Moving a Reef Tank

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

Too many opinions. I took one line of advice, and it worked, so take that
as you will.


Wow!! I think you are learning. You took one line of advice and it worked.
So that must mean that their are other lines of advice that also work NOT
just the advice you used.

Do you see where I'm going with this Pat or should I keep going?

* Pat wrote, On 11/13/2006 7:56 PM:

Cindy wrote:
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.

Isn't that the truth.
I have a 150-gal. tank that I haven't set up for 10 years because I keep having
to move, don't know when it's going to end and I don't want to have to deal with
moving it.
I figure every little bit helps to lessen the stress on the critters, so do
everything you can even to hauling that old water along.

Pat wrote:

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.

I've done this twice with no problems.

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.

You're correct, that's where the bacteria live.

The last time we moved my 125, I took about 10 gallons of the old water. We
mixed up new from tap water and dumped it right into the tank. All the livestock
spent a week in another tank at my LFS. I had no corals. There was no new cycle.
The move was about 25 miles, and I arranged everything except the truck through
my LFS (including my helpers).

George Patterson
Those who do not study History are doomed to repeat it. Those who DO
study History are doomed to watch every one else repeat it.

You're correct, that's where the bacteria live.

So if I culture a swab of my aquarium water I won't find any bacteria
growth?

"bo0ger1" .@. wrote in message m...
You're correct, that's where the bacteria live.

So if I culture a swab of my aquarium water
I won't find any bacteria growth?

Nobody is saying there is no bacteria in water.
She just said "that most of the bacteria that is needed
is in the rock/sand/other filtration, very little of it
in the water" - and this is true: most of the bacteria
stick to the surfaces and only small number floats in water.

Why do you think biological filters are designed to maximize
the active SURFACE if you would do equally good with just water ?

Appreciate the comment, but next time refer to me as he

Pszemol wrote:
"bo0ger1" .@. wrote in message
m...

You're correct, that's where the bacteria live.


So if I culture a swab of my aquarium water
I won't find any bacteria growth?


Nobody is saying there is no bacteria in water.
She just said "that most of the bacteria that is needed
is in the rock/sand/other filtration, very little of it
in the water" - and this is true: most of the bacteria
stick to the surfaces and only small number floats in water.

Why do you think biological filters are designed to maximize
the active SURFACE if you would do equally good with just water ?

"Pat" wrote in message ...
Appreciate the comment, but next time refer to me as he

it is not Patricia ? ;-)

Nobody is saying there is no bacteria in water.

Ok expert. What percentage can be found in the water. Don't give me an
answer that is semi-quantitative. I want an actual figure.

"bo0ger1" .@. wrote in message ...
Nobody is saying there is no bacteria in water.

Ok expert. What percentage can be found in the water. Don't give me an
answer that is semi-quantitative. I want an actual figure.

5% or less :-)