Hi! So I’m looking to move my 37 gallon aquarium (30.6 in W X 15.7 in D X 30 in H) to my new apartment 2.5 hours away and was hoping you all had some advice for me? This is my first time trying this, and want to accomplish this with as little stress on the fish possible. Another major concern is the possibility of breaking the tank or its structural integrity somehow being compromised in the move. I have a honey gourami, 16 ember tetras, 8 Pygmy corys and hella shrimp and snails in the tank. Thank you in advance!
Posted by justwannasleepplease
7 Comments
Drain the tank at least halfway, transport the fish in a bag inside a cooler box. Not sure how you should cushion the tank.
EDIT: Accidentally put the stand’s measurements in the post instead of the tank, the ank measurements are 30 L x 12 W x 22 H
Drain it fully and glad wrap the top keep Ur fish in a bucket Moniter the bucket with digital thermometer and temp ur car accordingly and a usb powered airstone will be Ur best friend
I recently moved and had a 60 gallon to transport (and have transported 20 gallons in the past). I save as much water and substrate as possible in 5 gallon buckets with holes drilled in the lids for air (but keep lids off until actually loading into vehicle until after unloading). The fishes also go in these buckets. I keep a bubbler and heater going until it’s time for transport. Personally, little guys and smaller plants go in one bucket, big guys go in other bucket. For my 60 gallon I had two more buckets just of water and substrate. I don’t want any stress to cause any attacks by anybody lol. Drain the remainder of the tank and transport in towels or blankets for padding. Then I put them flat in the back of my car with other heavier packed things so they wouldn’t slide or tip and then drive slowish.
Now, since it’s a drive over two hours if you have a way to keep the bubblers going in any way that’d be very good. But I’ve kept my fish in the buckets overnight, driven them, they stayed in the buckets until the next day after moving for me to get the tank all re-setup and I had 0 casualties. So even if you didn’t they’d probably be fine. And of course minimize sloshing of the water as much as possible.
Use as much of the old substrate you can in new setup, I got new substrate when I moved but I packed the entire middle with old substrate for nutrients. Then I used as much of the old water as I could from the extra buckets I “packed” and emptied the buckets with fishes as much as possible without stressing them out. This made it so adding new water basically made a 50% water change.
Then once everything is to temp and parameters add fishes back in!
I have moved lots of fish tanks and their inhabitants—draining the tank is a great idea and capture as many fish as possible. You may miss some, but you’d be surprised how well they do. Not sure how to safely transport the tank—maybe consider using some pillows as cushioning? Definitely Saran wrap the tank if you have plants so they don’t dehydrate. Love the idea of a USB powered pump for an air stone or two. Much luck to you.
Having a good flat surface to set the tank on is really important. Buying a 2×4 sheet of 1/2 plywood and having the store cut it down some will give you a safe solid base to to transport the tank on. Tape blankets and towels all around it to keep it secured to the board.
For the fish, buy a battery bubbler used for bait to keep them aerated for the time they’re in buckets. They can last many days that way. Use ice in ziplocks to keep the temps cool if they’re in an un air-conditioned space like the trunk for long.
I don’t recommend bothering to save too much substrate. Moving the tank is a good excuse to thoroughly clean and refresh substrate. Save some to seed the new tank with.
If not too much substrate weight, drain the tank, stick fish in 5 gallon buckets, and completely coat the bottom of the tank (plants and all) in sheets of plastic wrap.