due to issues I won't get into here, I will be moving sometime over the summer.
I have downsized to three tanks from about 10. One 65G,a 90G and a 35G.
What are some of your experiences with this? or best practices as they say?
I'm not moving across the country or anything like that, just across town.
thanks for your insight

Mike

Across town? Heck, that's the easiest way!

Tanks should be last thing moved and first thing set up again. Get some large trash cans or Rubbermaid containers (you can save a fair bit of your old water that way). You can even transport the fish in them. I actually moved mine in some large 40-50g Rubbermaid containers (not full obviously!) I moved my discus and lots of my larger fish that way. Heck some of them stayed in that tub for a week or so until I had time to clean their tank so I could put them back in (I used it as an excuse for spring cleaning - even got the algae off the back wall, etc.) I left their original sponge filters in with them, running of course.

Since you're moving in the summer, the temps shouldn't be a problem. (I last moved fish in February - 35 tanks worth!) Oh, use two tubs for one tank, one for substrate, rocks, and the like, and the other can be fish and plants. Keep some water in each. Should help keep the bacteria colony alive during transport.

I pretty much did the same thing as Lisachromis.

I used 5 gallon buckets for my fish. I took all the media from my filters and put them in the bucket with the fish (I rinsed the media about 3-4 days in advance in tank water). When I got to the new place I stuffed the media in the filters and got them running on the bucket while we set the stand and tank in place.

By the way, listen to Lisa and move the tanks last and set them up first. So make sure you know where all your tanks are going before you start moving boxes in that way you have a clear path to move the tanks in and do set-up. Tres Bien!

thanks for the info and recommendations.
much appreciated Klausmiser

Good luck Mike! I hope all goes well the move and your reason for moving.

Believe me... it's lots of work. It took me over a week to move all my tanks. Good thing I had the closing date so I could do this.

Closing dates. Yeah. It takes a bit to get "all your ducks in a row" as they say(whoever "they" are?!?).
And now guess what! I have two holding yellow labs! Could end up being "moving snacks" for the other fish. I have pizza and beer and they have caviar. LOL

Did you keep your fish separated? I was thinking of putting them all in one tub. That would be about 40 4-6" cichlids in one tub. Although I have not had an aggression issue if the tub or bucket I used for major tank cleaning before wasn't decorated in any way. The fish were so crowded they couldn't fight each other.
I'll probably use a couple tubs. Buckets don't hold the HOB filters too well.

thanks for all the advice

Stratofish, I shudder when I think of how I used to move my fish many years ago. :FAINTLY:

My husband was in the Air Force so we moved a lot. I had only one 55 gallon tank during all of that moving and it was too big to carry along with everything else that we needed to move cross country. I had a breeding pair of angels and assorted others and it had never occurred to me that you could sell/trade fish, etc. They were pets and I needed to move them with the rest of the family.

I would put them all into a styrofoam cooler lined with a dark plastic trash bag. They'd ride on the back seat with the dog. At night, I'd bring them into the hotel, take the lid off and feed them! :FAINTLY: They stayed like that for several days until our furniture arrived. I'd do partial water changes and added an airstone when we got to our final destination, but thinking back on that now, I have NO IDEA how they survived. I moved my fish a few times just like that with no disasters.

Now I know you shouldn't feed them prior to and during transport, that you should try to keep the filter bacteria alive, that those big plastic tubs work as well as tanks, etc. Boy was I clueless. dumb dumb

Good luck with your move. It's still a pain, no matter how far you have to go, but at least you're doing it the right way. Tres Bien!

Hi,
thought I'd let you all know how moving is going. One of many reasons I have not posted much in the last little while.

I ended up moving the 65, 90 and I set up a little 10G (for the 'movin' babies) at my mothers place a day before my big move. This big move is half way done as I don't get my new house until next Friday 22nd. All my stuff and extra fish tanks are stuffed into a 10' x 15' storage space.
I used my friends to help with the first half last Saturday and with the excessively rainy weather we've been having in Toronto this summer, we only got rained on during the unloading phase. And I mean torential rain! Just pouring! We sat in the back of the cube van eating pizza and having a beer(or two). This was supposed to be for after we where all done. LOL.
So for the second half of the move, I've booked a moving company, just to make things easy on our aging backs.
I remember when I was younger I had no problem getting help moving. Free beer and pizza where all that was needed. Now that we are in our 40's all I hear is complaining. (not me, just my 'helpers') So screw that. I'll dish out the money for the pro's.
I only lost one C.afra during the first phase. Probably a ammonia spike.
The rest are doing great.
L8r

I hope the moving company does a good job for you. Keep an eye on them; I have a lot of experience with moving companies and they usually require "supervision". It says so right here! It's definitely easier on your back, though!!

Good to hear it's working out with the fish.

Great to hear from you again, Stratofish!

Glad to hear the moving process is coming along and that you
will soon be in your new house!

Please keep us posted on your progress and we hope to hear
more from you very soon!

Take care of those backs!

Hope everything goes well.

I used to be the moving man. If you get a good company you should have no problems.