Moving a 3ft tank

[Ziggy25]

Hi guys,

I need some ideas on how i can move a 3ft tank to a new position. Can i put half the water in to several buckets then move it? i dont think i can lift as its too heavy..

cheers..

 

[Bloo]

I would most certainly take out the majority of the water and any rock or heavy decorations. It's amazing how heavy these tanks are even with the slightest bit of substrate and a few inches of water
You really do not want to end up with a crack.

 

[Dragonscales]

are there fish in it?

 

[Matchu]

best way would be to turn everything off, put the filter in a bucket of tank water, bag the fish, take nearly all of the water out, and get someone to help you move it then, this way theres less chance of something getting broken.

 

[Tolak]

Newer tanks have to have everything removed. They are made to be structurally sound in a static position when filled. Just put some water in a bucket & add fish. Put gravel & filter media in another bucket, make sure to keep it wet, or your bacteria will die. If you can save half the water that will help, I do 75% water changes on tanks regularly without problems.

If you move the tank with water, or gravel, you are putting stress on it that it wasn't made to handle. Future seam leaks or blowing out the side or bottom are a possibility. Makes a big mess.

Tolak

 

[digital_run]

Definately empty it out...Better safe then sorry..Plus as bloozoo said these things way a ton and are always ackward to move so i wouldn't try it by myself unless i wanted a hernia

Good luck!

DR

 

[Redbled]

Anytime I move a tank I take about two icechests and put a ton of the old water in it. Then I put the fish in one of them. You want all the water out to move the tank, and often the rocks, decorations as well depending on the size. A 3 ft tank has to be what, 55 gallons. You'll be hurting if you don't empty it completely. I like to put about half of the old water back in the tank if I can.

 

[daudy_dojo]

you might want to do what these people say cause i used to move my 10G around while i was half full... now i have stress cracks in the glass

 

[yvez9]

i would empty it completely too
just not worth the risk of breaking the tank IMO

 

[andywg]

Definately empty out as much of the water as possible. And I wouldn't worry too much about keeping the old water (unless you have to buffer or otherwise treat the water) as all the bacteria are on filter media and substrate.

Andy