Advice On Moving A Tank Please

[Akasha72]

Hi all. Well after almost 13 years it's time to replace my living room carpet. This means clearing the room of all furniture - including my Rio 240!
 
I'm already begining to work myself up into a lather over it and I've not even chosen a new carpet yet!
 
I've spent the last 24 hours thinking of the options on how to go about this. What am I going to do with the stock, will the tank slide out of the room if I empty all the water, what about my filters ... my head is full of questions and worries. This is a big deal at the moment as life has become stressful since my new noisy neighbour moved in causing rather a lot of sleepless nights - hence the new carpet with hopefully some soundproofing underlay (I'm in a first floor flat)
 
So, my first option is to catch all my fish and store them in various storage boxes, drain all the water from the tank and hope that with the help of a couple of big strong boys we can push the tank out of the living room and into my hallway. Option one would then include re-filling the tank and returning the stock to it only to repeat the process once the new carpet is down. 
 
Option two would be to go and chat with my lfs and see how they would feel about taking care of my stock for a few days. This would mean I'd still have to drain the tank to move it but I'd not have the stress of trying to re-catch all the fish in a heavily planted tank! 
 
Which leads me onto the next worry - my plants and my filters. If the lfs take the stock in I guess I could just half fill the tank to keep the plants wet. Common sense says if I leave the filters full of water I shouldn't lose too much bacteria in 2 or 3 days.
 
Option 3 is a weird one. This means leaving the tank where it is, cutting the carpet around it, asking my Dad to make me a wooden surround for the base of the tank and having the new carpet fitted around the tank! It would mean the tank could never be moved but it's the least stressful option!
 
So, I guess I'm throwing this open to discussion now. Has anyone on here faced this problem and how did you deal with it? Any help or advice anyone can offer is greatly appreciated!
 
Thanks in advance

 

[Katch]

Few questions then;
 
What fish are we talking about and how many?
 
How long will the tank need to be out of the way for?
 
The plants will be fine for a couple of days bagged up in big fish bags (ask for some from your LFS)

Ah just seen your stock list in your signature.
 
If the tank has to be out of the way for longer than a day, I would go for option one. Drain and move it into the hallway, refill and repeat.
 
If you can get everything done in one day, the fish will be fine in temporary buckets, bags and containers.

 

[freerunner416]

Hi,
 
I can understand your worry.
Normally the carpet fitters will give you a date and rough time that they are coming. This would enable you to leave it until the night before to empty the tank and move the fish. They should be fine in the plastic tubs that you talk about (or pop out and buy a big one that you can have them in with a small filter and heater).  I had my discus and angels in a couple of tubs for 5 days whilst my carpet and floor boards dried out after my leak and had no issues with the fish. The chaps would pop your carpet in for you the next day and that night you would be able to start putting your tank together again. Only problem you would have is getting the water up to temp fast enough to move the fish over... but if you have an extra heater it shouldnt take you too long.
 
I feel that would be a better option than option 3 (especially if your anything like my wife )
 
Good luck with it.

 

[Katch]

No problem with using the hot tap when getting a tank up to temp.

 

[frapadoodle]

My sympathies on the noisy neighbors. Mine work nights and come in between 1 and 3 in the morning. My bedroom window is adjacent to their parking area and front walk. Of course the only way they know how to shut a door is to slam it.
As to the tank, I would say drain it and move it. Having to cut around the tank would create future problems. I installed carpet for about a year. I agree the plants and filters should be okay for a day or two. As to the stress on the fish, it may be more stressful for you than them.
As long as you have weak minds and strong backs to move the tank and install the carpet it shouldn't take long. Good luck.

 

[Akasha72]

thanks for the replies. I've just been talking to my Dad about it. It will probably be down to him and my uncle to move the tank and Dad's not looking happy about it. 
 
He's said to go speak to the lfs first and check out if they'd be happy to help me with housing the stock - at least that answers that query and might help me decide the best option.
 
Regarding my plants - they're looking really good at the moment and I'm reluctant to pull them up and so storing them in bags isn't an option really. Dad has just suggested getting my 3ft tank back out of the shed and taking it to his house and putting my fish in there but I know it's not big enough and I'd end up losing fish to ammonia poisoning. No way am I going to risk that.
One option might be to ask my lfs to help me with my larger fish - the angels, the SAE's and ancistrus. That way my smaller fish - which make the least mess - could be safely housed in my 3ft for a few days.
 
The biggest problem is a lack of space. My hallway is only about 6ft square and so once the tank is out there there will be no room for anything else. I'm going to have furniture all over the place!! (can you tell I'm dreading this?) 
 
Meh ... too much to think about!!
 
 
As for the neighbour. He never sleeps! and when he does he snores like a warthog! He's been there just less than 4 weeks and in that time I've averaged about 5 hours of sleep per night. I've recently discovered ear plugs ... wonderful things but they make my ears sore. Like your neighbours  Mr Doodles he doesn't know how else to close a door but slam it either!. He also doesn't know how to speak without shouting at the top of his voice. I'm now writing nuiscience diaries for my housing association and I'm trying to get information about sound proofing requirements in rented accommodation. I've also tried to apply to be moved but they've told me I've got no chance and so now I have to spend my own money in an attempt to sound proof a home that doesn't belong to me. Can you tell I'm not a happy bunny right now

  

No problem with using the hot tap when getting a tank up to temp.

no, that's how I water change. My boiler is only 2 years old and so there shouldn't be an issue with contamination. If it's safe to drink it's safe for the fish. 

 

[BiggTexx]

I am going to throw out another idea...
 
