Moving Fish/ Holding Tank Questions

VickiandKev · Nov 20, 2009

In a week, my partner and I are moving to our new place over 50 miles away and are obviously taking all of our fish.

We're taking the opportunity to upgrade the tank from a 4ft to a 6ft, so we have to coordinate the new owner of our 4ft tank being able to collect with the move-in date.
We have so much to do on the day of moving in that I would really like to get our 4ft tank picked up a few days earlier.

One problem though, where do my fish go in the meantime?

I have 2 mature filters (internal) that can be used in holding tanks, but the only tank I currently have is a 60L 2ft tank.
I will also have 3 massive externals with some new/some mature media in them as well.

My fish are as follows:
8 x clown loaches, 3 at 3in and 5 at about 1-2in
5 x yoyo loaches, 4 at 3in and 1 at 2in
1 x syno eupterus (about 4in)
1 x ruby shark
1 x flying fox
6 x full size BNs
2 x 2in BNs
Countless tiny baby BNs
3 x swordtails (2 babies)
8 x small gouramis (around 2in or so)

My question is - will these be okay in a 2ft tank for 48 hours if I have 2 big filters running plus one or two internals, and do lots of little water changes?

My thoughts are to include 2 of their favourite bogwoods so they can all hide and to reduce their stress. I really don't want them in an open tank with nothing to hide in while all this is going on.

OR would I need to purchase/borrow another holding tank, and if so, what would be the best way to split the stock - I'm thinking loaches in one tank with swordies and shark/syno then flying fox and gouramis and bristlies in the other tank and then babies just where-ever (pref. in a hatchery so they don't get munched once their hiding places have gone).

Any help would be appreciated. I just don't see how it would work to empty the tank and bag them all up on the day of the move, I think it'll be far more stressful for them as we won't have the time to take our time over it.

Also - is it best to transport these guys all bagged up or in a big storage container perhaps half full with an air pump switched on as soon as we get to the house (they won't be able to go straight into the tank as I have to set it all up first).

Sorry for all the questions, just really worried and need to get this sorted.

OldMan47 · Nov 21, 2009

One of the best cheap and easy to use holding tanks is a simple plastic storage container like they make for storing sweaters and such. They can hold a fair amount of water when filled 1/2 to 2/3 full and you can crowd fish into them about twice as tight as you would if you were going to keep them there for any length of time. At a day or less, for a move, the fish should be fine without any feeding in a container that size. Do not start mixing fish that are normally kept apart, this is no time to find out about any incompatible fish you might have in different tanks.

emma12321 · Nov 21, 2009

My fish spent some time in a big black rubbish bin with the filter and heater inside and the lid on when i moved until the tank was set back up. They were bagged by type (ie the tetras together, the corys together)in koi bags and put in poly boxes that i borrowed from the lfs for the actual drive, my big loaches and plecs 4 inch plus went in plastic buckets with lids as they tend to pierce the bags anyway. I also borrowed water containers from the shop and took about a 3rd of the water with me.

Emma

VickiandKev · Nov 21, 2009

Thank you for your replies.

As it has turned out, my 4ft tank was sold today, and I p/xed it for a 90L tank, a Fluval Roma thingy with stand.
They've been in a 2ft 50-60L tank with airstones and a U4 running all day and my yoyos looked a bit sleepy when I transferred them back over to the 90L but they've perked up now. I put all new water in the tank as the filters were mature. They also have lots of bogwood for hiding to try and minimise stress.

It's pretty small for my fish, BUT I have them in there with 2 mature filters, a Fluval U2 and Fluval U4 and 2 airstones on constantly. I have the whole surface moved around constantly to ensure maximum oxygenation and plan to do a 50% w/c every day.
I also have a lot of my live plants in there too.

Will that be okay?

It's for a week until Saturday.

But I will probably invest in a storage container for moving, as it will have a secure lid and be much more ideal.

OldMan47 · Nov 21, 2009

As long as you can keep up with the water changes to hold your nitrates down, you should be fine doing that for a week. Where you are is grossly overstocked in the current tank, but taking the necessary compensatory measures to maintain your fish stock healthy.

VickiandKev · Nov 21, 2009

I definitely will be doing 50% w/c daily. I would actually be really upset if I lost any of my fish. I'm really attached to all of them

What would be the best temperature and feeding regime to minimise the risk of the water conditions becoming too dangerous in between water changes?
I have BN fry and my youngest clown loaches are only just over 1" so do need feeding well otherwise they go very thin looking.

mini_matt · Nov 22, 2009

with that stocking you will still be overstocked in the new bigger tank surely!?

VickiandKev · Nov 23, 2009

mini_matt said:
with that stocking you will still be overstocked in the new bigger tank surely!?

According to aqadvisor it will still be overstocked, but it'll be fine with the right setup and enough filtration capacity.
A lot of the bristlies are up for sale as well so those numbers will go down.

VickiandKev · Nov 27, 2009

Just wanted to thank you guys for the advice

Have been keeping up with the water changes and good news is that all fish seem absolutely fine (if a little cramped up).
I piled bogwood in the bottomw half so all of the fish have plenty of caves if not much swimming space, IME this seems to help the loaches and bristlies with stress.
I did expect an outbreak of whitespot, but *touch wood* nothing so far ...

Getting new 6footer tomorrow and moving into new house woop!!
And then my poor fishies won't have to be moved again for at least 4 years all being well.

They have a car journey up to the new place first though - keeping my fingers crossed all goes well ...

OldMan47 · Nov 27, 2009

If there are no whitespot parasites in the tank, you will not get an outbreak. The crowding will make disease spread faster but only if it present to start with.