Moving a Tank

[ChuckN]

I am going to be moving from the Fredericksburg , Va area 4 hours south to NC. And I am wondering what the best way to move my complete 250gallon setup without harm.

[dschflier]

Do you have to do it in one trip? If you can do it in two trips I think you would be better off.

 

I would get a plastic swimming pool for kids( They hold maybe 200 gallons)and are cheap. Put all of your fish and corals and some of your live rock in the pool. Move the tank and any equipment not immediatly needed to NC. Set it up down there. Take some of your old water down to NC. I would run carbon and Phosphate remover in the temporary holding tank. Keep power heads in the holding tank and if you have an extra skimmer I would use that as well.

 

The tank in NC I would set up and run your skimmer and carbon and PhosPhate remover as well. This way by the time you get the fish and bring them down south the tank has had a bit of time to clear up.

[Coral Hind]

That sounds like a solid plan that dshflier laid out.

 

Are you trashing the sand and buying new or are you going to wash it and re-use?

[dschflier]

If you need some carbon and Phosphate remover I will be happy to give you some before the move. All you would have to do is pick it up.

[Ryan S]

I am going to be moving from the Fredericksburg , Va area 4 hours south to NC. And I am wondering what the best way to move my complete 250gallon setup without harm.

 

4 hours! That's nothing! I moved from Kansas to Virginia over 3 days! 4 hours should be cake! I agree with the other posters about multiple trips if possible. If I were to do it, I'd empty your tank into rubbermaids and then take the tank to the new location and get it up and running first. I'd try to reuse as much of your old tank water as possible. Then I'd bring the corals and fish on the 2nd trip, and put them into the setup tank that is waiting for them. Good luck, it's hard work, 4 hours, or 3 days!