Moving my tank, help please, first time doing this

Historyfish

Ok heres the thing, at our dorms were only allowed to have fish and I plan on moving back to my parents house for the summer break but I need help with something Ive NEVER done before, moving my 10 gallon freshwater community tank.

My idea is this, drain it down to 5 gallons (leave the fish inside the tank) and then put them in the car and head home (IMMEDIATELY, the tank would be the last thing to be cut off and packed up from my room) (only a drive of 30 minutes or so), and then get them into a pre-picked spot then turn on filter/air pump and fill it back up with water. I want to leave some water in there so I dont have to recycle my tank.

I dont know if you need it, but heres the kind of fish I have in there:

1 x Sunburst Wag Platy
2 x Red Wag Platy's
2 x Long Finned Zebra Danio's
1 x White Cloud Danio
1 x Fancy Male Guppy

TIA and all the best, Jon

Administrator

I'm not sure if this is the case with a 10 gallon tank with 5 gallons of water in it, but I was told that, at least with regard to larger tanks, any amount of water swooshing around in the tank while it is moved can cause enough stress on the glass to break it. This may not be accurate and I'm sure somebody else will point it out if that's the case.

When we moved our 55 gallon saltwater tank we bought two huge plastic garbage bins on wheels, filled them each half way, and had the movers load the water bins onto the moving truck like anything else. We put the fish in plastic bags for the trip just like the LFS does because it wasn't too far.

I wouldn't think you'd have to lose any of your water... buy a few plastic 5 gallon buckets from Home Depot., Loews, or whatever you have near you, fill them with the water, secure the lids with a lot of plastic wrap, etc., and carry them to the car. Put the fish in plastic bags just like your LFS does. Be sure to capture as much air as possible in the bags when you close them.

When you get home, fill the empty tank with your own water, put your fish in, and you're set.

Hope this helps :)

Historyfish

Thank you very much, I will take this method and use it! All the best, Jon