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Advice for moving a 55gal setup

997 views 2 replies 2 participants last post by  GYSOT 
#1 ·
I have a planted community tank with 17 fish. I will be moving in the next couple of months and need some advise. The tank is a little over a year old so I'm pretty new to this myself. Never have moved one before I'm somewhat lost. Looking for advise on both the logistics of how to physically do it as well as reestablishing the water. Currently I use well water straight from the tap with no issues. Where I am moving I will be on city water so I'm sure I will need to treat the water. My thinking is to get some bags from a lfs to place the fish in, then drain the water and find enough manpower to simply place the tank in the truck then back in the new house. But like I said earlier,what do I do about new water?
 
#2 ·
This is from personnel experience. Just moved 500 miles across the mountains from one province to another. My original setup was three smaller tanks containing 37 community fish. I used a plastic tote for the water. Filled it with the water from two of the tanks. Submerged three larger amazon sword plants in the water. Also placed my 4 sponge filters in the water. Scooped out all the fish and placed them in the tote. Placed a lid on the tote and placed a black plastic garbage bag around the tote to catch any water. Set this tote on the floor of my truck in front of the back seat. The two day trip took four days as we had a brake down with the Uhaul truck. Upon arrival; all fish were alive. However; I did take the lid of the tote; when I came back; four of my larger fish had jumped. Those were my only casualties. I used a 20 gal tank to hold the fish till my 45 gallon cycled. I used some of the water from the tote mixed with tap water. Right now I have all the fish in a 45 gal community aquarium. No deaths in two weeks. My new 45 gallon aquarium cycled in four days. I used tap water and the remainder of the water from the tote and placed my media from my old tanks in the water. Just before I transferred the fish to the 45 gal; I did a water change and replaced the water with the water from the 20 gal; also transfered the amazon sword plants.
This may not be the correct way to do this; but this is what worked for me!
 
#3 ·
Thanks for those suggestions. The more I think about it the more I am leaning towards something similar to you. I am moving less than a mile so there is no timeframe where I have to worry about things drying out and dying. I think I am going to place the fish in bags like I said and just collect the water in jugs or containers and refill with the same water.

I have no where to keep the fish until new water gets correct so I'll just reuse the old. Then I can take my time with the new "city" water and see exactly what it needs. Plus I can just slowly add it by topping off the tank thus not shocking the fish and plants with completely "new" water.

If anyone thinks this to be wrong or has a better idea
please let me know.
 
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