Worst thing about Reefing! Dangit!!

REV · 03/21/2006, 09:41 AM

Still relatively new to the reefing addiction, everything is just beginning to be good and established, 75g, 30g sump/fuge, and NOW!!! It's time to move! The worst thing about moving is not leaving friends or uprooting my kids, but trying not to lose everything in my glass box! (Kinda sad, maybe a little exaggeration...) Anyway, the move will likely be a big move (19 hours or so). I don't plan to try to keep fish, or shrimp, but I do want to try to keep my rock (approx. 100 lbs.) and my softies, etc. Any suggestions!??! I don't wanna have to start all over!!!

Anemonebuff · 03/21/2006, 09:43 AM

Battery powered air pumps and rubbermaid containers.

Anemonebuff · 03/21/2006, 09:44 AM

You could keep the fish this way as well.

ste6168 · 03/21/2006, 09:49 AM

or buy a DC-AC invertor and just use regular air pumps and even a small maxi-jet, they are not that expensive - i think like $50 for a decent one; wouldnt be the best but it would work. Check out DCPOWERINVERTORS

HTH, Mike

REV · 03/21/2006, 10:03 AM

Okay, I do have an inverter. I think it is rated for about 75w, I'll check. Will I need to have a heater too? It seems like a stress risk for the fish...? Thanks for the help so far...

Anemonebuff · 03/21/2006, 10:08 AM

They'll be stressed and so will you. You should both make it.

LOL

REV · 03/21/2006, 10:11 AM

See, one of the reasons my wife "let's me" have my reef is because I tell her it's stress relief! DANGIT!!

ste6168 · 03/21/2006, 10:17 AM

lol, yeah a heater would also be a good idea, good luck and make sure you let us know how the move goes.

REV · 03/21/2006, 10:32 AM

It's gonna be a month or so... On the bright side of things I never set up my RO/DI, or my auto top-off. Maybe starting over could be good thing. Anyone ever wish you had rockscaped a little differently... well now, I have the chance, right?! What do people use to drill fiji rock... masonry bit??

smleee · 03/21/2006, 11:07 AM

I moved a 60g 1000 miles (3days). My advice would be to use coolers and put all your live rock/water in there. We put the corals in one cooler and the fish in the other (both with live rock). Get a power inverter and powerheads. Temperature wasn't really an issue, but you can always have a heater for backup. The most important thing is the powerheads IMO. I used a MJ 900 for one of our coolers (I think it was a 60g cooler, but we used 2) and it was not enough. If you have enough powereads, it's just like a tank setup, enough flow will allow the LR to filter just as with the tank. Open the lids when you make stops so you can get some fresh air in the coolers. HTH.

eee

rustybucket145 · 03/21/2006, 11:14 AM

Walmart has el-cheapo powerheads for $20 that should be ok just for the move. I have used them during a previous move. But mine was only 9hrs.

Sk8r · 03/21/2006, 12:07 PM

Either you get a buddy to spell you at the wheel and go straight through with the fish---granted the car will take it---or you use the motel nights to open up the tanks and test and correct any problems: I've done the latter. I made it (freshwater fish, including 4 breeding angels and a piranha) for 3 days. Fish that are being shipped get a rougher ride, IMHO.

OnTheReef · 03/21/2006, 12:45 PM

Check out this thread, some very clever ideas for moving critters in it:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=799059

REV · 03/21/2006, 01:23 PM

Thanks OnTheReef. It sounds pretty simple, I just dread tearing my setup down. Anyone out there keep sand alive too? I have alot of life teaming in my sand, not to mention the bacteria. I'd like to keep as much as possible.

mbbuna · 03/21/2006, 01:38 PM

only keep a few cups of the sand and ditch the rest. it will reseed itself quickly

REV · 03/21/2006, 01:42 PM

Not just thinking of the bacteria. I have the start of a pretty good copepod population going and am hoping to get a mandarin someday. I also like my little brittle stars. I guess all of that will build back up... I may try to line the bottom of the "shipping container" (yet to be determined) with a thin layer. Other than sand possibly stirring and getting into the powerhead, any concerns?

john37 · 03/21/2006, 02:21 PM

seriously, my friend just moved to texas.
i'd say just take the move as a blessing and upgrade, EVERYTHING. sell the rest.

