Description
This article is from the Beginning
Fishkeeping FAQ, by Thomas Narten with numerous contributions
by others.
61 Moving the tank
The main problem in moving the tank is the filtration system. After a
very few hours (less than a day) without a flow of oxygen-laden water,
aerobic bacteria start to die. If you are moving a short distance (a
few hours' drive or so), it may be possible to preserve your bacteria
colony; even for longer drives, some of the bacteria will survive and
rebuild itself quickly. With a modest amount of ingenuity and
planning, it should be possible to minimize the down time of the
filter by keeping water flowing though the media until the last
possible minute and restarting it as soon as you arrive. It is
advisable to always try to save your old filter media rather than
throw it away.
The moving procedure is as follows:
1. Put your fish in a holding container (more on that below)
2. Drain your tank. If the move is going to be short, preserve some
of the water to help preserve the bacteria colony.
3. Disassemble your tank. Aquarium plants will survive a fair amount
of time if their roots are kept wet, so it should be possible to
bag them with some water and set them aside for hand-moving. If
the move is going to be short, put your (unrinsed) filter medium
in a sealed container (preferably a never-used pail or other
chemical-free hard-sided container); keep the media wet, but not
submerged. For long moves (more than one day), either clean or
discard your filter media. Pumps, heaters, etc. can be packed as
any fragile appliance.
4. Move your tank. Don't use a moving company or professional
packers, unless you have absolutely no choice AND you can
supervise them packing the tank and loading it in the truck. It's
far better to move it yourself or with the help of friends.
5. Reassemble your tank at your destination. If you're doing a short
move you should have enough dechlorinated/treated water available
on arrival to fill your tank and get water moving through your
filter. If you're doing a long move, then set your tank up as if
it was a new tank-- including a week-long delay before putting
fish in the tank. Initially, put in a few hardy fish to get the
nitrate cycle established. After the tank is stable, put the fish
from your old home back in.
Continue to:
Share and Enjoy
Bookmark this story so others can enjoy it:
Tags
aquaria, fish, acquarium, tank, fishkeeping
