Need Help - Inheriting Monsters

[RBE17]

It's been a long time since I've posted here, but this was the best place I could think of to get the info I need.

My father-in-law passed away on Thursday. We are inheriting his 125g tank. As I know it, the contents are a bichir (don't know which type), clown loach, two silver dollars, plecostamus and some type of catfish (I've never seen it).

We have until the end of the month to clear the apartment and the move is happening on Thursday. Due to logistics the tank will not be coming w/ me on Thursday.

My plan prior to Thursday:

Fill a 150g stock tank in my basement
Begin cycling said tank
Begin heating said tank

Here is my plan for Thursday:

Arrive and assess the tank, water and fish condition
Fill 5g buckets w/ tank water
Vac the tank the best I can
Catch fish once water level is lowered - 1 bucket for bichir, 1 for silver dollars, one for pleco, one for loach and two other buckets with me for fish I don't know about
Secure fish in covered buckets
Empty tank
Breakdown tank
Move tank
Bring fish home and acclimate them to the stock tank

My biggest question is:

What equipment do I need to keep the fish alive? We live an hour away and this is not the only thing occurring on Thursday. The fish might be in the buckets for several hours.

What is the appropriate amount of time to keep the fish in the stock tank? I'll probably be bringing the tank home next week and setting it up in my basement. I don't want to stress the fish out more than I need to.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,


Steve.

 

[celebrist]

First, sorry for your loss especially this time of year

You can get battery powered air pumps or a transformer that goes in the cigarette lighter to run air stones but an hour or two shouldn't be a big deal if you think about what fish go through during import or even shipping to the LFS

 

[Deadliestviper7]

Get a couple bait tank aerators for transport,u can get them at bass pro or cabelas

 

[Drstrangelove]

I would also be concerned with heat loss.

A 5 gallon container is going to lose heat during several hours depending on various factors such as ambient temperature, whether or not the container is sealed, how insulated the container is, the humidity of the air around the containers, etc.

You can minimize this (along with covered, but not air tight tops) by moving the fish out of the tank at the last possible minute, placing them in a hotter room until they are placed in the vehicle, keeping the vehicle heated above normal, and so forth. Otherwise, I would be concerned there would be an enhanced risk of losing fish.

On the chance that you will place the buckets in an unheated trailer or in the back of an unheated moving van for one to two hours in 30 F degrees, I'd think hard about giving them away.

It would be preferable to bring the filter media as intact as possible from the original tank to use it in the stock tank. Otherwise, you'll have the fish in an uncycled tank (whether it's the stock tank or the original tank.)

As to how long to keep them in the stock tank, I don't think you can know unless you have completed the move. If the transfer was uneventful and the fish show no ill effects, it could be soon. If they are lethargic or worse, I'd wait until they have recuperated.

 

[RBE17]

Thank you all for the responses.

First, sorry for your loss especially this time of year

You can get battery powered air pumps or a transformer that goes in the cigarette lighter to run air stones but an hour or two shouldn't be a big deal if you think about what fish go through during import or even shipping to the LFS

Thanks. The timing was very unexpected. I'll be visiting some LFS places today looking for some battery powered air pumps.

Get a couple bait tank aerators for transport,u can get them at bass pro or cabelas

If I am unable to locate the air pumps at LFS I'll probably stop at Cabelas on the way to his apartment.

I would also be concerned with heat loss.

A 5 gallon container is going to lose heat during several hours depending on various factors such as ambient temperature, whether or not the container is sealed, how insulated the container is, the humidity of the air around the containers, etc.

You can minimize this (along with covered, but not air tight tops) by moving the fish out of the tank at the last possible minute, placing them in a hotter room until they are placed in the vehicle, keeping the vehicle heated above normal, and so forth. Otherwise, I would be concerned there would be an enhanced risk of losing fish.

On the chance that you will place the buckets in an unheated trailer or in the back of an unheated moving van for one to two hours in 30 F degrees, I'd think hard about giving them away.

It would be preferable to bring the filter media as intact as possible from the original tank to use it in the stock tank. Otherwise, you'll have the fish in an uncycled tank (whether it's the stock tank or the original tank.)

As to how long to keep them in the stock tank, I don't think you can know unless you have completed the move. If the transfer was uneventful and the fish show no ill effects, it could be soon. If they are lethargic or worse, I'd wait until they have recuperated.

I'm going to drill 1/2" holes in the lids of the buckets so I can get the air line through them. I am thinking about using some hand warmers in weighted plastic bags in the bottom of the buckets. I'll be transporting the fish myself in my car, so they shouldn't be in anything unheated. I'll put blankets in the car. If need be, I'll drive in short sleeves and keep the heater cranked. I really don't want to lose any of these fish.

Thanks for the reminder on the filter media. I will be taking all of the filter media and substrate with me. I'll seed the stock tank filter w/ the media. I'm also going to take a water test kit with me just to check out the current water parameters.

I re-read HarleyK's "Moving w/ a Monster" article. Unfortunately, I don't have the luxury of time to implement many of his techniques. They were probably fed Thursday morning and what I understand, he overfed.

I'm headed out today to pick up the buckets, lids, battery powered air pump and air stones. I've got my gravel vac, nets, drain hoses, mesh sacks and miscellaneous totes ready to go. I'm hoping this goes well.

Thanks again.

 

[celebrist]

Good luck and let us know how it goes

 

[knobhill]

You can do it! All the advice is sound. Plus the fish you listed are pretty bulletproof except the clown loaches, which are susceptible to ich.

To tack on about the heat/filtering/media stuff...

If possible, you should bring the substrate (i'm assuming there is gravel) in buckets filled with water. There is plenty of good bacteria there as well.

If you have the stock tank waiting with the water heated, You can bring the filters and just plug them in, then add fish. You should be okay.

Then, you can use the gravel to seed the 125g again (you are moving it eventually?)

Sorry for loss as well.

 

[jaws7777]

Sorry for your loss. These guys have you covered man. I moved my fish this past summer and it was much easier than i expected. The fish ere in the bins/buckets for over 8 hrs. Just follow what these guys told you and keep that car nice and warm !

 

[Beetlebug515]

If it were me, the fish I would be most concerned about is the loaches. Bichirs, plecos, SD's, would probably live in bong water if need be. The above advice is great. Following to see your success. Best of luck.

 

[RBE17]

Thanks Everyone. The stock rank is up and running. So far one minor mishap. I dropped the brand new 300W fluval heater on the basement floor...oops.

The moving odyssey begins tomorrow morning at 10:00. I'll keep you guys posted on how I make out.

Thanks again.