Alaskan Reefer · 03/21/2006, 02:35 PM

19 hours and in a relatively warm area of the country? I wouldn't get too worried about it as long as you punch straight through. Put your rock in a rubbermaid with a powerhead on the inverter, your fish in a cooler with a battery operated airstone, your corals in another cooler with a powerhead on the inverter, and a few cups of sand in a gallon Ziploc freezer bag floated in the rock tank.

Shouldn't be a big deal. All you're likely to lose is the sand -- so make sure you have more dry rinsed stuff ready to go. You could also premix your new tank water beforehand and carry it in buckets to save yourself a bunch of time when you arrive if you want...

Alaskan Reefer · 03/21/2006, 02:35 PM

Well yeah, or that. I used my move as a reason to finally get rid of that sumpless 75 and get on to my RR 125.

REV · 03/21/2006, 07:30 PM

Yeah, I wouldn't mind any contributions to my upgrade fund... but not from steveo32!

2crazyreefers · 03/21/2006, 07:40 PM

IMO get some heavy duty bags and fill seperately with LR, corals, fish etc and place them in coolers and you should be fine. Most corals and fish we buy get shipped cross country this way.

smleee · 03/22/2006, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by REV
Other than sand possibly stirring and getting into the powerhead, any concerns?

Yes, NO loose corals - i.e. mushrooms, polyps, etc. They will eventually make their way to the powerhead and get stuck on the intake........ Made this mistake already.

eee

REV · 03/22/2006, 11:31 AM

I think all of my softies and lps are pretty well anchored. Are they known to let go because of the stress?? SMLEEE - did you put loose softies in, or did they "let go"?

smleee · 03/22/2006, 11:45 AM

Yeah, I meant loose softies, sorry. We just had tons in the tank before we moved, in the sand, behind the rocks, etc. So we just tossed them in.......

eee

REV · 03/22/2006, 11:48 AM

Whew!! Don't do that to me!

03/21/2006, 09:41 AM	#1
REV Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alabama Posts: 394	Worst thing about Reefing! Dangit!! Still relatively new to the reefing addiction, everything is just beginning to be good and established, 75g, 30g sump/fuge, and NOW!!! It's time to move! The worst thing about moving is not leaving friends or uprooting my kids, but trying not to lose everything in my glass box! (Kinda sad, maybe a little exaggeration...) Anyway, the move will likely be a big move (19 hours or so). I don't plan to try to keep fish, or shrimp, but I do want to try to keep my rock (approx. 100 lbs.) and my softies, etc. Any suggestions!??! I don't wanna have to start all over!!! __________________ John Doe Current Tank Info: 72 reef

03/21/2006, 10:03 AM	#5
REV Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alabama Posts: 394	Okay, I do have an inverter. I think it is rated for about 75w, I'll check. Will I need to have a heater too? It seems like a stress risk for the fish...? Thanks for the help so far... __________________ John Doe Current Tank Info: 72 reef

03/21/2006, 10:11 AM	#7
REV Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alabama Posts: 394	See, one of the reasons my wife "let's me" have my reef is because I tell her it's stress relief! DANGIT!! __________________ John Doe Current Tank Info: 72 reef

03/21/2006, 10:32 AM	#9
REV Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alabama Posts: 394	It's gonna be a month or so... On the bright side of things I never set up my RO/DI, or my auto top-off. Maybe starting over could be good thing. Anyone ever wish you had rockscaped a little differently... well now, I have the chance, right?! What do people use to drill fiji rock... masonry bit?? __________________ John Doe Current Tank Info: 72 reef

03/21/2006, 11:14 AM	#11
rustybucket145 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: valdosta, ga Posts: 3,707	Walmart has el-cheapo powerheads for $20 that should be ok just for the move. I have used them during a previous move. But mine was only 9hrs. __________________ 400gals of various tanks in the same system. Current Tank Info: 2 175w MH, 2 VH0 Actinics, Lots of Live Rock, tons of copepods, a Fat Mandarin Goby, Niger Trigger, Yellow Tang, Falco Hawkfish, Bi-Color Pseudo, numerous soft, SPS and LPS Corals

03/21/2006, 09:43 AM	#2
Anemonebuff Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: LI,NY Posts: 3,877	Battery powered air pumps and rubbermaid containers.

