Moving A Tank

[mhancock]

We're moving house and I need to re-home my tanks before moving and then again into the new home.  The 85 litre one will move with fish in it and a little bit of water left, but the 225 litre one is another matter altogether!  It is very heavy just on its own.
 
The bigger one has the plants planted in compost, with slate and gravel on top.  I have boxes to move the fish, so they're OK, but as for the tank and plants:

• Do you think I'll get away with leaving the compost in the bottom so that the roots are not disturbed, and only remove the water, gravel and slate - or would leaving the compost (which would of course be wet) cause too much stress when the tank is moved?  Whilst going to/from the car, etc it may well not be in a flat surface.
• If I need to empty it completely, do you think I'll get away with taking the plants out and re-planting them (can use new compost if I do this) or will uprooting them do too much damage to the roots?  I guess I've nothing to lose in trying if I do need to empty it completely to move it.

Thanks,
 
 
 
Mark

 

[fluttermoth]

I would always completely empty tanks before moving. I've seen far too many crack or have the seals loosen.
 
Your plants should be fine; plants get uprooted and moved all the time, especially aquatic ones. Lift them by putting your hand underneath, rather than pulling them up by the stems.
 
Trim the roots by about a third and take off any old leaves when you replant and they'll settle sooner.

 

[mhancock]

Thank you
 
Can you foresee any problems in using bin bags to line the cool boxes for the fish?  Don't want to risk the boxes themselves as they are bound to have had detergent in them before at some point!

 

[fishwarrior]

85 ltrs is what 22 gallons?  I've moved a 10 gallon and a 29 gallon with about an inch or two of water with no problems.  Just have to take it easy.  Completely empty is always better.

 

[fluttermoth]

Re bin bags; I remember reading in PFK a few years ago about someone moving some fish in a container they'd lined with bin bags, and they lost them, so I wouldn't risk it. Get some fish bags from your LFS or ebay.

 

[looking-glass]

get your self lots of buckets to keep the plants in with a bit of water they should soon be back in good condition after being plated again
 
 
take care when moving the tank too - not just of the tank but yourselves as well - very easy to hurt your back

 

[mhancock]

Hi,
 
The move went well, in the end I gave the cool boxes a good clean rather than use bin bags (no detergent of course), and put the plants in them too so the fish had something vaguely natural.
 
Our lounge is very quiet without the pumps going which is great, but I'm REALLY missing my fish!!!
 
 
M

 

[looking-glass]

glad it went well when will you have them set up again

 

[mhancock]

Depending on when we actually move, probably mid April.
 
I want to install a drip system in the new house with overflow so that the water parameters are always good, and always constant.  Thinking of maybe using rain water for this!