changes over several days would slowly acclimate the fish to the new water conditions.

 

If it were me, I would go to Lowes and buy a 5 gallon bucket with a lid, put the Betta, Shrimp and all the water into the bucket. Move, and put the betta, shrimp and water back into the 3.5 gallon tank.

I like this idea.

I don't see any benefit to using a 5 gal bucket for a 3 gall tank. I would get rid of half the water and move everything together, but I am lazy like that. I would just saran wrap and tape the top and punch a few air holes in it and drive the least bumpy route to moms.

I had actually considered this idea myself (but was planning to keep the rest of the water in a jug to take with), but wasn't sure it was ok for the fish.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone! I was worried everyone would say I need to basically tear down the tank and re-do it at my moms.

 

I second the opinion to use a five gallon bucket. It would be a lot easier that way. I have moved my fish from one house to another that way and never had a problem but I didn't go very far maybe a ten minute drive or so.