Moving a thriving fish tank to a new home can be a little intimidating, but it’s far from impossible. With a little care and preparation, you’ll be able to transport your fish safely to their destination. Today we’ll show you how:
Prepare the Fish
Before you disassemble the tank, drain some tank water for your fish to travel in and place it in a clean, never-before-used pail or a plastic bag. Be sure to leave some room at the top of the container for air. Keeping the fish in the same water helps them avoid shock.
Drain the Tank
Drain the remaining tank water into clean pails, keeping live rock or sand in the water to protect invertebrates and microorganisms. If you have a saltwater tank, bring this water with you to reduce the time you’ll need to wait before putting your fish back in the tank in their new home.
Pack all Equipment
This includes water filters, pumps and heaters. If your move is short, you can put your filter in a sealed pail and reuse it in your new digs, but if your move is long-distance it’s best to get a new one.
Take the Tank Apart
Carefully disassemble and wrap your tank. Avoid using the movers’ provided blankets, since they’ll get wet and sandy. Make sure to transport the containers with fish – along with any live rock and live sand you might have – in safe places where they won’t get jostled too much.
Set up the Tank in Your New Home
Keep your fish in a pail with filtration and heating until the tank is fully assembled. If you can, allow the tank to cycle for a few days before moving your fish back into their permanent home.
Need a hand with your next move in Northern Virginia? You can count on the team at All Awesome Movers to get the job done right. Get your free quote today or give us a call at (866) 396-8999 to learn more!