The Puffer Forum

So my husband and I are moving to a new apartment and we don't know what the best way to move our tank would be. We have 2 GSP and 2 silver scats. It's not a long commute, about a 20 min drive. Should we bag them or take most of the water out of the tank and move them that way?

Thanks,

mary

Don't try & move your tank with water in - its likely to break! I would personally, bag them.

I never move a tank larger than 20 gallons with anything in it. Even 20 gallons, I get all the water and just leave the substrate, and that is still considered dangerous.

There's an article in the library about how to move fish, that should help you.

If the tank is big, empty it completely, carry it with two people. If it is REALLY big, build a sort of carrying tray out of 2x4's so it sits level and you don't twist it and put any pressure on the frame/seals.

To add to what Myaj said: you must also take out any rocks or any other objects other than the substrate. Such things can break the glass if you are unlucky.

When you refill the tank, check on it very often. There can be leakage after moving a tank around. Myself, I don't refill the whole tank at once, but take it in steps. I like to do it this way, to make sure I recognize a leakage before I've filled the tank the whole way up. The floor can get wet very quickly if you're unlucky. Also use your time to acclimatize the fish before releasing them. As you've had to change 100 % of the water, there's a chance that the water parameters are a lot different from the water they used to be in. I also have one more habit, which probably is only to make myself feel safe. I don't need to use declor here, as there is no clorine in the tap water. But when I have to refill a tank 100 % I use it anyway. There can be other stuff in the water that the declor also can get rid of. And when all the water is changed, it will be even more of it in the water than usual (when I only do 50 % water change). I want to make sure it's all OK before releasing fish. It's just me liking to have full control.

If it's only a 20 minutes drive, the bacteria in the filter will still be alive if you make sure you get the filter started again a quickly as possible.

You should keep your filter and its media submerged in tank water. Transfer some to a bucket or large enough container that it will fit in. I wouldnt take any chances killing off my bacteria.

Thanks everyone! I think I will take a bucket or two of the tank water with the filter submerged with me to keep the bacteria. I'll let you know how it goes!

for filter media, I wouldn't even do a bucket .. a ziplock bag with water will do the trick

When I moved 6 tanks 3 hours away .. we removed 90% of the water, kept the fish in the tanks, and removed anything that moved, decor etc..

It was a long bumpy ride and we made it. The filter media was kept is a bucket because of the number of tanks.

For a 20 min drive, I wouldn't sweat it.

i usually keep maybe half inch of water in to keep the substrate wet. and keeping the filter media wet in a bucket with the plants decor ect. Then i use another bucket with tank water to put the fishies in. Its easier for me then to try to stuff them into baggies...

I just read the article on moving. Has anyone ever used nalgene water bottles instead of bags to move their puffers? just curious to hearing some moving stories...

I just put mine in a cooler or bucket. And usually, if there's room, I throw the filter media (bioballs, etc) in there with them, as well as any live plants (figure the live plants will "cushion" them from the vehicle movement).

Thanks everyone for your advice!!! The move went smoothly. We used plastic tubs to transport water and put everyone in their own small one for the ride. All my fish made it safe and sound!

congrats on the safe move, glad to hear it

Whew! Moving is a recurring nightmare of mine...

Just did a 50 mile move of 6 tanks last month - best way to move the fish and/or liverock- clean coolers- preferably ones with wheels! Waterproof, keep the water at a good temp (was over 90F in Pennsylvania during move- fish's coolers were 75F- lucky fish- truck had no AC), fit larger/multiple fish in one, liverock with corals attached fit perfect, had more original tank water for back into tanks, filter media fits in and since more water than bags or buckets (used few buckets too) had more time to set up the tanks. When done, clean out the coolers and ready for next time (yes I use the coolers for camping- they get bleach disinfected and rinsed extremely well between different uses, double bag or watertight sealed containers for food and I do not used ice from any cooler in drinks- always thought that was gross).