Moving Advice Needed - 4 Tanks 2 SW, 2 FW

OK, I'm going to be moving soon and need advice on moving my tanks. Links to resources, tips etc... all welcome and thankful for any and all.


I have four total.

29G BC, Reef, 2 Clowns, 1 Pistol Shrimp, 1 Tuxedo Urchin, Assorted shrimp & snails.

45G SW, FOWLR, 1 YWG, 1 Pistol Shrimp, 1 Firefish, 1 Black & White Damsel, 1 blue green chromis, 1 decorator crab plus hermits and snails

10 G FW, 3-4 tropical fish

45 G FW, green terror, turquoise severum, 2 clown loaches, 1 gourami, 1 catfish

 

lots of buckets and friends

spare heaters

moving dolly with the ratchet straps or sliders

for the LR a big rubber maid container to but it all in

fresh mixed SW

and alot of luck ;D

 

What about the sandbeds? Taking the rock and water out down to a level low enough to move the tank shouldn't be too hard but will all of the movement cause the sandbed to release crud into the water?

Being that the 45 is fairly lightly stocked would it be possible to merge the two tanks together until I can reset the BC29 at the new place then work in reverse to re-establish?

 

bump! Come on people what was your biggest problem when moving the tanks?

 

Beer....Didn't have enough....Just kidding Steve. I was always nervous to move the tank with the weight of the sand in it and also for fear of stirring up god knows what in the process. I have always found the easiest way is to use large rubbermaid containers. I would use one for the livestock and one for the LR. I usually throw out the old sand and start with new but this does require the fish to be in the container longer until the dust cloud settles.If your LS are all compatible it might be a good idea to use the smaller of the tanks upon arrival barebottom as a temporary tank until you get the larger tank up and running again. Then you could empty the smaller one and transfer everything over.Good luck bro!! Also a power inverter for your vehicle is a must have if you are moving a long distance shorter distances and you could use some battery powered air pumps.And lastly. Beer bring plenty of it.

 

The only real conflict that I can think of is that I have two pistol shrimps, one in each tank.

Thanks for the advice, trying to get all this sorted out and planned in my head before I actually do it.

 

OK, bumping up here. Moving day is upon me. I've come to terms with moving fish, rock and most of the various clean up crew.

How do I deal with the two pistols shrimp? The tanks were both built with the shrimp in mind so the catacombs of rocks are on the bottom with sand around them.

There is no way I can keep the sand in the tank and move them because I'll bury the pistol shrimp alive. Plus there is a yellow watchman goby in that underground network as well.

Is all my sand a total loss?

 

I wouldnt say the sand has to be a loss you could always rinse it as you take it out in ro water or leave it alone I moved mine at least 5 times with the same sand bed and it was fine just drain the water down low and dig a small hole in one side of the sand bed so the rest of the water filles the hole and try to get most or all the water out that prevents the sand bed from getting really disturbed.

as far as the shrimp they make those plastic containers fot hermites or spiders, clear plastis container with the colorful lid with air holes in it that you can put them into and still keep them in the same container so they cant get to each other

 

These work great. I used it to bring my 3 Damsels back to the LFS.

 

How do I catch my little tunnel diggers? My fear it taking all the rock out and having the sand collapse around them and not being able to find them again.