Moving fish

[fongyfong]

might be moving places in 6 months, dont wanna sell all my fish wats the best way to move fish with out stressing them and killing them

[seth]

might be moving places in 6 months, dont wanna sell all my fish wats the best way to move fish with out stressing them and killing them

Hi,

I have successfully moved my two tanks (67 Gal, and 90 Gal) twice over about 25Kms each time. I haven't had a loss yet. I need to move them back (Had to move due to renovations) soon too!

Here is a few tips on what I do.

1. I don't use bags, I use garbage bins. In Australia you can by them at the hardware store (about 60 - 70 Liters). They are made of plastic. I always have one for water changes around so I use that and either buy/borrow two others. Take the lids and drill two holes the same size in them. At least big enough to fit an air hose through

2. In the bins I put black garbage bags. Use the heavy duty ones, perhaps even gardening ones. I go for black with the bags and the bins.

3. The week before the move, feed your fish only half as often as you normally wood.

4. I always move my fish first thing in the morning (like 7 - 8am).. Make sure no light is switched on before you remove them from the tank, this can make them easier to catch.

5. Get some battery powered air pumps. You need to use these on the garbage bins as soon as you put water in them and during the trip. You just use a standard air stone on them, no need for a filter.

6. Get some spare heaters too. Similar to the air pumps, it's important to keep the water temp in the bins of water as close to that of the tank before you actually physically have to move the bins.

7. Fill the bins about a third to halfway with water from the tank. Don't add any new water. Make sure you don't add to much water as you will not be able to move the bin.

8. Take the fish one by one out of the tank and into the bin. Make sure you put the lit loosely fittiing on the bin to stop them jumping out in between catches (yes they will jump, funny story bellow). If you have many fish, spread them out across the bins. Try and separate by species

9. Strip down old tank. Take out stones etc. Take another container with more water. You need to try and take at least a third of the original water in the tank, that includes the water in the bins you are using for fish transport.

10. Disconnect heaters in bins, seal lids tight (You drilled the air holes in step 1 right?), Keep the battery air pumps connected and going. When I move I hire a van and strap the bins in so they won't move. I also drive the van like a hearse so the fish are not roughed up. Make sure the van is warm is you are in a cold climate

11. When you get to the destination, take the bins out of the vehicle straight away indoors. Put some heaters in and connect them up to help the temperature get to where it needs to be.

12. Get the tank going, especially the filter and the heat. Add only the water you have taken with you. If you have a gravity type filter and water levels are a problem. try getting a sponge filter going in the tank a month before you move it and use this as soon as you set up the tank again. I use the Sera ones, they re basically one big sponge.

13. Starting adding the fish to the tank. Try one or two first to make sure there is no big problem, then gradually add the others. Make sure there are some caves etc already in the tank. BE careful as the plastic bin livers can create crevasses which fish can hide in. The bin may look empty but there may be a fish hiding there (My plecs are always there).

14. Once all fish you can see are in, empty all water out of bin. Make sure to check bin bag/liner for other fish. Make a good check, take the liner out etc. Add all other water you took with you.

15. Now you should make up a batch of water like you are doing a water change. Don't change the water just add new water. Only 1/3rd of the tank. Do the other 1/3rd (to bring to full level) in a couple of days. Add a bit of extra water purifier (I use Sera Aquatan).

16 Don't feed for 12 hours after move.

Next move I'll take pitures and post. Good luck!

Oh, Funny Jumping fish story.

Very Big 6 Bar Frontosa, not happy in bin. Bin has lid. Big Burley mover comes and says whats in the bin. I say fish. He says "Oh fish, I have fish - let me have a look". Mover takes lid of bin to look. Big Frontosa leaps out at Mover. Movers pants were brown!

[fongyfong]

might be moving places in 6 months, dont wanna sell all my fish wats the best way to move fish with out stressing them and killing them

Hi,

I have successfully moved my two tanks (67 Gal, and 90 Gal) twice over about 25Kms each time. I haven't had a loss yet. I need to move them back (Had to move due to renovations) soon too!

Here is a few tips on what I do.

1. I don't use bags, I use garbage bins. In Australia you can by them at the hardware store (about 60 - 70 Liters). They are made of plastic. I always have one for water changes around so I use that and either buy/borrow two others. Take the lids and drill two holes the same size in them. At least big enough to fit an air hose through

2. In the bins I put black garbage bags. Use the heavy duty ones, perhaps even gardening ones. I go for black with the bags and the bins.

3. The week before the move, feed your fish only half as often as you normally wood.

4. I always move my fish first thing in the morning (like 7 - 8am).. Make sure no light is switched on before you remove them from the tank, this can make them easier to catch.

5. Get some battery powered air pumps. You need to use these on the garbage bins as soon as you put water in them and during the trip. You just use a standard air stone on them, no need for a filter.

6. Get some spare heaters too. Similar to the air pumps, it's important to keep the water temp in the bins of water as close to that of the tank before you actually physically have to move the bins.

