The Puffer Forum

Hi all!

So I have some great news!! I think I found a perfect SW tank. It is about an hour away from me and is currently up, running and completely established.

Being as I've never transported an established tank, what would be the best way to transport the tank, fish (several fish in there already) and live rock?

There is a very good chance that I could acquire this tonight or possibly by Tuesday. As such, any help is as always greatly appreciated .

Make sure the rock is transported in tank water, you may get a little die off but hopefully not too much move the fish as you would from a Lfs and acclimatise slowly. Make sure the tank is empty or if leaving substrate in carry on a strong board but be very careful. Also make sure you have enough pre mixed water at the current tank salinity to set up quickly and easily.

It would be easier to set up a tank that will fit the lr and fish ready so you can take your time to properly set up this tank.

Ok, It sounds like this is actually going to happen....Hoooray! I'm getting the following:

55 Gallon Salt Water Aquarium with black wood cabinet/stand
48" NOVA Extreme T-5 HO Lighting
Penguin 350 Media Filter
Aqua C - Remora Protein Skimmer
approx. 10 pounds of live rock


FISH:

Large (5") Maroon Clown
Three Damsel Fish (3" to 4")
Brittle Star
Pistol Shrimp and Watchman Goby (matched pair)
Peppermint Shrimp

There are also two 2 hydor Koralia power heads(I don't know the size yet) and a small power head the drives the skimmer.

The tank is fully established and has both live rock and live sand. My plan for now is to keep the fish and see how everything goes. I will likely add more Live Rock and look at doing a GSP or two in there eventually (after trading in the existing fish of course).

So far, the current owner has also said that they have salt and a hydrometer that they will give me as well.

All in all, it looks to be a great deal for what I'm paying for it.

I've discussed the transport of the setup and at this point, I'll be bringing buckets to put the fish, live rock and live sand in. I will also be bringing towels to soak and cover the live rock with. The current owner has been very helpful in providing plenty of information as they have moved this tank once before.

I'm not sure what all I need to get setup at home before hand, but I'm assuming water that matches the current SG level of the existing tank?

Any thoughts/inputs/advice is greatly appreciated

Yes plenty of premixed water

Put the livestock in a bucket with a lid & tank water.

Put the rock in boxes lined with plastic bags & cover it with wet newspaper. 10,lbs isn't much rock for a 55g, You're gonna need a LOT more!

Well, tomorrow is the day. Tomorrow I pick up my new tank in the morning. I have 6 five gallon buckets and will have 2 more there tomorrow. These will be filled partially with tank water and have fish in them (separated) and live rock as well (also separated). Any remaining/empty buckets I plan on using to transport current tank water.

Hopefully all goes well as it is an hour long trip from the pickup to my house. Will post pics after everything is up and running.

Good luck!

i cant wait to see pics sounds like a bada$$ setup!

Well, the tank is setup but still very cloudy. It came with a Filter but I didn't hook it up. The previous owner said there is approx 10lbs of live rock. It looks like a lot more than that too me (felt like it carrying it all too).

Here are some pictures of the setup:



A Pistol Shrimp:

Glad you made it OK! What kind of substrate are you using? Did that come with the tank too?

Here are some I just took.

Pufferpunk wrote:Glad you made it OK! What kind of substrate are you using? Did that come with the tank too?

Thanks! It is live sand and looks like rock in it too. Everything you see came with it.
Right now I have it all up except the filter as it scares me LOL.

What's scary about the filter? Post a pic.

Pufferpunk wrote:What's scary about the filter? Post a pic.

It is a canister filter. Pic is the very last one.

Next two are the tank almost completely settled (taken at night)




Filter