MOVING,Breaking down 120gal HELP

[rbursek]

Suggestions on how to break down a 120 gallon tank, with 150lb rock, fish and invertebrates. I have to move.
Bob

 

[reefman5511]

I've moved my 30 gallon more times than I care to count the past few years so I talk from experience. Get yourself a number of 15 gal drums and 5 gal buckets. Transfer corals to buckets or bag them - cover with water. Take out live rock & put in pails or coolers being sure to either cover it with water or keep mosit with wet newspaper. It's easiest to get the fish out after everything else is out of the tank - no place for them to hide. Transfer fish to pails. Don't overcrowd. Use battery operated air pumps if the move is long distance. Use the 15 gal drums to carry left over water. Take out as much water as possible. If you have a sand bottom you don't want to disturb it much so take out as much water as possible to keep the sand from sloshing around.
With a 120 you'll want a number of strong backed indiviiduals to help with the move. Be sure to have plenty of liquid refreshment for after the move.

Good luck!

 

[mike90]

yea i just moved my 90 and lost all my fish because i forgot the step about the air pump in the bucket for the fish. big learning experience.

 

[Anonymous]

Last time I moved a large tank, I purchased a bunch of 5 gallon buckets with lids from Home Depot. After the move, I returned them.
You'll only need an air pump if you're moving quite a distance, otherwise just keep the water shallow so that the surface area to volume ratio stays high.

 

[trido]

LOL

Last time I moved a large tank, I purchased a bunch of 5 gallon buckets with lids from Home Depot. After the move, I returned them.

LOL. Your one of those guys huh? When I move my tank from San fransisco to Seattle I bought four 22 Gallon rubbermaid tubs. Two for the LR (165lbs.) one for the fish and inverts and one with egg crate as a frag rack. Two heaters, two air pumps, an 800watt power inverter and as long as the truck is running you could probably drive to Brazil.


My wife has since used the rubbermaid tubs for x-mas decorations etc..

 

[Anonymous]

Yeah, but I'm not quite bad enough to 'purchase' a tool for a project, then return it like some people I've heard. In fact I think it was someone on this board who purchased a large level to build a stand, then returned it when they were finished with it.
OK, I might do it with a level, but I draw the line at the table saw...

 

[trido]

OK, I might do it with a level, but I draw the line at the table saw...

I need to drill a couple 40 breeders real soon. Do you think I could do that with a drill press?

 

[Anonymous]

I heard that JimM returned his prom dress after the dance too.


rbursek I say go w/ the rubbermaid tubs for fish/coral and the 5g buckets for sand/LR. The buckets are a bit sturdier and easy to handle, but the rubbermaid tubs are more useful later!