Moving

[blueberlin]

I have two 200 L aquariums. One is new and cycling and the other currently has 2 adult axolotls and some larvae. In August we are moving to our new home and hence the question of how to move a full aquarium. Is there a clever way to do this?

Thanks,

-blue

 

[Kal El]

Hello blueberlin,

It seems like a waste to throw away 400L of water, doesn't it? And especially because they both would've established an effective nitrification "cycle". I personally would drain all the water from the tanks into large plastic boxes. Something similar to this:

http://www.stacksandstacks.com/image/1_10893.jpg

Be sure to label each box accordingly. For instance, one tank will be "Tank A" and thus the boxes that contain water from "Tank A" will be labelled in accordance. Similarly, the same procedure works for "Tank B".

Also, it would be a good idea to wash the plastic boxes out with bicarbonate soda (i.e. baking soda) and water to ensure that they are "clean" for the tank water.

Jay.

 

[blueberlin]

Hi Jay!

I was also thinking of ways to transport the water. Plants would be easy, too. Then carry (have carried) the aquariums with the sand still at the bottom - do you think the aquarium should be able to support that, a ca. 3 mm layer of sand? - and set everything back up again on the other side. The water would be cloudy after refilling and I have no idea how much effect that will have on gills? The house is only 10 minutes away and so I could have everything set back up within one or two hours (it is a lot of water, isn't it). Do you think that the bacteria will survive? I am cycling the new aquarium right now and it seems like it is taking forever, so I have no idea what to do if both bacterial systems crash and would very much like to avoid that.

-Eva

 

[Genome42]

I recently moved and had to transport my tank and 7 juvies. I took out all the water and chucked it as i figured most of the bacteria are on the surfaces and within my filter (i have a sponge filter).
I transported the axies in the plastic bags they use for fish in aquarium shops. My new house was also only 10 minutes away and i set the tank up right away and added new decholorinated water into the tank and then the axies. The tank was a bit cloudy but the axies seemed fine. I did checks on the levels for a couple of weeks afterwards to make sure i hadn't disturbed the balance but all the levels remained fine.
I think not taking the water is probably fine in an estabilished tank but im not sure about a cycling tank, but yours should be cycled by august!

 

[blueberlin]

...and added new decholorinated water...

Aye, there's the rub - my (highly technical) method of dechlorinating water is to fill my largest cooking pots with water and let them stand around for 3 days. The largest pots only hold between 7 and 10 liters, though. I don't have enough pots to fill even one of the aquariums, much less two. I have that liquid that you squirt into tap water to make it "ok" for an aquarium but only use it for max. 20 L in case of emergencies. Since the axolotls breathe through their skin, I try to avoid chemical additives completely. So how do I deal with the chlorine on this scale?

 

[Genome42]

Hmmm...well i can't help you there! I use the decholorinating liquid stuff. I guess the only option would be to transport all that water!

 

[blueberlin]

You mean the "drops" or whatever? I can certainly use that. I just wanted to check that it's really truly safe. I'm terrified of killing my new little pets (and their babies) through my own ignorance.

 

[Kal El]

Eva, 200L is a very large tank thus it is not suffice to presume that most the nitrifying bacteria will be residing in the filter media. You could try transport half the water (i.e. 100L per tank) but I would not recommend restarting completely.

The liquid dechlorinating solutions are also known as water agers or water conditioners and these are very safe to use when treating tap water. In fact, it is more effective than letting cholrine and chloramine evaporate from the buckets.

Jay.

 

[blueberlin]

Ok so this is how my plan looks right now: I drain water into containers for transport. I put the (plastic) plants and the hideyholes in containers, too. Critters go in baggies. I leave the sand at the bottom of the aquaria. I do not clean the filters. I schlepp everything to the new house, carefully add water, start up the filters, and then add the animals. If I need to top off the water, I add a squirt of conditioner for dechlorination.

Is that right?

-Eva

 

[Kal El]

Ok so this is how my plan looks right now: I drain water into containers for transport. I put the (plastic) plants and the hideyholes in containers, too. Critters go in baggies. I leave the sand at the bottom of the aquaria. I do not clean the filters. I schlepp everything to the new house, carefully add water, start up the filters, and then add the animals. If I need to top off the water, I add a squirt of conditioner for dechlorination.

Is that right?

-Eva

Too easy!

But never add the conditioner directly into the tank. Fill a bucket with the required amount of water for top-off and then add the correct dose of conditioner.

Goodluck with it all...in August

Jay.