Moving large fish

[Casper]

I'm moving into a condo, looking for some starter tips.

I'll be moving various species.

Question is what's the best methods of moving the fish?

I've got 4 Bala sharks, 8-12" in length, 11" ghost knife, 11" choc pleco, 7"
leo, 14" rope fish.... those are the bigger ones I'm concerned with. Other
fish are 6" and under, african cichlids, loaches.

What's the best way of catching them and transporting them? Keeping in mind
that they'd also have to adjust to the new water perameters. Time is about
1-2 hours between the two condos.

Just looking for trtansportation and netting ideas for the least stressful
route.

Thanks!

[MarAzul]

Rubbermaid bins or new plastic trshcans usually work best for holding them
during transport...

Netting might be tricky though.. When I moved my fish (largest was 5.5
inches) I put a plastic container under the water and herded the fish
towards it with the net. It's somewhat time consuming, but you don't have to
worry about damaging fins.

--
Mar
-----------------------
Total Fishkeeping
http://totalfishkeeping.co.uk/index.php?

The Blood Parrot Forum
http://www.bloodparrot.aquariahobbyist.com/forum/


"Casper" > wrote in message
...
> I'm moving into a condo, looking for some starter tips.
>
> I'll be moving various species.
>
> Question is what's the best methods of moving the fish?
>
> I've got 4 Bala sharks, 8-12" in length, 11" ghost knife, 11" choc pleco,
> 7" leo, 14" rope fish.... those are the bigger ones I'm concerned with.
> Other fish are 6" and under, african cichlids, loaches.
>
> What's the best way of catching them and transporting them? Keeping in
> mind that they'd also have to adjust to the new water perameters. Time is
> about 1-2 hours between the two condos.
>
> Just looking for trtansportation and netting ideas for the least stressful
> route.
>
> Thanks!
>
>
>

[Dick]

On Thu, 28 Oct 2004 19:35:14 -0400, "Casper" >
wrote:

>I'm moving into a condo, looking for some starter tips.
>
>I'll be moving various species.
>
>Question is what's the best methods of moving the fish?
>
>I've got 4 Bala sharks, 8-12" in length, 11" ghost knife, 11" choc pleco, 7"
>leo, 14" rope fish.... those are the bigger ones I'm concerned with. Other
>fish are 6" and under, african cichlids, loaches.
>
>What's the best way of catching them and transporting them? Keeping in mind
>that they'd also have to adjust to the new water perameters. Time is about
>1-2 hours between the two condos.
>
>Just looking for trtansportation and netting ideas for the least stressful
>route.
>
>Thanks!
>
>
For such a short move, why take the fish out of the tank?
You don't mention tank size, but I suppose it is 100 gal or more. I
would lower the water as low as provides sufficient water for the
fish. Focus on moving 400 or 500 pounds. If the cabinet is moveable,
I would leave the tank on the cabinet and move as a unit. Movers deal
with heavy objects all the time. The fish can cope with sloshing
water and will not have gone through the stress of netting and its
potential for damage.

dick

[Ali Day]

--
Operating instructions: To ease engagement of brain before mouth,
please set irony meter to full when reading these posts.
"Dick" > wrote in message
...
> On Thu, 28 Oct 2004 19:35:14 -0400, "Casper" >
> wrote:
>
> >I'm moving into a condo, looking for some starter tips.
> >
> >I'll be moving various species.
> >
> >Question is what's the best methods of moving the fish?
> >
> >I've got 4 Bala sharks, 8-12" in length, 11" ghost knife, 11" choc pleco,
7"
> >leo, 14" rope fish.... those are the bigger ones I'm concerned with.
Other
> >fish are 6" and under, african cichlids, loaches.
> >
> >What's the best way of catching them and transporting them? Keeping in
mind
> >that they'd also have to adjust to the new water perameters. Time is
about
> >1-2 hours between the two condos.
> >
> >Just looking for trtansportation and netting ideas for the least
stressful
> >route.
> >
> >Thanks!
> >
> >
> For such a short move, why take the fish out of the tank?
> You don't mention tank size, but I suppose it is 100 gal or more. I
> would lower the water as low as provides sufficient water for the
> fish. Focus on moving 400 or 500 pounds. If the cabinet is moveable,
> I would leave the tank on the cabinet and move as a unit. Movers deal
> with heavy objects all the time. The fish can cope with sloshing
> water and will not have gone through the stress of netting and its
> potential for damage.

