moving 3 tanks and fish 400 miles

[Aicdt97]

Hey guys ..im moving out of miami to northern Florida..I have a 150 tall gallon, 125 gallon, and 120 gallon. Have 4 fx6 canisters filters, 7 aquaclear 110, filtering all three tanks..
Fish: breeding male gold jd. 6 in/ blue gene jd 7 in, red parrot 5 in , 3 serverums 5 in, 3 featherfin sqeakers, 6 plecos all different species and sizes, 6 in red devil, 8 in green texas, 2 4 in green terrors, 5 5in clown loaches...u get the point..still have 6 to 7 fish i didnt mention..i know i need uhaul..i know i needs home depot 5 gallon bucks for caring fish..is this to much? Show i give fish away and restart once move complete? Say i bring tanks..what about nititrates , ammonia, new cycle water..i cant bring 400 gallons of water with me..i know my filters have 2 years of great bacteria to break down ammonia..please any thoughts or ideas to make this easier? Or just start over? Give fish away?

 

[duanes]

The time factor is probably your biggest problem.
A day to drive, and the amount of time (perhaps days) to set up the tank(s), not including all other stuff a move has to do with.
The last time I moved I gave away (or sold) all fish, tanks, and almost everything I owned, but my move was to another country.
I believe you'll need to prioritize, what fish you want the most, and the amount of time you have to get a tank set up, and to save a reasonable amount of fish and bacteria colonies before they start to die off..
I 'd spread out bio media in the buckets with the fish, and concentrate on what will fit into the amount tank(s) you can be sure time allows you get set up.
Certain species of fish will be easy to replace (maybe not size wise), some not.
Again I'd prioritize according to that scenario, and be realistic.
I know with 100+ gallon tanks it would not be reasonable to assume "I" could do more than per day, maybe you can do more(?).

 

[squint]

I wouldn't give the fish away even if I had to make several trips. I made a longer move a year ago but with only the contents of my overstocked 125 gal. Heat might not be an issue for you depending on time of year.

I put my 40 gal acrylic aquarium in the trunk with about 12 gal of water and a bunch of bio media. I fasted the fish for 48 hours. Since I drive a hybrid, the 12V battery is in the trunk and I was able to directly connect a 1000W pure sine inverter. I found I needed about 400W to keep the water warm (it was winter). I also powered an oxygen concentrator which supersaturated oxygen levels to over 300%. That was a big help as I don't think I could have kept that many fish in so little water for a multi-day drive.

I bought some clinoptilolite to adsorb ammonia but didn't buy enough so I used Prime.

I think oxygen levels are going to be your biggest challenge.

 

[Aicdt97]

The time factor is probably your biggest problem.
A day to drive, and the amount of time (perhaps days) to set up the tank(s), not including all other stuff a move has to do with.
The last time I moved I gave away (or sold) all fish, tanks, and almost everything I owned, but my move was to another country.
I believe you'll need to prioritize, what fish you want the most, and the amount of time you have to get a tank set up, and to save a reasonable amount of fish and bacteria colonies before they start to die off..
I 'd spread out bio media in the buckets with the fish, and concentrate on what will fit into the amount tank(s) you can be sure time allows you get set up.
Certain species of fish will be easy to replace (maybe not size wise), some not.
Again I'd prioritize according to that scenario, and be realistic.
I know with 100+ gallon tanks it would not be reasonable to assume "I" could do more than per day, maybe you can do more(?).

You make great points..i like u idea , 3 tanks one day setup..impossiable..maybe u right just choose the one i want and set one tank..the bacteria colonies will die fast..wow..thanks for thoughts

 

[Aicdt97]

I wouldn't give the fish away even if I had to make several trips. I made a longer move a year ago but with only the contents of my overstocked 125 gal. Heat might not be an issue for you depending on time of year.

I put my 40 gal acrylic aquarium in the trunk with about 12 gal of water and a bunch of bio media. I fasted the fish for 48 hours. Since I drive a hybrid, the 12V battery is in the trunk and I was able to directly connect a 1000W pure sine inverter. I found I needed about 400W to keep the water warm (it was winter). I also powered an oxygen concentrator which supersaturated oxygen levels to over 300%. That was a big help as I don't think I could have kept that many fish in so little water for a multi-day drive.

I bought some clinoptilolite to adsorb ammonia but didn't buy enough so I used Prime.

I think oxygen levels are going to be your biggest challenge.

Squint thanks for your experience..i would need massive battery pumps for oxygen..another experence to consider..thanks

 

[MrsE88]

I’d personally use plastic totes to house the fish and bio media. Then use air pumps to keep the water oxygenated.

Once you get to the new place running the pumps on the large totes would buy you time to get tanks set up and ready. If it’s warm enough you could even set up a cheap kiddie pool to give you 200+gals to hold them in to buy time getting things up and running. Laundry baskets could be set in the pool to separate fish that don’t get along, but let water flow through. Lol

This is why I hope to never move. Between tanks and the pond fish it would be a lot. And I can’t leave anyone behind.

 

[Aicdt97]

I’d personally use plastic totes to house the fish and bio media. Then use air pumps to keep the water oxygenated.

Once you get to the new place running the pumps on the large totes would buy you time to get tanks set up and ready. If it’s warm enough you could even set up a cheap kiddie pool to give you 200+gals to hold them in to buy time getting things up and running. Laundry baskets could be set in the pool to separate fish that don’t get along, but let water flow through. Lol

This is why I hope to never move. Between tanks and the pond fish it would be a lot. And I can’t leave anyone behind.

Well said great idea..pool and baskets to give time for set up..thanks will be posting the trip and move..in may

 

[MrsE88]

Well said great idea..pool and baskets to give time for set up..thanks will be posting the trip and move..in may

Yes, please do document it. It’s always nice when people do. It will give others ideas when faced with a similar situation. Best of luck!

 

[squint]

One option I considered when I moved last year was renting an RV. Most come with generators so you have 120V power and have enough space to setup some of your smaller tanks 1/4 full of water. That's a lot more surface area and water volume you'll get out of bags or buckets. I checked out some of the larger RVs and they had exterior storage large enough to slide a 125 gal in there.

 

[Aicdt97]

One option I considered when I moved last year was renting an RV. Most come with generators so you have 120V power and have enough space to setup some of your smaller tanks 1/4 full of water. That's a lot more surface area and water volume you'll get out of bags or buckets. I checked out some of the larger RVs and they had exterior storage large enough to slide a 125 gal in there.

Also got to get 150 tall and 120 ..but buckets dont have muxh surface.u right..thankfully i going in may and can get best way..gonna post the whole experience door to door