We're moving!

[Becca]

Unless the inspection turns up something heinous, we're buying a new house the 2nd week of November!

We'll be looking for help moving tanks sometime around then and will happily feed and hydrate anyone who is willing to help.

The good - the new place has a walk-in on the lower level - no steps!!!

The bad - we have a 150 gallon tank in the basement of our current place - no walk out. Because the tank needs to be stood on end to negotiate the hallway at the top of the stairs, we'll have to empty it completely (substrate, plants, wood, etc) to move it. If anyone has pointers on moving a tank this large, particularly regarding what to do with plants/livestock, or has a large stock-tank we could borrow when the time comes, please let me know.

My best guess is that we will get other tanks set up first and temporarily house fish in those as we break down the 150 and prepare it to move.

 

[verbal]

Congrats. I am not sure if I will be able to help with moving, but I do have a stock tank I could loan out.

 

[Becca]

Jesse, that'd be AWESOME!

 

[Ading522]

congrats! depending on when you are moving, i may be able to offer some muscle to move..

 

[Leffler817]

Unfortunately, I'm on the other side of the world from you in terms of offering muscle. But when I have moved with fish, I filled a few Rubbermaid bins and ran sponge filters with the fish in them. That setup can last you for a while.

Also, when I worked at Home Depot I encountered people who would buy a ton of said bins, pack their belongings, move, and return them for full credit! I thought it was rather unethical but it is HDs policy. They'll return just about anything!


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[Greengirl]

I should be able to help. I have a dolly that should help move the giant tank.

 

[Tony]

The bad - we have a 150 gallon tank in the basement of our current place - no walk out. Because the tank needs to be stood on end to negotiate the hallway at the top of the stairs, we'll have to empty it completely (substrate, plants, wood, etc) to move it. If anyone has pointers on moving a tank this large...

Even if it was a walkout basement with a truck parked 5' outside the door, we'd still have to empty the tank completely.

 

[Becca]

Even if it was a walkout basement with a truck parked 5' outside the door, we'd still have to empty the tank completely.

True... but having to turn it on its end stops anyone from thinking that maybe, just maybe, they can get away with leaving the substrate in .

Last time we did this, we bought a used 150, set it up in our current house, moved the fish and some water to it, broke down the 150 in our apartment, and sold it for the same price we bought the other one for.

That said, if anyone has a 150 with a cabinet stand that they're looking to part with around 11/12/13 (hahahaha - just noticed that), it is certainly something I'd consider doing that way again.

 

[Tony]

True... but having to turn it on its end stops anyone from thinking that maybe, just maybe, they can get away with leaving the substrate in .

Last time we did this, we bought a used 150, set it up in our current house, moved the fish and some water to it, broke down the 150 in our apartment, and sold it for the same price we bought the other one for.

That said, if anyone has a 150 with a cabinet stand that they're looking to part with around 11/12/13 (hahahaha - just noticed that), it is certainly something I'd consider doing that way again.

10-4. I'm always nervous with moving any tank over about a 20H with substrate in it. Bad for the tank.

We took Sam's 100 our of his place last night. Not as heavy as a 150, but getting it down his billy-goat-trail stairs sure was a good time.

I'd go with big Rubbermaids. A lot less work.

Whatever you decide, I'll make it to help move the monster if we're free.

 

[Becca]

10-4. I'm always nervous with moving any tank over about a 20H with substrate in it. Bad for the tank.

We took Sam's 100 our of his place last night. Not as heavy as a 150, but getting it down his billy-goat-trail stairs sure was a good time.

I'd go with big Rubbermaids. A lot less work.

Whatever you decide, I'll make it to help move the monster if we're free.

Someone should've captured that on film, especially the part where you guys got it out the door and off of the landing.

Thanks, Tony. I will probably schedule that part of the move around when we can get help. I'm looking forward to NEVER having to move that tank again .

 

[Tony]

Someone should've captured that on film, especially the part where you guys got it out the door and off of the landing.

Ain't gonna lie, t was straight scary. At one point, we had about 60% of the tank cantilevered out over the railing, with Sam and me holding it down.

 

[Becca]

I'm surprised it didn't outweigh the two of you!

I once helped two really old dudes (Peter Thode and Dennis Hare) move a metaframe 150 with, blessedly, the help of a few much younger guys. I remember little about the experience outside of fear, cursing, and copious use of plywood.

 

[dogofwar]

Just remove the fish to a rubbermaid and add an airstone with a battery air pump. Add a piece or two of polyfilter to absorb any ammonia (best not to feed the fish for 3-4 days prior).

Completely drain the tank and remove all of the substrate and decorations. I've moved a 150g with substrate. It was really, really heavy for half a dozen of us. Just remove it to a couple of buckets and move them separately. Same with rocks, etc.

The fish will be fine in the rubbermaid(s) for some time, especially if you add a sponge filter or two. No need to drive fast and drop everything to set the tank up immediately

Please, please don't try to move it with substrate!

Matt

 

[Becca]

Just remove the fish to a rubbermaid and add an airstone with a battery air pump. Add a piece or two of polyfilter to absorb any ammonia (best not to feed the fish for 3-4 days prior).

Completely drain the tank and remove all of the substrate and decorations. I've moved a 150g with substrate. It was really, really heavy for half a dozen of us. Just remove it to a couple of buckets and move them separately. Same with rocks, etc.

The fish will be fine in the rubbermaid(s) for some time, especially if you add a sponge filter or two. No need to drive fast and drop everything to set the tank up immediately

Please, please don't try to move it with substrate!

Matt

We couldn't if we wanted to because we have to get it standing on end to maneuver it out of the basement. Plus, Jeremy wants to put in new substrate. He wants black so we can't see all the fish poop, but I think the fish would have better colors against white play sand. Right now it's a thin layer of pea gravel with several bags of PFS on top.

 

[halak]

Just as a side note, I moved my two 75's and my 125 with about an inch of substrate with no ill effects. A friend of mine has moved his 55's numerous times with about 2 inches of substrate with no problems. Just sayin'...
And, I know, Becca, that you couldn't move it with the substrate anyway.
Where are you moving, by the way? You are in the Village now, right?

 

[chriscoli]

Ain't gonna lie, t was straight scary. At one point, we had about 60% of the tank cantilevered out over the railing, with Sam and me holding it down.

That's when Maria and I had to close the door and not watch.....it was pretty freaky to watch!

 

[festaedan]

Thankfully my 120 is in my living room but it was still a hassle to get in because for
some reason the front of my hose has steps and a particularly narrow door and since there is not enough room for the tank to turn if we bring it through the back door, me
, my mom, and a friend had to carry it up a flight of stairs, through a small doorway, and all around my hose just to get the tank and stand in so I can't imagine doing that
with a 150. I don't think I could be much help (mainly because I'm a 6th grader) moving your tanks but I think stock tanks and sponge filters are the way to go.

 

[WendyFish]

Congrats on the new house! One thing we had good luck with was using the wet dry vac to suck out te last of the water and substrate from our tanks and sumps. This was so much easier than trying to scoop out the last annoying half inch of slurry.

 

[ltrepeter2000]

You will be surprised how much the "poop" will stand out against truly black substrate.

 

[Tony]

You will be surprised how much the "poop" will stand out against truly black substrate.

+1.

I have black sand in my tropheus tank right now. It's the fancy kind, but I hate it anyway. Fish don't color up very well with a dark substrate and dark background.