Moving a tank

[john5748]

Sometime over the next few months I am going to have to bow to my wifes pressure and re decorate our living room. The problem is my fish tank.

Can anyone advise the best way to rehome my fish and equipment with the least possible stress.

One idea I have had is to remove the fish into a bucket (fish only bucket) remove the majority of the water and put it into the bath, move the tank to a different room, put the water back in and then rehome the fish.

Is this idea feasable or am I been too simplistic in my approach?

The reason I intend to rehome the tank into a different room is that I have to sand the wooden flooring and then paint the room, so a temporary solution is not an option.

My tank is 4 ft long (180 ltr)

Any advice is much appreciated, preferably by people who have done this before.

 

[Cheese Specialist]

Hmmmmmm

I would do what you said with the fish. Perhaps in a fermenting bucket, something as big as possible really. I'd put you filter going on the least power in there to take care of the bacteria.

I would ditch the idea about putting water in the bath though, there's no need. The water might get contaminated with cleaning/bath products and also the fish will be ok with new water (might be an idea to not fill the tank full straight away when you set it back up, just in case).

 

[john5748]

I was actually on about using the bucket just as a very short term solution (a couple of hours tops) just while I moved the tank into a different room (I only have a 3 gallon bucket which is used for water changes).

The reason I mentioned the bath was that I really want to empty the tank - move to a different room - refill and the get on with my decorating. I have a Eheim external filter so I can keep the tank water in that and if I can keep as much of the tank water as possible surely this will benefit the fish?

So a more permanent solution is required.

 

[Cheese Specialist]

I would not put water from the bath back into the tank, it might be ok but there's all kinds of stuff that could get into the water.

I was talking about putting the filter in the bucket to keep it going. The bacteria die off very quickly.

 

[john5748]

I would not put water from the bath back into the tank, it might be ok but there's all kinds of stuff that could get into the water.

I was talking about putting the filter in the bucket to keep it going. The bacteria die off very quickly.

So how would effect the fish if I moved the tank and then filled it up with dechlorinated water?

Would the tank not need to be cycled again?

 

[Cheese Specialist]

I would not put water from the bath back into the tank, it might be ok but there's all kinds of stuff that could get into the water.

I was talking about putting the filter in the bucket to keep it going. The bacteria die off very quickly.

So how would effect the fish if I moved the tank and then filled it up with dechlorinated water?

Would the tank not need to be cycled again?

No, you cycle the filter not the water. The water holds more bad bacteria than good. The filter media and the gravel bed (to a much lesser extent) hold it all.

As I said before, I think the fish would be fine with mainly new water but it would probably be best to only half fill (until you move the tank back) and then half fill when its in place and fill to the top a day or so later.

 

[john5748]

I would not put water from the bath back into the tank, it might be ok but there's all kinds of stuff that could get into the water.

I was talking about putting the filter in the bucket to keep it going.  The bacteria die off very quickly.

So how would effect the fish if I moved the tank and then filled it up with dechlorinated water?

Would the tank not need to be cycled again?

No, you cycle the filter not the water. The water holds more bad bacteria than good. The filter media and the gravel bed (to a much lesser extent) hold it all.

As I said before, I think the fish would be fine with mainly new water but it would probably be best to only half fill (until you move the tank back) and then half fill when its in place and fill to the top a day or so later.

That makes it much more clear, thanks very much for your patience

 

[Cheese Specialist]

No problem

 

[leafs]

I'm going through the same thing with my tank. My wife wants to re-do the floors so I'm doing exactly what cheese specialist recommended. The filter in the bucket idea is a good one that I never thought of. Keeps the good bacteria going. What I plan on doing is to empty the tank until there's a little water left, then move the tank and re fill it. I have a lot of plants that are starting to grow nicely, so I really don't want to disturb them too much. Pain in the butt!!

 

[Angry_Platy]

I recently moved my 75gal tank.....though it was only 2 meters across, I still had to drain the tank etc. What I did was took all the rocks and as much of the gravel out as possible. with the fish still in the tank I drained it to approx. 20% of its original volume, the fish had about 10cm of water to swim in (these are large african cichlids and loaches).....I then got furniture removal castor/wheels things, we lifted...more like HEAVED, the tank onto them and moved the tank. That was fine, it was in a straight line. Moving it around corners may be different.

My experience anyways

 

[abstract]

the only suggestion i have to add is fill the bathtub up with water that is the same temp as the tank (or a couple degrees higher), and put the bucket in that while you move the tank...that way the water in teh bucket will remain at temperature....if you live in a warm climate, disregard my advice

 

[john5748]

the only suggestion i have to add is fill the bathtub up with water that is the same temp as the tank (or a couple degrees higher), and put the bucket in that while you move the tank...that way the water in teh bucket will remain at temperature....if you live in a warm climate, disregard my advice

That is good advice which I will definatley use as Northern Ireland is certainly not what I would call "warmer climate"