transporting established tank help please

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Garrett.turbo

Gambusia
MFK Member
Mar 1, 2011
890
9
18
Canton Ohio
Okay so Im moving my 55 gal tank from my girlfriends house to mine. its about a 5 mins drive depends on lights... lol. I currently have fish in it so I was wondering if I could just fill up a couple 5 gallon buckets and put lids on them and take them to my house. will they be able to be in there for about possably 20 mins max? also, can I leave my gravel in my tank I prolly only have like 2 inches but I can try to take it out. If I do should I do that before I start emptying the tank? please help me Im planning to move it tomorrow or Tuesday at the latest
 
With it only being a 55 you should have no prob moving it w gravel in the bottom. Just leave enough water to keep it submerged as that will help keepthe bacteria alive. If you have canister filters, make sure to let them full of water for the same purpose. If you're using HOB filters, just keep the filter media submerged in water. Set the tank up, use a dechlor product to treat your water. Get the temp up and add fish. Basically you're just doing a very large waterchange
 
Be very careful if you decide to go this route the glass on the bottom of the tank was not made to hold weight like that. I've done it before but I would not advise others to do the same.

Posted on mobile.monsterfishkeepers.com
 
I've done this before, I cut a piece of 3/4 " ply 3 inches bigger then the tank. I put that under the tank and lifted the tank with the ply. This way the pressure from the weight in the tank isn't on the points where your hands are. But on the entire bottom of the tank.

Also, If you have enough 5G buckets you could even save 50% of your water and when you set back up it's like doing a 50% water change.

Mike
 
erk419;4981752; said:
Be very careful if you decide to go this route the glass on the bottom of the tank was not made to hold weight like that. I've done it before but I would not advise others to do the same.

Posted on mobile.monsterfishkeepers.com

Most stands for a 55g tank do not support the bottom pane of glass; just the outside of the tank. At very best it has one center support. Regardless, one thing I did forget to mention is whenever moving a tank, big or small, make sure to not put any twist on the tank. Make sure to lift and move the tank in a unison movement. I believe that most don't give glass the credit it deserves for it's strength and durability. With that said, please don't go testing it's breaking point!
 
Mavrick813;4981762; said:
I've done this before, I cut a piece of 3/4 " ply 3 inches bigger then the tank. I put that under the tank and lifted the tank with the ply. This way the pressure from the weight in the tank isn't on the points where your hands are. But on the entire bottom of the tank.

Also, If you have enough 5G buckets you could even save 50% of your water and when you set back up it's like doing a 50% water change.

Mike

Saving water is useless. Bacteria that supports the bio load of the tank lives in the filter media and other surfaces in the aquarium/setup.
 
creepyoldguy;4981780; said:
Saving water is useless. Bacteria that supports the bio load of the tank lives in the filter media and other surfaces in the aquarium/setup.


I suppose, But I'd still do it if I could. When I'm moving tanks around the house I drain the water into a large Garbage can on wheels and then pump it back in. I figured Same principal.

Mike
 
That's exactly my point, that is one of the purposes of the frame that goes around the bottom of the tank. Like you said most stands only have enough room for that frame there for not supporting the bottom pane of glass but at the same time transfering most of the weight away from the bottom pane to the trim. When you lift a tank with gravel and a little bit of water the opposite happens the only parts of the frame that is supporting the weight is the parts that your holding onto the rest of the weight will be transfered to the bottom pain. Worst case scenario the bottom pane busts out. That's when you have to ask yourself is the time it takes to remove all water and gravel really worth the price of a new 55.

Posted on mobile.monsterfishkeepers.com
 
erk419;4981793; said:
That's exactly my point, that is one of the purposes of the frame that goes around the bottom of the tank. Like you said most stands only have enough room for that frame there for not supporting the bottom pane of glass but at the same time transfering most of the weight away from the bottom pane to the trim. When you lift a tank with gravel and a little bit of water the opposite happens the only parts of the frame that is supporting the weight is the parts that your holding onto the rest of the weight will be transfered to the bottom pain. Worst case scenario the bottom pane busts out. That's when you have to ask yourself is the time it takes to remove all water and gravel really worth the price of a new 55.

Posted on mobile.monsterfishkeepers.com

This is why I said to slide the 55g onto a piece of plywood. Lift the tank using the plywood. Then all the weight stay right on the trim like it's supposed to. I've moved my 55G numerous times over 10 year when Painting, Laying new carpet. New stand. Never had an issue with it.

Mike
 
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