* Pat wrote, On 11/13/2006 6:06 PM:
Curious about your answer. If a tank can support the water and all of
the rock and sand when it's displayed, why can it not when being moved.

When it's on its stand, it's level and steady. The rock/water/sand is extremely
heavy, it's impossible to keep the tank level and stress on joints equal if you
try to move it when it's full, even with a guy on each end or corner. If you
even CAN lift it when it's full. Ya might get a little wet, too.
Not meaning to state the obvious, but hey you asked and that's my opinion.

Another forum recommended that I move it with just the sand in it, and
enough water to cover said sand. I was able to do that with no problem.

That's what I did. Then put some newspaper on top the sand where you add the
water and pour really slow so all the crud doesn't get stirred up.
I moved a 50-gal. tank 200-some miles in winter in Montana using 5-gal. buckets
once, it ended up being a 4 hour drive. I only took enough water to move the
animals and keep the substrate wet, but everything lived, amazingly enough.

Also, what is the purpose of keeping the original water. I was able to
transport about half of the water and replaced about half when I got
here. But it seems that it's just like any other water change. I was
under the impression that most of the bacteria that is needed is in the
rock/sand/other filtration, very little of it in the water.

Your fish are used to whatever the chemistry of their water is. It makes it
easier on them if they don't get a 100% water change as well as being caught and
put in bags and sloshed around.

Cindy