Help With Moving A Tank

[BluexEmber]

Okay, this is the situation. My friend is giving me a 55g that has 4 Red eye tetras, 1 platy, 1 black molly, 2 tiger barbs, and some sort of catfish or algae eater (I didn't see it). I have at home a 2g with 3 cherry barbs in it. I need advice on moving the tank and how to deal with filling it up and moving the fish. The tank has a stand and all the other stuff I need I'm mostly worried about the water and transporting the fish. I have well water so how long would I have to let this sit before it is safe to put in a tank? Should I only drain out most of the water from the tank and transport it like that or should I bag the fish up? (they only will be in the car for like 5 minutes) Should I buy new gravel and how much? The gravel she has is all like purple or something like that, I would like to get new gravel. How can I help the tank get started fairly quickly? What should I do with the fish? I don't think they'll all fit in the 2g... Oh, and any other advoce or things I have forgotten would be greatly apperciated. I am fairly new at fish keeping, I've had fish before for like a year but never truly understood them untill like a month ago. I'd love any advice I can get.

 

[Tolak]

First a couple of questions;

Are you on the same water supply, or drawing well water from the same source as your friend?

Is your well a privately owned well, or municipally supplied well water?

 

[emma12321]

This previous topic should help http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=129060&hl=

Emma

 

[madmom]

Tolak has a good point. If you have a private well definately test your water. Well water can differ from house to house. One may have iron another high pH etc. I'd take as much of the tanks water as I can ( I know 55 gal is a lot ) and after tank is set up slowly over a period of a few days do partial water changes to get them accustomed to the new water.( I let my water sit for 24 hours before I do anything just to try to equalize temp.) I think the link Emma provided is excellent.
I'm new to fiahkeeping also but helped a friend move her 30 gal tank to a new city and she brought her water with her.

 

[BluexEmber]

First off, to answer your questions I have a privately owned well and my friend has tap water, not well. Also thanks Emma for the link, I didn't even notice that post; it really helps.

I can see what you mean Madmom, the only issue is carrying a 500lb. tank, I don't know how much is possible to keep I guess half of it at the most. My water's pH is not that bad, I believe it is between 6.8-7.0, it's a little to the acidic side but that's it.