subject: How to transport fish and an aquarium [print this page] How to transport fish and an aquarium How to transport fish and an aquarium
Aquariums are large, usually glass, heavy, and almost never easy to move. However with the proper planning and care any aquarium and fishes can be safely moved. The first thing to remember is not to attempt to move the tank while there is water in it. Water weighs eight pounds per gallon, so moving just about any size tank with the water still in it is a bad idea. Besides the difficulty of managing the movement of the water, the tank itself can crack or shatter if excess pressure is created from moving the tank.
Before moving day you may want to consider having your fishes fast from eating. During high stress situations such as transport, fish have a tendency to release a larger than usual amount of waste into the water around them. If you stop feeding the fish a day or two before the move it will prevent them from contaminating their own water supply during transport. Consult an expert if you have an especially exotic or rare fish, as you may want to consider a professional fish transportation service.
The next things you want to consider are your fish and tank paraphernalia. How many fish do you need to transport? How large are the fish? Is the move too long to transport the fish without re-oxygenating the water? These are all important things to consider. If your move is long-distance you will need to have a pump or some other method to keep the water properly oxygenated. Depending on the how many fish you have and the distance of your move, you may want to consider several different options.
One options is to transport your fish in plastic bags, using a cooler to pack the bags together. If you use this method you will want to make sure that the base of the cooler is large enough to fit all the fish without stacking them on top of each other. You can use zip baggies or regular plastic bags with rubber bands to pack the fish. You can also use these bags to pack the filter and anything else in the tank. If your trip is longer than a day or two you will need to periodically open each bag to allow fresh air in for your fish, before resealing. This process will allow some oxygen to get back into the water for your fish to breath.
The other option is to get multiple 5 gallon buckets with sealable lids to transport your fish and tank paraphernalia. This option is better for larger tanks and fish that may not travel as easily in plastic bags and a cooler. If you choose this method make sure to get enough buckets for all your fish and items to fit comfortably, moving is already a stressful situation for fish, there's no reason to crowd them all together. It may be a good idea to place a tank item such as a plant into the bucket with the fish to keep them calm. Make sure not to seal the lids until right before leaving, that way oxygen will continue to permeate the water's surface as long as possible.
Regardless of which option you choose, make sure to leave plenty of time to transfer your fish in and out of the tank. You will need to use a step process to transition your fish from the transport water to the new tank. The temps may be very different and you don't want to shock the fish in their new environment.
Take your time when moving the empty tank and fish; minimize bumps and sudden stops and acceleration when driving. This is for the fishes' health as well as the integrity of the tank. Make sure to cover the tank with blankets and properly secure into a vehicle of adequate size before leaving. Good luck!
Written by Brad Staba for a California long distance mover