Is that wise Dick? not that I've ever tried it, but I know tanks are only
considered stable with all load vertically, even the slightest inclination
can put undue stress on the sides, and 1/4 ton is alot of weight to move. As
I say not that I know.

The stress from a continually sloshing tank IMHO would be more than, netting
and putting into a transport box or bin.

Cheers

A

[TYNK 7]

>Subject: Re: Moving large fish
>From: Dick
>Date: 10/29/2004 4:21 AM Central Daylight Time
>Message-id: >
>
>On Thu, 28 Oct 2004 19:35:14 -0400, "Casper" >
>wrote:
>
>>I'm moving into a condo, looking for some starter tips.
>>
>>I'll be moving various species.
>>
>>Question is what's the best methods of moving the fish?
>>
>>I've got 4 Bala sharks, 8-12" in length, 11" ghost knife, 11" choc pleco, 7"
>
>>leo, 14" rope fish.... those are the bigger ones I'm concerned with. Other
>>fish are 6" and under, african cichlids, loaches.
>>
>>What's the best way of catching them and transporting them? Keeping in mind
>>that they'd also have to adjust to the new water perameters. Time is about
>>1-2 hours between the two condos.
>>
>>Just looking for trtansportation and netting ideas for the least stressful
>>route.
>>
>>Thanks!
>>
>>
>For such a short move, why take the fish out of the tank?
>You don't mention tank size, but I suppose it is 100 gal or more. I
>would lower the water as low as provides sufficient water for the
>fish. Focus on moving 400 or 500 pounds. If the cabinet is moveable,
>I would leave the tank on the cabinet and move as a unit. Movers deal
>with heavy objects all the time. The fish can cope with sloshing
>water and will not have gone through the stress of netting and its
>potential for damage.
>
>dick
>

The reason would be because of stress fractures. It's never a good idea to move
a tank that still has water in it.
The fracture may not leak right away either, but then all of a
sudden...kaboom..your floor is now flooded and your fish are swimming past you
on the carpet.

[Casper]

"Dick" > wrote in message
...
> On Thu, 28 Oct 2004 19:35:14 -0400, "Casper" >
> wrote:

>>
>>
> For such a short move, why take the fish out of the tank?
> You don't mention tank size, but I suppose it is 100 gal or more. I
> would lower the water as low as provides sufficient water for the
> fish. Focus on moving 400 or 500 pounds. If the cabinet is moveable,
> I would leave the tank on the cabinet and move as a unit. Movers deal
> with heavy objects all the time. The fish can cope with sloshing
> water and will not have gone through the stress of netting and its
> potential for damage.
>
> dick


It's a 135g tank, not at all practical for me (tank itself is around
400-500lbs empty). "Might" work for a 20-30 g tank. Even 10g's of water is
180lbs, plus the gravel, etc, not a very wise thing to try.

Thanks anyways for the suggestion.

[NetMax]

"Casper" > wrote in message
...
> I'm moving into a condo, looking for some starter tips.
>
> I'll be moving various species.
>
> Question is what's the best methods of moving the fish?
>
> I've got 4 Bala sharks, 8-12" in length, 11" ghost knife, 11" choc
pleco, 7"
> leo, 14" rope fish.... those are the bigger ones I'm concerned with.
Other
> fish are 6" and under, african cichlids, loaches.
>
> What's the best way of catching them and transporting them? Keeping in
mind
> that they'd also have to adjust to the new water perameters. Time is
about
> 1-2 hours between the two condos.
>
> Just looking for trtansportation and netting ideas for the least
stressful
> route.
>
> Thanks!


