Quick question!! Moving my tank to new location!!

[RachPreach]

I have a 65 gallon that is up and running with live plants and fish. Im going to be moving to a new house about 15 minutes away and i was wondering how long after everything is set back up can i add fish? I mean, ill be using the same gravel, same canister filter, with all the same plants. I just need to know how long I should let it run before adding my fish again? thanks guys in advance.

[fishsandwitch]

As short as possible. Drain the water. Move tank. Refill, adn as soon as the temp is back to normal, put the fish in. Make sure you add declor before you refill the tank, so that the gravel bacteria does not die. And put the gravel in buckets. Moving a tank with substartae in it is a recipe for disaster.

[RachPreach]

yes i was planning to put the gravel in containers, def. not moving the tank with the gravel still in the tank. So put the fish in asap?

[josh1604]

i am doing the same thing what if you have MTS in your gravel do you just try and get as many of them out as you can or what

[HiroPro]

I just moved my 55 about 6 months ago and had no losses. I kept 50% of the original water to refill the tank with though. Go to Walmart or somewhere and buy some 5g buckets with lids to move your water. I put my fish in about a day after refilling the tank. Fish and plants were moved in one of those large Rubermaid containers. I left the gravel in my tank.

[lauraleellbp]

If you can move the tank in a way that keeps the bottom of the tank evenly supported (like on a board) then personally I'd leave the gravel in the tank.

Disturbing the gravel too much is what's most likely to cause a mini-cycle and make it not safe to immediately put the fish back in the tank. It's possible for there not to be a minicycle issue even with removing and replacing the gravel (especially if you're very heavily planted) but IMO it's risky.

[jasa73]

LOL i just moved my tank this month. I put the tank water into buckets and put the fish in there. After i set up my tank i actually let the fish sit in the buckets for a couple days to let the tank settle a bit. I have discus and rams and they did fine in the buckets. When you buy buckets (i bought mine at Home Depot) buy ones that have lids =-)

I also bought a plastic bin with a lid that i found very helpful in moving all my c02 equipment, my cannister filter and hardscape. The bin can get wet without to much worry. Good luck! I hate moving!

[fishsandwitch]

Lauralee, this is not a 10 gallon tank, it is 65. I would not recomment even moving it onto a board with gravel. It will crack easy. Not to mention the board can flex very easy unless it is very thick

[fishsandwitch]

Originally Posted by RachPreach

yes i was planning to put the gravel in containers, def. not moving the tank with the gravel still in the tank. So put the fish in asap?

That is what I do. But I would start doing some gravel vacking weekly from now till you move, so that you dont cause a ammonia spike when you move all of your gravel.

[RachPreach]

so vaccum the gravel? i thought it would be good to leave all the mulm in the gravel?

[RachPreach]

so what ill do it move the tank, set everything up, and wait a day and then add fish tomorrow night. Ill make sure the tank has plenty of plants to help with ammonia. does this sound like a stable plan??

[lauraleellbp]

Originally Posted by fishsandwitch

Lauralee, this is not a 10 gallon tank, it is 65. I would not recomment even moving it onto a board with gravel. It will crack easy. Not to mention the board can flex very easy unless it is very thick

I realize that. Stress on glass and seams actually comes more from movement back and forth than constant stable pressure, though. I've moved my 46gal multiple times with gravel and several inches of water this way. Carry the tank on the board and transport it on a flat surface (as in the board lies flat on a truck bed or van floor) works quite well.

I think this is actually less stress on the tank than being grabbed and lifted and tilted by various edges and corners, even empty. The weight stays constantly distributed along the length of the rims instead of concentrated on one edge or corner.

[RachPreach]

ok well i got the tank moved. I wasnt able to set it up because we couldnt fit it thru the bedroom door without taking to door off. So tomorrow Ill put the gravel in, fill up the tank, and the plants and start the filter.
Im still wanting to know how long I should have it running before adding fish?

And should I have a crap load of plants in there or what?

Also, should I add the fish gradually?

And lastly, should I do water changes frequently on the tank for a couple weeks once its established(Im eventually wanting minimal water changes since it will be low tech)?

PLEASE HELP ME!!

Im just stressed out because my 100 gallon tank is holding all my fish from the 65 gallon plus the current occupants. Should I be doing water changes on that tank to just in case of an ammonia spike? the tank is well planted and has a good bio filter.

[RachPreach]

help please!

[fishsandwitch]

I would add a crap load of plants, then will with declor water, then let temp get right, then add fish ASAP all at once. I would do a 50 percent waterchange on your other tank.