The Best Way To Move A Set Up Tank

[Titchie]

Im looking into getting a 220l aqua one regency 100 its been set up a year and houses 3 piranha. Whats the best way to move it. The tank and stand will fit in the car but I wouldn be able to take the water as well. The filter is a external EHEIM can I move these with out water, fill up at home with new water, tap safe it, get the filter running and put the fish back in. Will this damage the bacteria, kill them etc.
Also could I remove the fish and put ones I want in within the water parameters.
Sorry to sound dum
Any advice is welcome.

 

[DevotedToDiscus]

I don't know for sure, but why not shut the valves on the filter(assume it has them on the pipes) and thus leave the water inside the filter? That should sustain the bacteria in the filter. failing that I would have thought you could empty the filter medium into a container along with the water and move it that way?

 

[Titchie]

Sorry I wasnt clear, thats what I was going to try and do. Im just worried that moving everything will mean cycling the tank again

 

[fluttermoth]

As long as you keep the filter media wet it should survive the journey with no problem and you won't need to re-cycle it.

How far away is it from you? If it's close (within 10 miles or so) the water should be fairly similar, so you shouldn't have to worry about moving water; just refill with new.

Ask your LFS if they can give/sell you some fish bags and a polystyrene box (a cool box would also do the job; if not, wrap the bags in a blanket or duvet) for transporting the fish, if you're having them. If you want to change the stocking, you can add a (roughly) equivalent amount of fish as soon as you take the piranhas out.

Any time you move a filter, or change stocking, you should test often and feed sparingly for the first week or so.

 

[Wills]

Hi your pretty much there with your plan

If you can save any water at all it would be beneficial - as said above if you can keep the water in the canister filters it would be good - when I move externals I put a plastic bag over the holes and elastic band around them or stick them down to keep the water from splashing.

When you get the tank set up again at your house get it full as fast as you can or at least to the point where the external filter will start up.

If you do need to fill it up with tap water its not a massive problem but I would try to keep some water at least to fill up the filters if you have to empty them.

With stocking if you take the Piranhas out you should be able to replace them on the day just make sure you find a good home for the Piranhas

Just be aware moving a tank can be stressful and it does just take time - I always stress out when I have to do it but you just have to realise how long it will take and if the filters die off a little after it then you just need to be around for extra water changes

Wills

 

[Titchie]

Hi thanks for the help, its about 30miles from us and The guy was saying they have high limescale. He has a transport box for the fish and my lfs is willing to take them on. One thing that worried me was that he said he never used tap safe and didnt seem to know about the bacteria in the filter and said he'd kept fish for 18 years

 

[fluttermoth]

Yeah, old school fishkeeping *sighs*

I wouldn't worry too much about the water, just acclimatise them very slowly until you can re-home them (if you're not taking them straight to your LFS).

 

[Titchie]

also the fish are 5-7 inches any idea what there worth.

 

[fluttermoth]

Second hand fish, unless they're an unsual or rare species are worth nothing. Just be thankful you can get rid of them and aren't stuick with them!

 

[Titchie]

arnt all fish second hand but thanks for the advice

 

[DevotedToDiscus]

arnt all fish second hand but thanks for the advice

LOL.....

Ah, but not when they are eggs! Actually, they are a bit like an old painting......only worth what someone is willing to pay.

 

[Dieses Madchen]

I have livebearers....I buy new ones for cheap at the LFS, mainly to prevent inbreeding, and I give my fry away for free. I put ads on craigslist and usually unload all of them within a day or two lol! People do enjoy free, homebred fish lol

 

[Titchie]

yer I give fry away etc, but these are alot bigger than fry, besides I dont think I could have piranhas in the house, just something about them and 4 kids just doesnt seem right lol

 

[fluttermoth]

They're actually a very shy and skittish fish. All that stuff about them stripping cow carcasses and the like is no more than urban legend.

 

[Titchie]

well the guy was on about feeding them bacon I have no clue about them so would be unfair to keep them