if you moved with a fish tank

how did you do it? we have a 55 gallon tank *I think* and we can't figure out how to get a good amount of the water to the new house as well as keeping the fish alive?

we thought about a rubbermaid tote for some of the water, but its going to be way to heavy for us to lift

any advice?

Re: if you moved with a fish tank

Hmmmmmm. No idea - found this online: how to move your tank

eta: it basically says to split the water between 5 gallon buckets - put some fish in each, put your plants in another, gravel in yet another bucket. That seems the best way.

Message edited 3/25/2010 11:22:11 AM.

Re: if you moved with a fish tank

We did it, you need a few spackle buckets. We drained them into a bucket (we had a 20 GAL) so we can carry it. I then placed the fish into one of the buckets and then drove it to the new house.

Meanwhile at the new house I filled up two buckets of water to sit out for a day or two (so there would be no chlorine)

We then dumped the rest of the tank (half the tank water) - to setup we added the new water to the tank about a 1/3 of the way, then got the temp up to normal tank temp, added the old tank water and fish into the tank let it sit for a day then add water as needed.

Re: if you moved with a fish tank

we decided to chuck the tank once we moved... we gave the fish away to someone at DH's job

Re: if you moved with a fish tank

What kind of tank do you have? Fresh or salt water? What kind of fish do you have?

I've never moved with a fish tank, but I've moved fish tanks in other rooms. I have only had fresh water.

I think the only way to do this is to buy another tank. You don't have to get the same size, but a smaller one like a 30 gallon or something.

You can then work out the logistics of exactly how you want to do it, but I would set up the 30 gallon in the new place a day or two before half full of water. You need to let it de-chlorinate. Then, put the fish in plastic bags then in a bucket with as much water as you can and bring them over with the filter. DON'T CHANGE ANY FILTER MEDIUM! In fact, you shouldn't change filter medium to begin with but that is another story...

Then you can set the 55 gallon and get it ready by letting it de-chlorinate.

It isn't important that you need all the old water, what is most important is the old gravel and filter medium. All the bacteria that you need is in there. You won't have to go through the cycling process much.

This is for fresh water; I've no idea about salt water.

Re: if you moved with a fish tank

Re: if you moved with a fish tank

At least half, do not want to shock the fish.

Re: if you moved with a fish tank

I have moved several times with my fish, once from very far away, so there was no way to bring all the water. i just got extra large fish bags from the pet store, put what water I could in there, and put a fish in each, and away I went....never lost any from that by some miracle. but if you can obviously having half your old water is best, and keeop the old filter cartridge

Re: if you moved with a fish tank

DH got a bunch of 5 gallon buckets (with lids) and drained the tank water into the buckets. He has about one fish in each bucket.

It was still a giant PITA!

Re: if you moved with a fish tank

What kind of fish do you have? Some are more delicate than others.