Is it recommended to discontinue feeding the fish for a day or two if we're about to move the tank? We will be driving for about 2 hours. Do you guys have any tips on how to keep the tank in place? I'm thinking of buying some straps and attach it to the truck parts. Is it also good to put a pallet below the tank? I'm not sure if the tailgate needs to stay down to fit the tank so I'd like to get some suggestions to keep it in place.
Moving the tanks
- Thread starter Fishor
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Best time for a fresh start...empty and clean out thoroughly. Those 55 gallon drums work great. Siphon as much water into those barrels and throw in all filtration media....maybe livestock too and include a battery operated pump for air.
Good idea not to feed before moving to reduce waste. May take you awhile to setup once you’ve arrived at your destination.
Good idea not to feed before moving to reduce waste. May take you awhile to setup once you’ve arrived at your destination.
Hello; I have a rubber bed mat in my pickup. It is about a 1/2 inch thick and cut to fit the truck bed floor. These are commercially available (or at least they use to be). I have moved tanks a few times and the rubber keeps the tank in place. No straps needed. I am not talking the plastic type bedliner type which will let things slide.
I am also not talking the spray in liner although they may work just fine. I just do not have much experience with them.
Make sure the truck bed floor is flat with no lumps or stuff laying about. If a rubber bed mat is not in the picture then perhaps a sheet of plywood on the truck bed. That may keep the tank in place a bit.
I do not have experience with straps. I would use couch cushions or some such all around a tank maybe.
hello; Never used one this way so do not know for sure, but they can be uneven so likely not.
Hello; While you will need enough water to keep the fish in during transport, there is no good reason I know of to haul old water around. I use fresh water in new setups in new places. I do the same sort of acclimation process as when bringing fish home.
Good luck
I just moved my 240 and 150 in a truck. I had a large comforter below the tank, then I strapped it down back to front and side to side with snug, not tight, ratchet straps. I put cardboard between the straps and any portion of the tank that it touched. I then stuffed large blankets and cushions around the tank to help with the shock. Avoiding potholes while on the highway was tricky, but we arrived at the destination with no damage and all tanks are up and running.
I didn’t feed the fish for a few days prior, put them in an ice chest with a battery powered bubbler and they all made it as well.
Putting media in with them is a good idea. It definitely took longer than I expected to set everything back up.
I didn’t feed the fish for a few days prior, put them in an ice chest with a battery powered bubbler and they all made it as well.
Putting media in with them is a good idea. It definitely took longer than I expected to set everything back up.
If you have some spare 2x4s around make yourself a fireman carry. Totes are good at holding water when sitting still. If it deforms to much during moving it could fail. Nearly happened to me. So we got some spare 2x4 and plywood. Nailed on a platform for the tote to sit on. A few cross braces on the bottom. 
These are just stuff set up to give you an idea. But this way the totes can be easily moved with lower chances of it breaking.
These are just stuff set up to give you an idea. But this way the totes can be easily moved with lower chances of it breaking.