The Best Way to Move a Large Aquarium

Your fish depend on you for everything, from meals to cleanup and all in between -- including moving. Moving is stressful not only for a fish, but for its owner as well. With heavy, breakable tanks, gallons upon gallons of water, electric components, gravel, and plants, you have plenty of accommodations to make for your finned friend. By planning and making arrangements ahead of time, you can be sure that you and your fish arrive at your destination safe and happy.

Things You'll Need

  • Small, clear containers
  • Fish net
  • Gloves
  • Large buckets
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Instructions

    • 1

      Stop feeding your fish 24 to 48 hours before long moves. This minimizes the amount of waste they produce in the temporary moving container.

    • 2

      Fill a small, clear container with water from your fish tank. Move a few plants and then your fish -- the plants make them feel less disoriented in their temporary environment.

    • 3

      Remove any electric accessories attached to your tank, such as filters and lights.

    • 4

      Drain and keep as much water as you can, particularly for smaller tanks. If you can, keep 80 percent of the water -- for tanks over 40 gallons or for long moves, this may be impractical.

    • 5

      Leave enough water so as not to disturb the plants and gravel in the tank -- just an inch or two. Do not attempt this in a larger tank, though, since even a few gallons of water will make the tank too heavy (a single gallon of water weighs about 8 pounds).

    • 6

      Put on gloves and carefully lift the aquarium from the bottom with several friends -- large aquariums are too heavy for one person alone to move. The structural integrity of an aquarium is delicate, so hold it level, and carefully navigate corners as you go.

    • 7

      Set the aquarium down in its new home, and replace the water slowly so you do not disturb the gravel.

    • 8

      Hook up the filtration system, and gently reintroduce your fish to their home. Do not pour the fish in from the container -- scoop them up in a net, then discard the water from the moving container.