moving a tank

[karl]

is it possible to move an established 220 gallon tank over 1 hour drive and expect all the corals and live rock to survive?

 

[johniii]

It is very possible

 

[jbdreefs]

my thoughts....

find something to put your livestock in temporarily. Then move the tank, stand, etc. Make another trip for the livestock...

It'll take a lot of time, but I'm guessing that it's the safest bet.

 

[mvm]

Replace the sand.

 

[karl]

Why replace the sand?

 

[johniii]

karl;788137 wrote: Why replace the sand?

Because the old sand once churned from removal contains alot of detritus that can cause problems in the new tank

 

[mvm]

Easiest thing to do is siphon the old sand out first using a 3/4"-1" piece of hose. Discard the sand, save some of the old tank water and try to keep all rocks under water. As long as there is little to no die off you should not see an additional cycle.

 

[eagle9252]

<span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: Verdana">Since it will take several hours if you plan correctly you can move it. Get a couple of stock tanks and set them up with some PH and maybe some air stones. Fill about ½ full of new fresh mixed SW and then take water from the tanks while moving the coral, fish, LR. </span></span>

<span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: Verdana">Take the tank down and move it. Start fill up with new SW and new LS. keep about 32oz or so of the old LS. put some in the sump and DT. About ½ full then stat moving all you happy stuff along with some of the water you have in the stock tanks.</span></span>

<span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: Verdana">This will be a very long day. Good luck</span></span>

 

[karl]

I should mention this will be my first sw tank so I dont have any holding tanks or anything.

 

[jef4y]

karl;788152 wrote: I should mention this will be my first sw tank so I dont have any holding tanks or anything.

So in that case, the expectation of anything surviving comes with HUGE caveats.

Before you move the tank, please please please take a couple of months (yes months) to learn everything you possibly can about saltwater tanks (such as why moving sand is a bad idea).

This is not something you can rush into and expect good results.

Are you buying this tank from someone? Are they a friend/relative/acquaintance who could help you learn the hobby? That would be a huge help and step in the right direction.

If not, spend some time on the stickies in the new member section of this site and other reefing sites learning the science behind what you're about to do.

Ultimately, a tank can be moved with no expectation of loss, but it requires a fair amount of planning and a lot of knowledge to begin with. Trying to do it without the knowledge/planning/tools (stock tanks, etc) will likely end up with poor results.

 

[karl]

Yeah, ill probably just start from scratch, pick up a new tank and look for used equiptment. Thanks anyways for the help.

 

[eagle9252]

on your first tank it would be smart to start from scratch and slow vs moving a well season tank worth alot of money.

 

[karl]

Yeah, but its cheaper to get a used set_up
Im looking at a 120 new , probably buy it after work and then start building a stand.