Moving Aquariums And Fish 600 Miles - How?

[amyk]

I'm wondering if anyone has suggestions on how to move aquariums and fish long distance. It'll be about 12 hour drive if stops are few and quick. There's no way I'll feel like setting up the tanks when we get there.

I'm guessing put them in buckets the night before the move and the set up the tanks the day after the move, if possible, so they'd be in the buckets for 2 days? longer would be better, so we can make sure to get the tanks in the exact right place in the house. I do have 1 battery operated air pump. maybe I could get a splitter and arrange the buckets near each other so I could bubble more than 1?

I have three 2-inch goldfish and two 5-6" weather loaches in one 37 gallon tank. the other is 29 gallons and has 2 shrimp, bn pleco, 4 yoyo loaches, 4 female bettas, 3 emerald cories, 4 otos

I plan to switch the tropicals into the bigger tank when we get there...

suggestions? thanks!

 

[Bloo]

Bazzillions of moving house threads that should help you out !

 

[england]

if i was you id sell up what youve got here.....where are you moving to? have they got fish shops?cos youve got nothing that you couldnt find anywhere..........i know it sounds glum sorry

 

[Bloo]

If you're prepared to check on them and perform some small water changes while they are in "transit" between tanks - and can supply them with their mature filter and heater, there's no reason why it can't be done. 12 hours is long, but you can buy some smaller temporary plastic containers for the transport. The quicker the better, and it's going to be a pain in the bum no doubt - but it's do-able.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

no advice I'm afraid but good luck! thats one key factor why I will never leave yorkshire

 

[Rick]

I would probably sell the fish and get new fish when I got settled in at the new place.

 

[amyk]

some of them I may be willing to sell, but my daughter's especially attached to the goldfish...

we're moving from Vermont to West Virginia...

 

[Miss Wiggle]

some of them I may be willing to sell, but my daughter's especially attached to the goldfish...

we're moving from Vermont to West Virginia...

if your only going to keep the goldfish (or just a few) then surley that would take a lot of the hassle out of setting up the tanks as soon as you got there. Personally I'd sell what I could bear to part with, transport the rest as in all the linked threads and then just set up 1/2 tanks as soon as I got there.

 

[Nick Sw]

I don`t know a lot about this but Is it possible for you to put some tank water in one those plastic boxes, put your heater, filter and air stone or whatever in the box . Place it on the back seat and use one of those power inverters that can be bought from maplins to power your equipment from the car battery ?
They can be plugged into the cigarette lighter socket and are £29.99 for a 150w model.

http/www.maplin.co.uk/Search.aspx?criter...ce=9999&SD=true

 

[pgtips]

I don`t know a lot about this but Is it possible for you to put some tank water in one those plastic boxes, put your heater, filter and air stone or whatever in the box . Place it on the back seat and use one of those power inverters that can be bought from maplins to power your equipment from the car battery ?
They can be plugged into the cigarette lighter socket and are £29.99 for a 150w model.

sounds like a plan batman

 

[amyk]

the problem with doinmg the half tank (presumably to help acclimate then to the other water) is that I have eclipse hoods. they won't start without the water level pretty much to the top...

 

[smurfyy_2k3]

where you moving from/to

 

[Bloo]

where you moving from/to

we're moving from Vermont to West Virginia...

 

[smurfyy_2k3]

where you moving from/to

we're moving from Vermont to West Virginia...

ok... maybe i'll shut up (and read posts better)

 

[plecoguy]

i did this, i went 430 miles, but its doable. take all your filter material and put it in a bucket with tank water. go to your lfs and ask if they have any fish boxes and bags you can have. bag up the fish individually and pack them tightly in the fish boxes making sure there is LOTS of air in each bag. seal up the boxes, pack up and go. 12 hours isnt really that long, when we are shipped fish they are in bags MUCH longer than that. the fish boxes are styrafoam so that will help keep them warm. dont open the boxes until the tank is mostly ready. then when the tank is close to the right temp (try and be quick about getting temp right) float the bags in the water to bring their temp up/down. the acclimate them and you are done. i did this with my 125 gallon tank, and the only fish i lost was an eel that jumped out.