i need a few pointers moving a tank (with lionfish)

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scalesandfins

Feeder Fish
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Apr 22, 2010
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i am goin to pick up a 85 gallon bow front tank on mon and need some tips on moving the fish and water.
1) how do i get the lion out without alot of damage to him or me? i have a large fine mesh net that is black that would hold him. wil that be adaquate?
2) how can i move that much water? trash cans? how would you do it?
3) im guessing i move the liverock in the water. and the fish in a seperate bucket. is there a better way to move the LR ?
4) do i leave the sump full or what do i do with all the media to make sure i dont kill too much BB?
i think thats all i got for now....
will post pics as soon as its setup :D
thanks in advance for all replies
 
scalesandfins;4461207; said:
i am goin to pick up a 85 gallon bow front tank on mon and need some tips on moving the fish and water.
1) how do i get the lion out without alot of damage to him or me? i have a large fine mesh net that is black that would hold him. wil that be adaquate?
They make specimen containers for moving fish with spines, but you can also use a large tuppaware bowl and enourage him into it, and then transfer him to the bucket with that.

2) how can i move that much water? trash cans? how would you do it?
Trashcan will work. Just remember that water weighs 8.5lbs per gallon. I use 5 gallon buckets and lids from home depot, which is going to be numerous on 85 gallons.
3) im guessing i move the liverock in the water. and the fish in a seperate bucket. is there a better way to move the LR ?
I put the LR into 5 gallon buckets and then put water in the buckets, place lid on top, and your good to go. I wouldnt put fish in with the LR though. The rock wont be secure and it is possible (small, but possible) that they will get smushed.
4) do i leave the sump full or what do i do with all the media to make sure i dont kill too much BB?
Whats in the sump? If it is bioballs, just pull them out and keep them in the water like you would LR. Sand or anything else, just leave a thin layer of water on top. Macro algaes can normally be removed and placed in water.
i think thats all i got for now....
will post pics as soon as its setup :D
thanks in advance for all replies
Click to expand...
You have a full days of work ahead of you, best of luck. Check your filter media and clean it every day for the first week. You are going to have a lot of crap in it.
 
yea i am starting to see this :( but it will be worth it. we are goin to have about 4 people helping. me and a guy from the lfs tearing down and packing and my fiance cleaning as me and my friend and the other guy set it up :)
it should go pretty smooth knock on wood.
i am worried about carrying the cans but im sure a half full trash can wont be too heavy for us.
why are the filters goin to be so dirty? from everythin thats been loosened?
 
scalesandfins;4461394; said:
yea i am starting to see this :( but it will be worth it. we are goin to have about 4 people helping. me and a guy from the lfs tearing down and packing and my fiance cleaning as me and my friend and the other guy set it up :)
it should go pretty smooth knock on wood.
i am worried about carrying the cans but im sure a half full trash can wont be too heavy for us.
why are the filters goin to be so dirty? from everythin thats been loosened?
Click to expand...
Yea, people rarely ever have their flow setup such that nothing settles on the floor. So getting in there and moving everything around is going to really loosen up all the junk that has settled with time. The filter will end up catching it. I do carbon when I move or transfer a tank that has been established for some time. I normally do it for the first week. It helps clear up the water, and whatever "fresh" smells that come with it.
 
scalesandfins;4461394; said:
yea i am starting to see this :( but it will be worth it. we are goin to have about 4 people helping. me and a guy from the lfs tearing down and packing and my fiance cleaning as me and my friend and the other guy set it up :)
it should go pretty smooth knock on wood.
i am worried about carrying the cans but im sure a half full trash can wont be too heavy for us.
why are the filters goin to be so dirty? from everythin thats been loosened?
Click to expand...
Yea, people rarely ever have their flow setup such that nothing settles on the floor. So getting in there and moving everything around is going to really loosen up all the junk that has settled with time. The filter will end up catching it.

I do carbon when I move or transfer a tank that has been established for some time. I normally do it for the first week. It helps clear up the water, and whatever "fresh" smells that come with it. One tablespoon per 5 gallons, and remove after the first week. From that point on, only dose with carbon if it is really needed.
 
do i need a protien skimmer? im goin to add a few hydor fans to put alot of circulation in. he has a power head on it to push water around. but i know there is alot of build up.
would it hurt to clean the overflow box and all the algea on the glass?
 
scalesandfins;4461525; said:
do i need a protien skimmer? im goin to add a few hydor fans to put alot of circulation in. he has a power head on it to push water around. but i know there is alot of build up.
would it hurt to clean the overflow box and all the algea on the glass?
Click to expand...
Cleaning the algae off when you can is the best thing you can do. I have cleaning algae off when I have water in the tank cause that crap gets sucked up into the filtration or just floats around and is difficult to catch.
 
ok coool
but no skimmer is ok ?
 
scalesandfins;4461572; said:
ok coool
but no skimmer is ok ?
Click to expand...
It would help, but I dont think it is 100% neccesary. Just keep a mindful eye on your parameters.
 
check out my new thread for pics :)
:headbang2
 
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