How to Move a Saltwater Tank

If you change your apartment or house from one side of town to another, or even across the country, it means you have to move your established saltwater fish tank as well. The fish and living plants in a saltwater tank are very sensitive to change, and planning ahead will alleviate some of the stress the fish will experience. Tanks are also very heavy, so being able to move the tank in smaller units will aid in a successful move.

Things You'll Need

  • Quarantine tanks
  • Filters
  • Aerators
  • Heaters
  • PVC pipe pieces
  • Storage containers
  • Battery-powered air pump
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Instructions

    • 1

      Set up several smaller quarantine tanks one to two weeks before moving the saltwater tank. Use the water from the original tank. Include basic filtration, aeration and a heater in the smaller tanks. Add small pieces of PVC pipe to provide hiding places for the fish.

    • 2

      Move the fish, invertebrates, rocks, gravel to the quarantine tanks. Use an ice chest to help prevent wide changes in temperature. Add a battery-powered air pump to the chest for aeration. Fill the chest halfway or less with water. Put each coral in individual plastic bags or containers. Carry rocks and gravel in large plastic storage totes and add a small amount of water to keep them wet. Put the remaining aquarium water in containers.

    • 3

      Disconnect and remove the filters, pumps, heaters and tubing and place into a storage container. Be sure all the fish have been removed.

    • 4

      Move the tank and livestock to the new location. Secure the tank and containers with padding while traveling. Do not stack containers.

    • 5

      Change the water in the quarantine tanks with water from your primary tank. Begin to float bags of fish in quarantine tank when the temperatures are within five degrees of each other. Hook up the filtration, aeration and heater. Prepare the new water in the large tank and reinstall the pumps, filters, heaters and tubing.

    • 6

      Change the water in the large tank every three to four days to prepare the fish for moving from the quarantine tanks to the large tank. Add the rocks, fish and invertebrates one group at a time for a slow transition. The complete transition takes about one month.