Moving Large Aquarium

[alki]

Hey everyone, I've got a big aquarium move ahead of me. I just sold my house and am now moving into a rental. I have a 120 Gallon reef tank with sump. Does anyone know the cost to move something like this? And know where someone would find someone who do this kinda stuff?

Im planning on getting some buckets setup to get all my fish and rock, but Im kinda worried to have movers move the tank, etc. Id also rather just do that before my move. I plan on setting this tank back up at the new place.

Anyone have any suggestions for a fellow reefer?

Thanks

 

[mercenary-grunt]

How far and long are you talking? Across the street or across the country?

 

[Derbird]

As far as I know most moving companies will not touch a fish tank let alone a full reef tank.

When I have to move again I'm planning on throwing a moving reef party and invite as many reefers over as I can to help. At least that way its people that care about the critters and not some random dude of craigslist

 

[alki]

Im not going far. About 2 miles.

 

[alki]

I was planning on getting the fish and coral myself. Im setting up several smaller tanks. Im going to try and do all that part before moving the tank. BUT I will need to unplumb the closed loop, get the sump out, lights, overflow, etc.etc.

 

[alki]

basically break it down move it and set it up again. Does anyone do this?

 

[mercenary-grunt]

Everybody that moves does it. Or are you asking if anybody likes to and wants to help?

 

[mfinn]

basically break it down move it and set it up again. Does anyone do this?

You and 3-4 friends with a plan

 

[kpiotrowski]

I would see I anyone close can lend you equiptment, tank or large rubbermaid (100g) storage containers heaters, powerheads, etc, to you can put all the living stuff in it while you tear down, move, and set up the tank again. basicaly set up a temporary holding tank with some sort of filtration or a least water movement. kinda help you not feel rushed knowing your life forms will be ok for a few days even if need be and this helps for any unforseen misfortunes like finding out you need a trip to the hardware store.

 

[mfinn]

I would see I anyone close can lend you equiptment, tank or large rubbermaid (100g) storage containers heaters, powerheads, etc, to you can put all the living stuff in it while you tear down, move, and set up the tank again. basicaly set up a temporary holding tank with some sort of filtration or a least water movement. kinda help you not feel rushed knowing your life forms will be ok for a few days even if need be and this helps for any unforseen misfortunes like finding out you need a trip to the hardware store.

+1
Great advice.

 

[jezzeaepi]

I would see I anyone close can lend you equiptment, tank or large rubbermaid (100g) storage containers heaters, powerheads, etc, to you can put all the living stuff in it while you tear down, move, and set up the tank again. basicaly set up a temporary holding tank with some sort of filtration or a least water movement. kinda help you not feel rushed knowing your life forms will be ok for a few days even if need be and this helps for any unforseen misfortunes like finding out you need a trip to the hardware store.

I disagree. More bad things have happened to large amounts of coral while sitting in temporary holding set ups in then anything else IME. As a person who has moved his tank twice in the past 6 years, I wholeheartedly recommend that you sell off most of your big corals, and just try to keep frags of the ones you really like. Much easier and less stressful to keep a few frags alive then trying to keep a bunch of full grown colonies happy in less then ideal conditions. And if something should go wrong, then you have a bunch of money in your pocket to restock the tank, rather then a bunch of dead sticks in a rubbermaid.

 

[kpiotrowski]

I disagree. More bad things have happened to large amounts of coral while sitting in temporary holding set ups in then anything else IME. As a person who has moved his tank twice in the past 6 years, I wholeheartedly recommend that you sell off most of your big corals, and just try to keep frags of the ones you really like. Much easier and less stressful to keep a few frags alive then trying to keep a bunch of full grown colonies happy in less then ideal conditions. And if something should go wrong, then you have a bunch of money in your pocket to restock the tank, rather then a bunch of dead sticks in a rubbermaid.

He is moving 2 miles.

 

[user 26995]

You have time to do the move. You have a few tanks set up to hold everything while you move the tank. You should have no problems. You have been keeping a reef tank for a long time, you know what needs to be done. Yeah, what Marty said...you need a few friends to help move the tank and set it back up. When do you need to do this?

