Bags Or Bucket?

[linda1503]

Hi all
Finally moving house!! Yea!! Been trying to move since May but had so many 'hiccups!!' Anyway at last moving on Saturday. One question please, is it better to put my fish into bags (species in each bag) or put them all together in a bucket? Largest fish is a platty, they are all friendly community fish, approx 25. plus 6 amano shrimps. Any advice gratefully received. Thanks.

Oh, they'll be in bucket/bags for about (hopefully) 4/5 hours.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

benefits and drawbacks to both

bags have a limited air supply and not much room for the fish.... but there's no chance of them escaping or falling out

buckets, more room and air but could easily get knocked over in the chaos of a move and end up with fishes all over the floor

personally I'd put them in a bucket in a safe place while your dismanteling the tank, then transfer them to a bag for the actual move, then get the tank set up asap and the fishes in they're new home when you get there.

 

[Fire_an_Ice]

Having just done this myself, I'd avoid buckets of water like the plague. No matter how hard you try, water escapes. I had my long-suffering girlfriend in the car next to me nursing the bucket (this was for a 10 minute car trip - never mind the 4-5 hour job you're contemplating) and she got drenched. And that was with a lid on. Not nice. We lost a couple in the move as well I'd be inclined to bag 'em up and then get the bags in a cool (insulated) box or similar to preserve heat. I'd make sure that there was a large air space at the top of the bag, and that the box or container or whatever was lidded so that it is dark.

Whatever you do, best of luck...let us know how it goes.

Do you have a tank ready cycled at the other end for them? Or are you starting from scratch there?? I'd be interested to know how you manage the transfer...

F&I B)

 

[liserini]

I recently moved some fish using a bucket intended for keeping beer or wine in. It has a lid on it, which is handy. I'm sure you get similar specialist fish moving stuff. They are also handy to have about after a move for emergencies.

 

[Fire_an_Ice]

I recently moved some fish using a bucket intended for keeping beer or wine in. It has a lid on it, which is handy. I'm sure you get similar specialist fish moving stuff. They are also handy to have about after a move for emergencies.

Excellent I obviously had a crappy bucket. Typical. Did all your fish survive?? How long was your journey between tanks?

F&I B)

 

[J.H]

I recently moved house and brought a large cool box for the fish, kept the water at a stable temp and the lid locked in so there was no chance of them getting out.

 

[linda1503]

Thanks everone!! Not sure which method to use now, don't want to get drenched, and don't want to stress my fish with bags. My bucket has no lid either, getting stressed myself now!!
I don't have a cycled tank at the other end. Fire an' Ice but I think I've read on this site to keep my filter media in water and this will help to preserve some bacteria?? Just a shame I can't save any water but that would be inpossible.
Anyway thank you everone and I will let you know how I get on, can't wait.

 

[OohFeeshy]

Bags will be fine, if your worried, you can get some extra large bags. Put the bags in a coolbox, filling the gaps with newspaper. You can mix species no problems, but it might be best for comfot of fish etc to stick to one species per bag, especially with the shrimps.
4-5 hours is quite a while, they should be fine anyway but you could aways buy a cheap pack of those oxygen tablets.

 

[yvez9]

I moved my fish last year in bags, except for the larger pleco (5 inches at the time) which we put in a bit tupperware container with a lid on it. It was a 15 minute ride

We moved the largest tank first with all the fish bagged up in a bucket so they would stay stable throughout the ride.

We filled up the tank and put it to temperature as soon as we arrived
dechlorinated the water and setup the filter. we had taken care to put the media in tank water. Onve the tank was at a good temperature (between 72 and 80, we let the heater set it correctly afterwards) we put the bags in the water and acclimated the fish as if it was a new purchase. Everyone survived!

My friend also moved last year and the fish and filter media were bagged up for 24 hours and everything was fine.

If the fish will be bagged more than an hour, don't feed them the day before moving

 

[linda1503]

Thanks to eveybody. I'll think I'll put them in bags in the bucket, and keep the media wet and keep my fingers crossed.

Oh, one more quick question. My son has a small tank in his room with a sponge filter run by a air pump. At the moment he has the pump in his wordrobe for quietness. Is there any way to keep an air pump quiet in his new bedroom because he will not have a wordrobe. Can it be padded in any way? Thanks

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Check out your local garden centre if any sell large fish like koi- some garden centres supply a large plastic sealed tub for transporting koi, i'm sure this would also be a good option for transporting large quantities of tropical fish too for long periods of time .

 

[linda1503]

Mmm never thought of that, will have a look tomorrow, thanks. Any ideas about keeping an air pump quiet??

 

[yvez9]

The only way to keep the pumps quiet is to buy high quality air pumps (Rena is the only quiet one i found so far for a reasonnable price) and keep them clean. I'm not a fan of air pumps because of the noise.

you can put something soft underneath it so the vibrations are cut but that's about all i guess...

 

[madmom]

Would a styrafoam (sp ? ) chest with a lid work? Just put some small holes in the top of the lid.

 

[linda1503]

Would a styrafoam (sp ? ) chest with a lid work? Just put some small holes in the top of the lid.

Might work, will give it a try Thanks!
I really admire anyone who has successfully moved loads of tanks. I've only got one and its a worry.
Anyway I'm signing off now till after the move cos I've so much too do!!!!!!!! My broadband is not being put back on till the 20th but at least I'll have a loads of new threads to read.

Bye for now.