How to Move a Salt Water Aquarium

Aquariums are peaceful and serene to look at. However, moving a fish tank, especially a larger tank, can seem overwhelming. By utilizing a few rules of fish tank care and maintenance, you can move your tank safely, whether you’re moving across the country or just to another room in your house. Don’t let the task of relocating your tank be something you dread. Follow these steps to make the transition flawless.

Instructions

    • 1

      Remove your fish. Do not attempt to move the tank while the fish are in it. Catch your fish and place them in a holding area such as a large bucket. If you are only moving the tank within your home this should be sufficient. Should you want to move your tank across town, make sure the fish are aerated properly with a battery-operated aerator.

    • 2

      Remove most of your water to make the tank easier to move. However, you don’t want to remove every drop of water due to losing your healthy bacteria. Should you remove all of the water it will be similar to starting your tank over again and you don’t want that because it can affect your fish’s health. If you have to drain almost all of the water out, keep some of the water in another container so you can add it back to your tank once it’s set up again.

    • 3

      Disassemble items such as filtration and aeration and pack them safely. Obviously, if you’re moving to an area in the same house you can simply set them aside. Plants can be moved as long as you keep them wet, especially their roots. Once again, if you are moving a short distance, you may want to keep them in the tank. Discard any used filter media.

    • 4

      Move your tank. You will need a helper for larger tanks. Even empty, glass or even acrylic tanks can be very heavy and fragile. If you are moving to another area, you’ll want to supervise the movers or do it yourself to ensure nothing is damaged.

    • 5

      Put your tank back together. Do each step in reverse order. Put your filters and aeration back on your tank and fill your tank with the correct set up of water. If you kept the spare water, add it back in. Once you have your tank filled, turn on any running equipment. Add your fish as long as you acclimate them to their new surroundings. Acclimate your fish slowly so that you don’t lose any due to the new water levels. Long moves may make it necessary to get your tank past the cycle such as established with new tanks. However, short moves should be fine on your fish’s health as long as you acclimate.