 

[mfinn]

I disagree. More bad things have happened to large amounts of coral while sitting in temporary holding set ups in then anything else IME. As a person who has moved his tank twice in the past 6 years, I wholeheartedly recommend that you sell off most of your big corals, and just try to keep frags of the ones you really like. Much easier and less stressful to keep a few frags alive then trying to keep a bunch of full grown colonies happy in less then ideal conditions. And if something should go wrong, then you have a bunch of money in your pocket to restock the tank, rather then a bunch of dead sticks in a rubbermaid.

There really is no reason to lose large amounts of coral in a short move unless you have a poor plan.
Simple temp. setups can be done with planning.
I have done this as well with little or no loses.
Going into it with the idea that you are going to have large coral loss is just not right.

 

[jezzeaepi]

So you are taking down a tank, taking out the rocks, and removing the sand, and therefore you are stirring up all sorts of detritus(unless you keep a barebottom tank with a lot of flow). When you set the new tank up, you are running a risk with any more delicate corals that you may have(like sps) due to the dramatic increase of nutrients floating around in the water(caused by stirring up the sand and rocks). It will take your tank a little while to fully return to its former glory, and for things to return to a balanced state. Despite these risks, this is the least risky scenario IMO. Your corals might brown out, but your life support system for your main tank is generally much better then that of a temporary just-set-up housing. Your flow is usually better, the lighting is better, and if it is the summer and hot out, generally your temperature control is better too(better cooling).

The rubbermaid can be done, but imo it is inferior to just putting the corals in the display. There are a lot more variables that you have to watch out for. If you really want to do the rubbermaid route though, you need to use 100% water from your display. You also need to make 100% sure that you are using the right kind of rubbermaid container. There are many different kinds of plastics that will leak all sorts of toxins in to the water, so make sure it isn't one of those plastics. Flow is also important. If you cram a bunch of larger colonies in to a small space, they can block alot of flow from reaching one another. This set up may also be prone to PH swings depending on how your display is set up(my display uses kalkwasser and a reverse lit refugium to keep ph up). Finally, make sure you have a good way to control temperature.

In either of those scenarios, I would just try to sell off some of my larger colonies(and keep frags) to reduce the amount of corals Id have to move. Moving can be a risky time for a tank. Sometimes it works out fine, other times it doesn't. Given that risk, I would rather have some cash in my wallet and less stress on me during the move. Plus, it is fun to be able to trim down what you have, and add some new coral to your mix.

 

[jezzeaepi]

There really is no reason to lose large amounts of coral in a short move unless you have a poor plan.
Simple temp. setups can be done with planning.
I have done this as well with little or no loses.
Going into it with the idea that you are going to have large coral loss is just not right.

It depends a lot on what type of corals you keep. If it is softies and some durable LPS sure, but if it is sps, then I think things are much different.

 

[mfinn]

Moving can be a risky time for a tank. Sometimes it works out fine, other times it doesn't.

I agree completely.

(I did edit most of the post for this one line)


But as I said, with the right plan even some large pieces can be moved.

If the op has some large center piece sps colonies, they can be rehomed in other stable tanks, or store tanks if there are store owners willing and able to help. ( I'm assuming alot)

The corals have to be moved before you get down into the tank where there is detritus/nutrients are that can be added to the water. People move tanks all the time. Upgrades seem to be a way of life for most of us.
Plus there are alot of experinced sps reefers( if this is a sps dominate tank with large colonies) that can make good contributions to solving the op's questions.

 

[Herefishyfishy]

The most successfull way by far is to set up a NEW tank in the new location, and transfer stuff from the old to the new and then sell off the old. Not always possible nor affordible timewise or cash. The holding tubs is the next best plan.

 

[jezzeaepi]

My most successful route has been moving the entire tank in one day. If you do it right(use mostly original tank water, and make the process streamlined), then to the inhabitants, it is no different then going through a re-aquascape. This is less risky IME then running multiple systems and having to do multiple transfers with multiple acclimatizations. Keep as many variables the same as you can.

 

[mfinn]

Maybe a list from the op of what needs to be moved along with size and numbers would help. ( heck pictures might even help)