Are you opposed to spending a little extra and either buying/building a temporary stand?  What I have done in the past is built a utility cart that is close to the same height as my stand, moved it as close to the tank as possible, drained 50% of the water and then moved the tank to the cart and wheeled it out of the way.
 
The only caveat is to ensure that you buy/build based on the correct weight load.  Move the cart out of the way, move your stand, and set it back on the stand until the carpet is laid and you are ready to move it back.
 
Basic idea (not suggesting this model of cart):

 

[Akasha72]

that's not a bad idea Texx but I'd be really worried that the stand and the wheels wouldn't take the weight! Thankfully the Juwel stands have plastic feet and so I'm hoping once I've removed a lot of the water it will just slide on the carpet. 
 
Since posting this morning I've had my tape measure out and if I slide the tank into the hall I won't be able to get into the bathroom! The other option is to slide it the other way into my kitchen. It will mean it'll more or less block the kitchen door aswell but I can live on takeaway for two or three days but I can't live without access to the only bathroom!! lol
 
One good thing ... at least I won't have to change my carpet again in a hurry! 

 

[BiggTexx]

The cart I wound up building was able to hold the weight, but it was a scary process moving it around with water still in the tank.  I ended up securing the tank seams with a straps acting as binders to prevent seams from bursting.  Overall it went smooth though and I would do it again.
 
And I agree, takeout is much better than running down the road to use the facilities 

 

[Akasha72]

hmm ... another option has come to mind and I can't believe I didn't think of it before. I have a 30 litre tank that I use for fry/emergencies etc. It has a heater and a filter (the sponges for it are in my externals so they're always cycled) I could set that up in the kitchen (seen as it's going to be out of use anyway) and put all the smaller fish in there - they're going to be the hardest to catch! 
 
I shouldn't need to catch my cories at all as they only need an inch or two of water and they might be able to stay in while we slide the tank. This means I've only got to store my angels, SAE's and curviceps elsewhere. If the tank is going in the kitchen it'll be right next to the sink so easy to refill and then the angels, SAE's and curviceps can go back in... hmmm that could work ...

 

[stanleo]

I have furniture moving discs under my stand for those times when I need to move my 55gl tank somewhere. I just need to drain half the water the water and the tank slides across the carpet. I don't even have to remove any of the fish this way. 

 

[frapadoodle]

Thanks for confirming why redoing the carpet is way down the list of remodeling jobs, Akasha. Just thinking about your situation is enough to make one sick.

As to snoring, well Mrs doodle and I sleep in seperate rooms, due to one of us, hmmm not allowed to say snoring, breathes loudly in thier sleep. As for earplugs, wearing them enough at work, I agree thet do cause your ears to hurt.

 

[Akasha72]

I think the thing I'm dreading the most is catching the fish! The only one's which are easy to catch is the angels. The rest are going to dart for the plants and hide there. I don't want to have to tear the tank apart to catch them!
 
The only one's that I really need to catch are the mid to top dwellers - which is the tetra's and harlequins, curviceps and angels. The rest can sit in a couple of inches of water while the tank is moved!
 
The more I think and talk about it the less daunting it seems so thanks!!
 
Now... if anyone has any good idea's on easy ways to catch small fish with minimum stress to me and fish then I'm listening!!

 

[Byron]

Having moved all my tanks ranging from 10 gallons to 90 gallons (your Rio240 is around 60 gallons) twice within my house, and previously once from my condo to the house (which also included a 5-foot 115g)...your option to set up a temporary tank is the only way to do it.
 
Do not move the tank with any water at all in it.  You can do the 2-3 inches of water thing in small tanks, but nothing 3 feet or larger as the weight of even that much water can easily break the silicone seal and/or crack the glass.
 
I have moved up to a 3-foot tank leaving the substrate intact after draining all the water out, and using the cart method is one good way.  Another is to use a sheet of 3/4 inch plywood or particle board and slide the tank (drained of all water again) onto this, then two people carry it to a temporary holding spot, and then back again when it can be returned.  This sheet of wood keeps the tank sitting level without fear of shifting the frame, which is very easy to do with the larger tanks if picked up by the frame.
 
Move all fish to the temporary tank, toss in some floating plants and any that might you pull up to make catching easier.  The temporary tank can have water drained from the main tank (before starting any work in the tank to keep it clean), and the filter and heater can be moved over "as is."
 
Aside from everything else, a temporary tank is a good plan "just in case."  You do not want to be rushed into having to re-set the tank within the day, and the temp allows you breathing room.  The fish can manage in there overnight and even for a couple days...and you never know what may happen during the carpet business.  Best to be prepared for whatever.
 
As for catching the fish, the best way is to clear one end of the tank completely, after draining out the water for the temporary tank, and then down to half full or a bit less; pull up the plants at that end, and remove any decor.  The decor can be placed in the temporary tank, another benefit as it will be loaded with bacteria, and provide instant shelter for the fish moved.  Then place a large net close to that end, and with your free hand slowly manoeuvre the fish down into the net.  Catch a net full, as usually happens at least the first couple of times as the fish are not yet aware of what is going on.  The large angels you obviously can catch individually, but for shoaling fish like corys it is easier to get several in the net this way.
 
Byron.

 

[Akasha72]

Hi and thanks Byron
 
Just to say the tank is on it's stand and the actual tank won't be 'moved' we will be sliding the stand with the tank still on it. This should protect the glass and seals (I'll run some tape around the edges so the tank is 'fixed' to it's base) Will this make any difference?
 
My 240 came with is proper stand not a makeshift stand
 

 
 
This is it when it first arrived and I was in the process of setting it up