Moving a stocked 135g. You have my condolences.

Are you able to set up a tank (or tanks) ahead of the fish's arrival. If
not, the transport containers are their temporary homes, so keep a low
fish-load. During transport, you don't need a lot of water (but need to
keep the water warm) and you need lots of air. After transport, you need
lots of water. Visit your LFS to see if you can acquire lots of the
styrofoam transport boxes they receive (showing up on their delivery
dates helps). We typically received 4 boxes/week and what we couldn't
give away went to the trash. Picnic coolers & Rubbermaid containers also
work.

As Mar suggested, try for a low stress method of capture by lowering the
water level and corralling them into a large Tupperware container to pour
them into their transport container. Exercise careful attention to
mixing certain fish during transport. Plecos & loaches can damage other
fish in close proximity. Knifefish are more prone to physical damage
than something like a pleco. Bala sharks are notoriously difficult fish
to move (in regards to probability of health problems later). I find
they are more susceptible to waste build-up, so no feeding for the 24
hours prior to the trip would be advisable. Large Africans go through
the transport water's supply of O2 faster than typical (they are very
active and nervous), so while you can stock more (dark container, no
fighting), watch for symptoms of O2 depletion. I don't know what a leo
is to comment, but the listed fish would require about 6 transport boxes.

An equally delicate operation is re-establishing the bacterial cycle at
your destination, so set aside an additional container for keeping your
filter media moist and warm.

--
www.NetMax.tk

[Casper]

> Moving a stocked 135g. You have my condolences.
>
> Are you able to set up a tank (or tanks) ahead of the fish's arrival.

They'll be in a 90G, other tank will be set up at the new location. Planing
on having it cycled and such before I move the stock.



> Visit your LFS to see if you can acquire lots of the
> styrofoam transport boxes they receive (showing up on their delivery
> dates helps). We typically received 4 boxes/week and what we couldn't
> give away went to the trash. Picnic coolers & Rubbermaid containers also
> work.

Kinda what we were thinking, rubbermaid containers... just wondered about
any harmful chemicals in the plastic, they do smell strong even after
washing them.

> As Mar suggested, try for a low stress method of capture by lowering the
> water level and corralling them into a large Tupperware container to pour
> them into their transport container.

Yeah, I like that idea, water has to be low enough so they can't get
momentum to jump. The Pleco and Bala's I got are great jumpers. They've hit
pounded the glass a few times just turning the lights on or off, smacking
the glasstop.

> Bala sharks are notoriously difficult fish
> to move (in regards to probability of health problems later).

Yeah, they're very high strung. I haven't been looking forward to this day.

> I don't know what a leo
> is to comment,

That's the first couple letters of the fish's name, Leo..... very long fish,
yellow and black, strictly vegetarian diet. Get around 12" adult. Very
pretty, and well behaved, but they're the best tank jumper I've ever seen.
When we got him, has only about 1 1/2" long. The guy at the LFS stuck the
net in the tank, couple jumped right out of the tank onto the floor... he
hadn't even tried catching one yet. Warned us to keep the tank covered at
all times.

> An equally delicate operation is re-establishing the bacterial cycle at
> your destination, so set aside an additional container for keeping your
> filter media moist and warm.
>

That's one thing I've been really researching on. I've got a series of
canister filters running my tanks, becoming quite a nuisance cleaning them.
I caught onto a few posts about putting a sponge on the filter inlet tube to
lower the debres. I'd rather clean the sponge frequently that tear the
canister filter down bi-weekly. I've also read on fluidized beds, and they
look quite interesting.

Looking at getting a new Eheim 2028 and FB (on a separate pump) to run the
whole tank, rather than two fluvals. Spend more time enjoying the fish, than
cleaning filters.


Thanks for all the input everyone!

