Cindy wrote:
* 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.
Right, I understand that. Not saying move it full, that's a
catastrophically bad idea.


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.
Ya, that's what I did too. I never would think about moving it
FULL...But I think the guy was saying, don't even do the sand and just
enough water to keep it wet.


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.

But a 50% water change is not completely out of the realm. I mean I
obviously had some of the water. turned out to be about half. Mine
lived too, glad yours did. I only post on this topic because of the
immense pain it was to sort out something as simple as moving a tank.
Too many opinions. I took one line of advice, and it worked, so take
that as you will.

Cindy