7. Fill the bins about a third to halfway with water from the tank. Don't add any new water. Make sure you don't add to much water as you will not be able to move the bin.

8. Take the fish one by one out of the tank and into the bin. Make sure you put the lit loosely fittiing on the bin to stop them jumping out in between catches (yes they will jump, funny story bellow). If you have many fish, spread them out across the bins. Try and separate by species

9. Strip down old tank. Take out stones etc. Take another container with more water. You need to try and take at least a third of the original water in the tank, that includes the water in the bins you are using for fish transport.

10. Disconnect heaters in bins, seal lids tight (You drilled the air holes in step 1 right?), Keep the battery air pumps connected and going. When I move I hire a van and strap the bins in so they won't move. I also drive the van like a hearse so the fish are not roughed up. Make sure the van is warm is you are in a cold climate

11. When you get to the destination, take the bins out of the vehicle straight away indoors. Put some heaters in and connect them up to help the temperature get to where it needs to be.

12. Get the tank going, especially the filter and the heat. Add only the water you have taken with you. If you have a gravity type filter and water levels are a problem. try getting a sponge filter going in the tank a month before you move it and use this as soon as you set up the tank again. I use the Sera ones, they re basically one big sponge.

13. Starting adding the fish to the tank. Try one or two first to make sure there is no big problem, then gradually add the others. Make sure there are some caves etc already in the tank. BE careful as the plastic bin livers can create crevasses which fish can hide in. The bin may look empty but there may be a fish hiding there (My plecs are always there).

14. Once all fish you can see are in, empty all water out of bin. Make sure to check bin bag/liner for other fish. Make a good check, take the liner out etc. Add all other water you took with you.

15. Now you should make up a batch of water like you are doing a water change. Don't change the water just add new water. Only 1/3rd of the tank. Do the other 1/3rd (to bring to full level) in a couple of days. Add a bit of extra water purifier (I use Sera Aquatan).

16 Don't feed for 12 hours after move.

Next move I'll take pitures and post. Good luck!

Oh, Funny Jumping fish story.

Very Big 6 Bar Frontosa, not happy in bin. Bin has lid. Big Burley mover comes and says whats in the bin. I say fish. He says "Oh fish, I have fish - let me have a look". Mover takes lid of bin to look. Big Frontosa leaps out at Mover. Movers pants were brown!

Hey man thanks for the informative post and ideas will def look into that if i do move and not sell my fish, didnt know they sold battery operated air pumps they have battery operated heaters too? and why do you put garbage bags inside the garbage bin can you leave it with out the garbage bags? and poor mover the frontasa must scared the living day lights out of him..

[seth]

they have battery operated heaters too?

Not that I know of.

Heat shouldn't be a problem for short (couple of hours) trips in a mild climate

If you keep the bins heated till the last minute, Make sure the van/car you transport them in is heated, then put the heaters back in the bins as soon as you arrive at your destination, you shouldn't have a problem. If anything a small drop in temp (1 or 2 degrees) should calm them down a bit. Some people even recommend lowering the temp in the tank one or two degrees a couple of days before moving.

I use garbage bags inside the bins, just in case the bin has a small leak. You could prbably get away with out them but for the small extra cost it shouldnt be a problem.

Also should mention when I hire a van I get one with a cargo cage so I can strap the bins to that. Thrifty usually have cages in all vans. Some hertz ones do too. Ring around and check.

One last thing, sometimes when I empty my tank I get a nice surprise - Little Fry! I usually transport these seperatley in an ice cream bucket.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Cheers

[fongyfong]

they have battery operated heaters too?

Not that I know of.

Heat shouldn't be a problem for short (couple of hours) trips in a mild climate

If you keep the bins heated till the last minute, Make sure the van/car you transport them in is heated, then put the heaters back in the bins as soon as you arrive at your destination, you shouldn't have a problem. If anything a small drop in temp (1 or 2 degrees) should calm them down a bit. Some people even recommend lowering the temp in the tank one or two degrees a couple of days before moving.

Also should mention when I hire a van I get one with a cargo cage so I can strap the bins to that. Thrifty usually have cages in all vans. Some hertz ones do too. Ring around and check.

One last thing, sometimes when I empty my tank I get a nice surprise - Little Fry! I usually transport these seperatley in an ice cream bucket.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Cheers

thanks man! for the help will let you know

[Ash]

I shifted some fish from Brisbane to Townsville in a car over 2 days using a small esky with a sponge filter & have done trips around town with larger eskys for greater quantities of fish.

If it is only a small amount of moving time bins/buckets with lids are fine - but for a longer time period an insulated container (as in esky) is tops for it, if you have a cycled sponge filter & fast the fish prior the move it is even safer (like I did) - just have some prime (or similar) and maybe some stability (bacteria in a bottle) for emergencys

[david11]

An important point is to keep your cannister or internal filter bacteria alive by running them on the bins or esky's. If you have them off only for a small amount of time like the time it takes you to drive then you should be fine. Your freshly setup tank will be already cycled.

Cheers