Need help moving big fishtank?

Question

i am moving about 6miles down the road and need to move my 55gallon tank and 6in oscar whats the best way of doing this because that tank when full is heavy and I'm going to need to have the pump running for about a day for him to breathe and be the right temp

Answer 1

Actually you can leave the tank running with the filter for only a few hours before you put your oscar back in. As long as you keep the gravel and filter without rinsing, and try to save it in some tank water, you should be able to save a good percentage of the beneficial bacteria. Just let it cycle to allow the heater to warm the water back up to close to the temp you want it at. If you want you can use a product called prime for a water conditioner. It helps to remove ammonia, and neutralizes nitrites and nitrates.

Edit: most of the beneficial bacteria live in the filter, and some in the gravel and deco. Hardly any of it can be found in the water.

Answer 2

In bait shacks, they have these minnow buckets that haveaspiratorss in them, use a large one to move your oscar, I have used them with success, have distilled water ready at the new apartment, or get many empty milk cartons, clean them (no soap), and take as much of the existing water with you so you don't destroy alot of your bacteria. Your oscar should be fine while moving him. Good luck and happy moving, glad I don't have to move my 55, that would be quite the job!

Answer 3

0)  DO NOT move the tank with any water, gravel, ornaments, or fish in it- its a good way to bust out the bottom of the tank.

1)  Clean the tank about 2-5 days before you move it to allow the water a chance to balance.

2)  Get a 5-10 gallon bucket or Rubbermaid container (depending on the size of your fish), rinse it.  Fill it 1/2 way with aquarium water.  Transfer the fish to this container.  This is your fish's temporary home.

2a) hang the filter over the side and plug it back in for the duration.  If you have any ornaments in the tank, put them in with the fish.  Helps them feel safe when they can hide behind something.  Also keeps the good bacteria in the filter and ornaments alive.

3)  Get several of those large 5-10 gallon water containers.  Water containers for trucks/boats, or distilled water work well.  Transfer the remaining water to these containers for the move.

4) Get another couple of buckets/containers- for the wet gravel and other ornaments.

At this point the tank should be empty.  

- Clean the tank walls of any algae or scum- not often you get a chance to squeegee the walls this easily.  

- Move the tank, fish, and ornaments to the new location.

- Since its this short of a trip- just unplug the filter, move the fish, and plug it back in at the new location while you set the tank back up.  My 2 fish were in their temporary home for a few days, including the 400mile drive.  (I plugged their air stone into a car converter)

- When you get to the new location- add the gravel, rock, ornaments, water, filter, and then fish back to the tank.

Good luck with the move!