Michigan Cichlid Association
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: xzackly999 on August 27, 2014, 07:34:30 AM
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Hi everyone,
My wife and I were going to be moving in a month, but circumstance has led to us being stuck here for 12-18 more months. I've been itching to set up my 60 gallon tank with dwarf cichlids and tetras (also lightly planted with a bit of driftwood). I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with moving an entire tank and the difficulties it will present? From the hour I was reading stuff I found online it sounded like a lot of work and not very safe or stress-free for the fish.
I appreciate anyone's thought or comments.
Thanks,
Zack
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I guess I should probably clarify by saying, I was wondering if it is worth the hassle of setting up the tank for the 12-18 months, when I'll just have to move it that quickly.
Sorry, got a little post happy on the initial one.
Zack
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Gauging whether the hassle is worth it depends on how much you'd like to have a fish tank. When I was in college, I essentially had to move each year to a new residence. Sometimes my rentals would overlap in timing, which made things easier and other times there'd be a 1-2 week limbo period where I had to move back in with my parents briefly (AKA move the fish twice in short duration). I had a 29 gallon for the first two years, then brought my 100 gallon for the third year (which required tearing the stand apart and reassembling it make it up the stairway), and then went back to the 29 gallon because moving the 100 gallon and stand around really sucked.
If you fast the fish, bag them properly, and keep them from getting cold, you can easily make it 18-24 hours with them bagged up. This gives you time to break down the tank, move it, and set it up again. IME, that's close to a full day ordeal.
Of course, you could get new fish each time, which would simply moving.
The best solution that allows you to keep your favorite fish is having two tanks IMO and overlapping the period during which you move locations. Trim your fish collection down to a single tank (which would be OK to overstock for a short period - just throw all your filters on it and change the water a bit more often). Then setup the second tank at the new place with water/substrate/decor/heater, but keep the filter(s) with the fish. Then move the fish and filters. Then move the second setup separately.
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I've moved my tanks a couple of times. I've got it down to a process. Having an extra tank helps a lot. I set up a spare tank at the new residence and transferred my filters and fish to that tank for a day until I moved my big tank/stand and set it back up in the new location. Each time I've moved I transferred 50% of the water from my tank in 5gal buckets. Bags are the best way of transporting fish IMO but you can also move them in buckets if it's a short drive and the temperature won't fluctuate a lot. I will be getting a house in a year and will have to move even more now. But for me it's worth it. I really enjoy my fish and this hobby! Best of luck to you and your upcoming move. I don't find moving fish/tanks to be hard. I've never lost a fish in my moves either. Knock on wood.
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How far are you going to be moving?
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Thanks for the feedback guys, I really appreciate it.
I'm not sure how far I'll be moving yet, but should be 10 miles at most.
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Hey Zack, I'd say go ahead and set the tank up. 12-18 months of enjoyment will be better than a tank sitting empty ;D
You might even be ready to switch things up after that time frame and you could sell off the fish before the move and restock it with something different at the new house.
And as far as moving fish and tanks, it's not that bad...in fact, it's pretty easy especially with the suggestions you can get on the forum.
Another option when moving the fish during your relocation is having a fellow hobbyist nearby hold them in one of their tanks while you get the tank set back up at the new house.
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If you are only gong to be moving 10 miles away moving fish shouldn't be any problem at all. I use Rubbermaid or Sterlite totes and have been quite happy with them. I use a battery powered air pump with an established sponge filter. I just drill a small hole through the top for the airline. I only fill them about halfway full when moving them around. They will slosh around a little bit and a small amount of water may come out during transport so make sure to use your wife's vehicle.
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I think I will probably set it up. Will just have to do some convincing with my wife. The part about using her vehicle will need to be omitted for this to work though. ;)
Her biggest concern is that when we get a house, I'll be more worried about getting the tank set up and freaking out about the fish to help get settled in initially.
I really wouldn't care much about selling/giving away/or trading-in the tetras or otos I plan on having, but I will probably be attached to the dwarf cichlids. I hadn't really considered the idea of having someone hold the fish for a bit either. If I could set something like that up, it would probably make my wife a lot more open to it too.
I had a 55 gallon community tank in my bedroom as a child for 10 years, but I went out of state for both undergrad and post-graduate school with a lot of traveling around so haven't been able to keep much of anything for about 9-10 years now and really miss it. I have really been itching to set up a tank as soon as I was done moving around, but my current job has me bouncing around an hour or so in every direction right now.