When our company moves in 3 weeks the fish in my 33L at work will go into buckets and come home with me so the movers only take an empty tank. After we're settled in at the new office I can take them back to work.

The fish in my 45G will be going into my new 55G, so I'll have room for the visitors to have their own tank. Before they arrive I plan to tear down the 45G and move it a few feet away in my den, which I'm rearranging to make room for my 180G. You need a scorecard to keep track of the aquaria because of my MTS!

Since both the 33L and 45G will be torn down at one time or another through all this moving, is there anything that's not obvious I should worry about? I'm planning to give the gravel a good rinse, but not planning to scrub the tanks with any soap etc. and risk the dangers of an incomplete rinse.

Thanks!

I would suggest not rinsing your gravel, as your going to upset your bio balance as it is. Once you take out the gravel, keep it wet in buckets. You'll have lots of crud left over on the bottom of the tank, give that a good rinse and get rid of it.

Of course, keep your filter media wet, and start ASAP.

good luck

Andrew

To minimize the crud in the gravel, you could do a few thorough vacuumings in the days prior to the move.

I've moved fish and tanks many times over long distances. I have always moved the fish in coolers, usually styrofoam lined with a plastic garbage bag. With the lid on, it keeps it dark and helps with the temperature.

And be careful with the movers. I've seen them do some of the dumbest things you could ever imagine. I've had my 55 for many years now and I think the only way it survived all of the moves was the wooden crate that the first moving company built to protect it.

I agree with Aura...I would move the tank myself, at least if something happens to it when you move it you can only blame yourself! The only thing I can suggest is keep your filter media wet and I always moved my fish in 5 gallon buckets and never had a problem. Oh also be sure to fast your fish a few days in advance.

I have my filter moist but will probably end up running it several days with no fish in the tank. Is there any danger of the bacteria dying off without fresh fish waste to feel the first stage of the ammonia-nitrite-nitrate cycle?

If it's running in the tank I would "feed" the filter. Throw some food in the tank or ammonia. I had my filter running in a tank that was established and took all the fish out for 24 hrs. and my nitrates dropped extremely low almost in half.

I agree with Cturner!

You have to feed the filter in order to keep the bacteria alive.

It doesn't take much ammonia to that size tank.

Good luck with this and good luck with your cracked tank as well.