[Dick]

On Sat, 30 Oct 2004 18:50:12 -0400, "Casper" >
wrote:

>
>> Moving a stocked 135g. You have my condolences.
>>
>> Are you able to set up a tank (or tanks) ahead of the fish's arrival.
>
>They'll be in a 90G, other tank will be set up at the new location. Planing
>on having it cycled and such before I move the stock.
>
>
>
>> Visit your LFS to see if you can acquire lots of the
>> styrofoam transport boxes they receive (showing up on their delivery
>> dates helps). We typically received 4 boxes/week and what we couldn't
>> give away went to the trash. Picnic coolers & Rubbermaid containers also
>> work.
>
>Kinda what we were thinking, rubbermaid containers... just wondered about
>any harmful chemicals in the plastic, they do smell strong even after
>washing them.
>
>> As Mar suggested, try for a low stress method of capture by lowering the
>> water level and corralling them into a large Tupperware container to pour
>> them into their transport container.
>
>Yeah, I like that idea, water has to be low enough so they can't get
>momentum to jump. The Pleco and Bala's I got are great jumpers. They've hit
>pounded the glass a few times just turning the lights on or off, smacking
>the glasstop.
>
>> Bala sharks are notoriously difficult fish
>> to move (in regards to probability of health problems later).
>
>Yeah, they're very high strung. I haven't been looking forward to this day.
>
>> I don't know what a leo
>> is to comment,
>
>That's the first couple letters of the fish's name, Leo..... very long fish,
>yellow and black, strictly vegetarian diet. Get around 12" adult. Very
>pretty, and well behaved, but they're the best tank jumper I've ever seen.
>When we got him, has only about 1 1/2" long. The guy at the LFS stuck the
>net in the tank, couple jumped right out of the tank onto the floor... he
>hadn't even tried catching one yet. Warned us to keep the tank covered at
>all times.
>
>> An equally delicate operation is re-establishing the bacterial cycle at
>> your destination, so set aside an additional container for keeping your
>> filter media moist and warm.
>>
>
>That's one thing I've been really researching on. I've got a series of
>canister filters running my tanks, becoming quite a nuisance cleaning them.
>I caught onto a few posts about putting a sponge on the filter inlet tube to
>lower the debres. I'd rather clean the sponge frequently that tear the
>canister filter down bi-weekly. I've also read on fluidized beds, and they
>look quite interesting.
>
>Looking at getting a new Eheim 2028 and FB (on a separate pump) to run the
>whole tank, rather than two fluvals. Spend more time enjoying the fish, than
>cleaning filters.
>
>
>Thanks for all the input everyone!
>

Good luck, I don't envy such a move. I sure hope you update us about
the move results and any recommendations.

dick

[NetMax]

"Casper" > wrote in message
...
>
> > Moving a stocked 135g. You have my condolences.
> >
> > Are you able to set up a tank (or tanks) ahead of the fish's arrival.
>
> They'll be in a 90G, other tank will be set up at the new location.
Planing
> on having it cycled and such before I move the stock.

Kewl. It's mostly cycled by just installing the filters back on.

> > Visit your LFS to see if you can acquire lots of the
> > styrofoam transport boxes they receive (showing up on their delivery
> > dates helps). We typically received 4 boxes/week and what we
couldn't
> > give away went to the trash. Picnic coolers & Rubbermaid containers
also
> > work.
>
> Kinda what we were thinking, rubbermaid containers... just wondered
about
> any harmful chemicals in the plastic, they do smell strong even after
> washing them.

My understanding is that if they are food-safe, they are fish-safe. The
smell might be the release agents used to seperate the container from the
mold. Try some vinegar and then rinse with water.

> > As Mar suggested, try for a low stress method of capture by lowering
the
> > water level and corralling them into a large Tupperware container to
pour
> > them into their transport container.
>
> Yeah, I like that idea, water has to be low enough so they can't get
> momentum to jump. The Pleco and Bala's I got are great jumpers. They've
hit
> pounded the glass a few times just turning the lights on or off,
smacking
> the glasstop.

You need a night light to act as a transition between dark and full
lights. Makes for calmer fish. I keep mine on timers with the main
lamps.

