Moving My Tank Today And I'm A Little Confused

[barb-e]

I am moving my 10 gallon tank 1 hour away. I already have a 5 gallon bucket with a lid that I was planning to use to transport some of the old water and the fish. However, I am wondering, when I arrive to my location, how do I put the fish back into the tank without freaking them out. Should I just slowly pour the water back into the tank with them in it? Should I scoop them out and put them into whatever little water is left in the tank and then pour the water into the tank. I could bring another smaller bucket without a lid but I don't want to keep moving them from container to container and stress them out.

 

[lil_phelpsy]

what fish are you moving i use bags in the same way as when you buy a new fish just catch them in your water and let them float for 15 mins for the water to be the same temperature and stops them getting a big shock

 

[barb-e]

I don't have any of those clear bags that the pet store uses. Do you think it would matter what kind of bag I use?

 

[emilythestrange]

I have used new food storage bags (with the sealable tops) but when i moved my tank 30 minutes away i let the fish stay in the small amount of water in the bottom, and all have been fine!

 

[KittyKat]

You can use the bucket, and assuming the tank is your priority, you can take 2.5 gallons of water in it (50% water, 50% air). I recommend that you do things in the following order:

1. test pH, KH and GH
2. switch off heater
3. remove plants into the bucket
4. half fill the bucket with aquarium water
5. add fish to bucket
6. move filter to a bag without holes, include some water and close it in such a way that the water will stay in the bag
7. throw away all the rest of the water
8. remove decor to a bag without holes, remove substrate if needed
9. move house
10. add decor, substrate, filter and heater to tank
11. half fill the tank with warm, dechlorinated water
12. start filter and heater
13. test new water for ammonia, nitrite, pH, KH, GH
14. acclimatise based on test results
15. add fish and old tank water to the tank
16. top up with warm, dechlorinated water

 

[barb-e]

Thanks everyone. I don't have any food storage bags and I don't feel like going to the store right now. Kitty Kat, your idea makes sense if I take the extra bucket so that's what i'll do. Thanks.

 

[jnms]

I think you are over complicating things. I have moved my tanks about 6 times over the past few years. Here's what I do:

1) Put the fish into a bag / bucket / container (it really doesn't matter which) containing tank water.

2) Completely empty the tank.

3) Move the tank

4) Fill the tank up with tap water (using some hot water to get it to the right temp.)

5) Connect your filters, heater and other equipment and turn it on.

6) Aclimitize your fish, and add them to the tank.

Easy...and never had a problem doing this.

 

[KittyKat]

I think you are over complicating things. I have moved my tanks about 6 times over the past few years. Here's what I do:
[…]
Easy...and never had a problem doing this.

The only problems with following those instructions to the last letter (and lets not assume that someone will not) are that if the filter dries out, the bacteria die; you're making the assumption that the person reading this will drip acclimatise or that the start and end water are not that different; that the reader will dechlorinate new water; that the reader will know to leave at least half air in the container the fish are in so that they do not suffocate.

Other than the lack of detail, that is almost identical to the method I recommended.