How to Transport a Fish Tank

You possess a beautiful fish tank and you've spent literally hundreds of dollars on your aquarium. The fish themselves, various supplies, food, decorations, lighting, have all become prize possessions.There's just a small problem: you're moving to another house. You don't want to give your fish away. You want to take them with you. But how do you move them?

Things You'll Need

  • 5 or 10-gallon bucket with a sturdy lid -- as many as needed
  • or a large spill-proof plastic container, such as tupperware -- as many as needed
  • A small net
  • A siphon
  • A large cardboard box larger than your fish tank
  • Plenty of styrofoam pieces or crumpled newspaper
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Instructions

  1. Be quick and gentle

    • 1

      Siphon water out of your fish tank into one or more buckets or plastic containers, as many as needed to contain all your fish comfortably. There should be a few inches at least between all the walls of the container and the fish. They don't need to swim around, but they should be able to be contained inside the water should the container tilt. Filling the container up with aquarium water makes the transportation process as painless as possible for your fish. They are used to this water in terms of its PH and temperature. Placing fish in water of a substantially different temperature or composition can stress them and even kill them.

    • 2

      Test your buckets or containers. Place a lid over them after you've filled them with water from the tank and shake them from side to side and up and down to ensure no water escapes. If it does, do not use the container.

    • 3

      Net your fish into the buckets or containers filled with water from your aquarium. Make sure they have enough room to be fully immersed in the water when the container is shaken. Close the lids and ensure no water spills when the containers are shaken.

    • 4

      Siphon out the remaining water in the fish tank into buckets and seal them as well.

    • 5

      Place the closed buckets or containers filled with your fish or just filled with your aquarium water in cardboard boxes and pad them with styrofoam pieces or crumpled newspaper to pack the containers as tightly as possible. The containers should stay put inside the boxes when the boxes are moved.

    • 6

      Have a friend help you carry the boxes and your aquarium to your new home, if possible. The more people involved, the more likely your fish survive the trip. If you must do it alone, try to make one trip to save time. Travel by foot if it is a stones-throw away from where you are. Otherwise, drive a vehicle.

    • 7

      Avoid driving over bumps or driving too fast. You do not want your boxes and containers to overturn. Do not make sharp turns.

    • 8

      Set up your fish tank when you arrive at your destination and place your fish back in their homes, using all the water from the containers. It is still part of their environment. If the tank needs more water, prepare some as you would when changing water.