Things to Remember When Moving a Saltwater Tank

Moving a saltwater aquarium can be a time-consuming and stressful process. Improperly transporting your fish can cause them to become sick or can kill them. Whether you are going to be moving your saltwater aquarium across the house or across the country, it is absolutely essential to plan out how you will move your fish. Keeping your pets healthy should always be your No. 1 priority when you are planning to make major environmental changes.

  1. Transport Containers

    • It is absolutely crucial to pick the right transport containers when you are planning to move your fish. You will need to remove your fish from the aquarium and place them in transport containers while you move your tank. The transport containers should be made of plastic; it is generally a good idea to use brand new containers that have never been used to hold any substance that could have left a toxic or otherwise harmful residue behind in the container. For instance, you do not want to use containers that have ever held chemicals or food items for transporting your fish, even briefly. It also also a good idea to put only one animal or one type of animal in each container. If you have live rocks and sand in your aquarium, you will also need transport containers to hold these items and keep them adequately covered in water.

    Water

    • Saltwater fish can be harmed by changes in their water or by improperly prepared water. Make sure you have properly prepared the water that you will use in the transport containers, as well as the water that you will use to refill the tank after you have moved it. You can use the water from the tank to fill the transport containers, but this is a good idea only if you are sure the water is clean and healthy for the fish. If you have any concerns about the quality of the water, it is best to create a fresh batch of properly treated saltwater for your fish. Also, prepare more water than you think you will need in order to compensate for spills or other problems. You can always pour excess water down the drain if you don't use it.

    Water Treatment

    • Do not forget to add a chemical into the water to reduce ammonia in both the tank and the transport containers. Plan on periodically refreshing the water in the transport containers if you will be leaving the fish in the containers for any length of time. You should also plan on using an antibacterial additive in the water of the transport containers to prevent bacteria from developing due to the fish emitting waste in the water.

    Oxygenate the Water

    • If you'll house your fish in transport containers for any length of time, it is important to oxygenate the water. You can do this by placing a battery-operated tank aerator in the transport container. You can aerate the water manually by dipping a cup into the water, holding it a foot or so above the container and pouring the water back in. You'll need to do this several times during each session. You will have to repeat the manual aeration process periodically in order to ensure that your fish have enough oxygen in the water. If you are in doubt about whether or not you will be able to oxygenate the water in the transport containers appropriately, it is best to purchase and use a battery-operated aerator for each transport container. You can also use an electric pump attached to an air stone to oxygenate the transport containers.