> > Bala sharks are notoriously difficult fish
> > to move (in regards to probability of health problems later).
>
> Yeah, they're very high strung. I haven't been looking forward to this
day.
>
> > I don't know what a leo
> > is to comment,
>
> That's the first couple letters of the fish's name, Leo..... very long
fish,
> yellow and black, strictly vegetarian diet. Get around 12" adult. Very
> pretty, and well behaved, but they're the best tank jumper I've ever
seen.
> When we got him, has only about 1 1/2" long. The guy at the LFS stuck
the
> net in the tank, couple jumped right out of the tank onto the floor...
he
> hadn't even tried catching one yet. Warned us to keep the tank covered
at
> all times.

Sounds like a Leporinus perhaps. Foot long and excellent jumpers.
Probably in the top ten hardest fish to catch in the water (eventually
they jump the tank and you catch them by chasing them along the floor
;~), j/k'ing.

> > An equally delicate operation is re-establishing the bacterial cycle
at
> > your destination, so set aside an additional container for keeping
your
> > filter media moist and warm.
> >
>
> That's one thing I've been really researching on. I've got a series of
> canister filters running my tanks, becoming quite a nuisance cleaning
them.
> I caught onto a few posts about putting a sponge on the filter inlet
tube to
> lower the debres. I'd rather clean the sponge frequently that tear the
> canister filter down bi-weekly. I've also read on fluidized beds, and
they
> look quite interesting.

I believe that your problem is that you're mechanically underfiltered for
your bioload. A fluidized bed will probably not help you. This is for
bacterial activity and your problem is mechanical filtration. Look into
a few large powerfilters (ie: AC500s and AC300s).

> Looking at getting a new Eheim 2028 and FB (on a separate pump) to run
the
> whole tank, rather than two fluvals. Spend more time enjoying the fish,
than
> cleaning filters.
>
>
> Thanks for all the input everyone!

I believe the 2028 rates at 200gph, which is a bit low for a 135g. Very
efficient filter (as a ratio of filtering/water flow), but your problem
is accumulation, so you still need to be emptying it. Whatever filter
you settle on, I think it will be more than one (or even more than 2).
With your size fish, filter it as a 500g tank. It's not the fish size
but the amount of food they consume (plus whatever the plecs are
converting algae into ;~). I had a customer who had 3 Fluval 404s on his
piranha tank, and he complained that the filters were always empty (but
the tank was clean). When you overfilter, you can hit a threshold where
the filters seem to stay clean, *but* - don't slack on the water changes.
The detritus is just being efficiently dissolved into DOCs, and you still
need to get rid of it.
--
www.NetMax.tk

[Casper]

Done, couple weeks later, but done....

Was asked for a couple pointers about the move... So far, got the 135g in
place.

1. Appliance Cart - When involving 400-500 lbs, simplifies things a bit with
an appliance cart. 6ft cart is to tall, look for a 5ft, better leverage.
Don't go cheap and use a regular cart, appliance cart was designed to move
large awkward heavy things.

2. Stairs. If you got one of them fancy dancy staircases into the basement,
type that instead of a landing, they splt it into 2-3 steps, take out the
steps and install a landing.

3. Need two strong guys, don't try doing it yourself.


When I get to the fish moving part in a couple weeks, I'll let you know how
that goes.

Cheers

"Casper" > wrote in message
...
> I'm moving into a condo, looking for some starter tips.
>
> I'll be moving various species.
>
> Question is what's the best methods of moving the fish?
>
> I've got 4 Bala sharks, 8-12" in length, 11" ghost knife, 11" choc pleco,
> 7" leo, 14" rope fish.... those are the bigger ones I'm concerned with.
> Other fish are 6" and under, african cichlids, loaches.
>
> What's the best way of catching them and transporting them? Keeping in
> mind that they'd also have to adjust to the new water perameters. Time is
> about 1-2 hours between the two condos.
>
> Just looking for trtansportation and netting ideas for the least stressful
> route.
>
> Thanks!
>
>
>