Advice with Tank move

[ProtectDa2nd]

Moving to a new house within the next two weeks. I have a couple ideas on how i'm going to move my tank. Any advice or tips would be appreciated! Mostly worried about my LTA.. I would hate to loose or move it, I've had it for about two months and just today the LTA started hosting my black and white ocellaris.

[GTi]

I think there's a thread on here somewhere when Stevie T moved his tank. Lots of good information in there. Consider fresh sand. Detritus can build up and then get released causing a cycle. If yours is only 2 months old it shouldn't be too bad. Maybe rinsing it a bit will be ok? Either way, I would check for ammonia the first week or so and have fresh saltwater available and maybe Prime just in case. Good luck! Oh, and photos of your rockscapenif you want a chance of getting it back to how it was.

[GTi]

I just saw another thread with a load of people saying they have been fine without changing sand, just try not to stir it up. In both of my tank swaps I have used new sand. Cheap insurance to me!

[vlangel]

If you swap out the sand for new, save a cup or so of your sand to seed the new with biological fauna.

[HarryPotter]

Try some google!

[ProtectDa2nd]

I think there's a thread on here somewhere when Stevie T moved his tank. Lots of good information in there. Consider fresh sand. Detritus can build up and then get released causing a cycle. If yours is only 2 months old it shouldn't be too bad. Maybe rinsing it a bit will be ok? Either way, I would check for ammonia the first week or so and have fresh saltwater available and maybe Prime just in case. Good luck! Oh, and photos of your rockscapenif you want a chance of getting it back to how it was.

 

I usaully look threw the forums on here before I post couldn't seem to find any other then different sites. My tank is a year old it just took two months for the clown to find the LTA. I have so many snails and critters in my sand.. you think it would just be better to go with new sand?

[seabass]

I usaully look threw the forums on here before I post couldn't seem to find any other then different sites. My tank is a year old it just took two months for the clown to find the LTA. I have so many snails and critters in my sand.. you think it would just be better to go with new sand?

Here"s that thread GTI was referring to: http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/205722-steviets-guide-to-moving-a-tank/

 

There are tons of threads on tank moves here: http://www.nano-reef.com/index.php?app=googlecse#gsc.tab=0&gsc.q=Tank%20move

 

Releasing organics from a mature sand bed is probably the number one cause of problems during a move. Generally, it's safest to use new sand. Although sometimes it's possible to move a tank without disturbing the substrate. If you decide to clean your sand, leave it cure separately before returning it to the display.

 

Pro tip: Remove any water you plan to save prior to disturbing the substrate. Discard any water after the substrate has been disturbed. Have more than enough fresh saltwater available (you'll use about twice as much as you think you'll need).

[reefernanoman]

I just saw another thread with a load of people saying they have been fine without changing sand, just try not to stir it up. In both of my tank swaps I have used new sand. Cheap insurance to me!

Change the sand. Don't take any chances with all that junk underneath it. I didn't when I moved my tank from my apartment to my house and nuked all of my SPS colonies.

[ajmckay]

+1 to what's been said.

 

Especially to keep lots and lots of water ready and waiting - all the salt water you think you'll need plus plenty of fresh and salt mix. Get a big trash can or something and fill it up. Have a ton of 5g buckets on hand for moving stuff and for temporary residents if needed.

 

I like to use 5g buckets for the rocks as well because they seal well. Corals & Livestock I prefer to bag and stack up in an insulated box or bin.

 

Finally, every time I've moved I've either used a new sand bed or I've thoroughly rinsed out the old one. To rinse I usually just use tap water (a garden hose down to the bottom of the bucket and run for a little while out in the yard works well) and then add some de-chlorinator and finally let the water drain until I'm just left with clean sand.

[ProtectDa2nd]

Great stuff guys going to come in handy, I will let you guys know how the move went next week! Just going to buy a bigger tank and new sand.

[Gooburz]

I've moved my tank 2 times now due to being in the military and 1 upgrade to a 40 Breeder. Each time I've moved my tank I ALWAYS start with a new sand bed using live sand. Transport live rock in 5 gallon buckets with water from the tank and a lid. Corals all go into a Rubbermaid container, fish go into a 5 gallon bucket along with inverts and the CUC, never once had a problem at all.

 

My biggest move was a 5 hour trip with everything in the summer time and that's when I upgraded to my 40 breeder as well. I had two 25 gallon trash cans of premade salt water ready to go along with a couple 5 gallon buckets of fresh RO/DI water. After you get the new sand into the tank fill it up VERY slowly so you can prevent cloudiness in the water. I have 2 A/C 70's that I ran with filter floss to polish the water and they did so in 1 hour time. Acclimated the fish and corals to the new tank water and then added them into their new home. Had no spikes in my tank parameters and nobody died on the trip.

[Hammerstone]

I have to move two salt and one planted fresh about thirty minutes away. I'm scared. That's how you can tell that Hammerstone's a girl!

 

Good luck with your move!!!