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Moving A Running Reef Tank
It’s
usually not
as bad as you’re imagining. Moving a running reef system is a
matter of a few simple steps. If you transfer all your current
sand, rock & water you’ll also be
transferring all your good bacteria too so there should be no cycling. The additional water
needed to finish filling the new tank will act like a water change.
A good thing.
To
prepare for the transfer you will want to use pails as much as you can.
They are easier to transport & use less water to transport fish, corals
& other livestock. Old salt pails that are clean are good.
Some people go to their local grocery store or bakery and get pickle or
frosting pails (any pail used for food products are fine). Totes
can be used too, especially to transport your equipment in, live rock
too. I would also suggest preparing extra saltwater in advance.
This will be used to replace water lost in the teardown and for at least
2 water changes during the first week restablished. This will help
reduce any unlocked nutrients caused by the move. Be sure to
make up the new water at least 24 hours in advance of using! so if
you loose any during teardown & transport…you’re covered. It can
also be used in place of the last cloudy water you will remove from your
tank. This will act like a water change…a good thing. Be sure to have
reef carbon on hand as you will want to use it once the system is up &
running at home.
Tools
& Supplies needed:
Clean Pails & Totes
PVC Ratchet Cutter
PVC Cement
PVC Slip connectors (to put your pipes back together)
Drain hose - usually 1/2" ID hose is used.
Steps
for the actual tear down day:
1.
Shut down your system. Turn off the pump, powerheads
& all electrical equipment.
Siphon or pump clear tank water into a pail filling it about ½ full.
Set this aside as it will be used for your fish later. Use 2 pails if
you think one isn’t enough for the fish. We do this first because once
you start to take out corals & rock the water will start to cloud. We
want the fish in clear water.
2.
Fill another pail the same for your corals, shrimp,
snails. As you draw the tank down, take your corals & place them in
your pail(s) of water. They don’t need to be put in bags. Put corals
in a pail that will get along for the ride. Put your more sensitive
corals like your LPS on top or where they won’t get banged etc. Clean
plastic bags can be used for padding between corals & rocks if need be.
Any coral like zoos you think might release chemicals from stress you
can bag. Zip lock bags with tank water work fine.
3.
Take any rocks without corals & put them in a dry pail or
tote. They can be out of water for hours & still be fine. You just
want to keep them damp.
4.
You can remove the fish once you have all or most of your
rocks out which will make it easier to get the fish. Use 2 nets to
collect the fish. You will pull your hair out trying to use just
one net!
5.
Remove the rest of the rocks & siphon out any remaining
water into it’s own pail. You may want to discard the dirtiest of
water. Most tanks will NOT be light enough to
move with the sand in place. Scoop out the sand into it’s own pail(s)/totes for transport. Try to keep the topper sand separate from
the sugar fine base sand. This will help you in the re-setup.
6.
Once home/new location, reinstall the sand with the sugar
fine down first then topper sand. Then start filling the tank with water
in the pails. Add your base rocks. Then place your top rocks and
finally corals in. It will be cloudy so don’t worry about rock
placement at this time. Just keep the corals on top until you can see
well enough to move them around.
7.
Once the tank is running (you probably used your extra
water to get it running) you can put your fish in. Their water will be
about the same temp as the tank is at this time so not to worry about
acclimating.
8.
Be sure to put in a hefty amount of reef carbon to remove
any chemicals released by the corals as well as excess nutrients.
Pails,
totes, extra saltwater & reef carbon is all you need. As long as the
system is torn down & re setup the same day the better chances for no
problems. Keep all the livestock in warm areas, if moving in winter,
preheat the vehicles before moving & all should go fine. |
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