03/21/2006, 09:44 AM	#3
Anemonebuff Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: LI,NY Posts: 3,877	You could keep the fish this way as well.

03/21/2006, 09:49 AM	#4
ste6168 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,066	or buy a DC-AC invertor and just use regular air pumps and even a small maxi-jet, they are not that expensive - i think like $50 for a decent one; wouldnt be the best but it would work. Check out DCPOWERINVERTORS HTH, Mike

03/21/2006, 10:08 AM	#6
Anemonebuff Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: LI,NY Posts: 3,877	They'll be stressed and so will you. You should both make it. LOL

03/21/2006, 10:17 AM	#8
ste6168 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,066	lol, yeah a heater would also be a good idea, good luck and make sure you let us know how the move goes.

03/21/2006, 11:07 AM	#10
smleee Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 1,344	I moved a 60g 1000 miles (3days). My advice would be to use coolers and put all your live rock/water in there. We put the corals in one cooler and the fish in the other (both with live rock). Get a power inverter and powerheads. Temperature wasn't really an issue, but you can always have a heater for backup. The most important thing is the powerheads IMO. I used a MJ 900 for one of our coolers (I think it was a 60g cooler, but we used 2) and it was not enough. If you have enough powereads, it's just like a tank setup, enough flow will allow the LR to filter just as with the tank. Open the lids when you make stops so you can get some fresh air in the coolers. HTH. eee

03/21/2006, 12:07 PM	#12
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Either you get a buddy to spell you at the wheel and go straight through with the fish---granted the car will take it---or you use the motel nights to open up the tanks and test and correct any problems: I've done the latter. I made it (freshwater fish, including 4 breeding angels and a piranha) for 3 days. Fish that are being shipped get a rougher ride, IMHO. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

03/21/2006, 12:45 PM	#13
OnTheReef Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Posts: 340	Check out this thread, some very clever ideas for moving critters in it: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=799059 __________________ 100 gallon reef tank, 40 gallon sump/fuge combo with RDSB 2x ASM G2 with gate valve mod TLF phos reactor w/Rowaphos, Seachem Nitrate sponge 4x55w 50/50 actinic PC Current USA 0 amm, 0 nitrite, 0 n Current Tank Info: 50 & 100 gallon reef tanks

03/21/2006, 01:23 PM	#14
REV Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alabama Posts: 394	Thanks OnTheReef. It sounds pretty simple, I just dread tearing my setup down. Anyone out there keep sand alive too? I have alot of life teaming in my sand, not to mention the bacteria. I'd like to keep as much as possible. __________________ John Doe Current Tank Info: 72 reef

03/21/2006, 01:38 PM	#15
mbbuna Moved On Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 6,847	only keep a few cups of the sand and ditch the rest. it will reseed itself quickly

03/21/2006, 01:42 PM	#16
REV Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alabama Posts: 394	Not just thinking of the bacteria. I have the start of a pretty good copepod population going and am hoping to get a mandarin someday. I also like my little brittle stars. I guess all of that will build back up... I may try to line the bottom of the "shipping container" (yet to be determined) with a thin layer. Other than sand possibly stirring and getting into the powerhead, any concerns? __________________ John Doe Current Tank Info: 72 reef

03/21/2006, 02:21 PM	#17
john37 Super Rad Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: 92867, 90240 Posts: 2,772	seriously, my friend just moved to texas. i'd say just take the move as a blessing and upgrade, EVERYTHING. sell the rest. __________________ Romans 10:9 Current Tank Info: ange!

03/21/2006, 02:35 PM	#18
Alaskan Reefer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Eagle River, Alaska Posts: 2,360	19 hours and in a relatively warm area of the country? I wouldn't get too worried about it as long as you punch straight through. Put your rock in a rubbermaid with a powerhead on the inverter, your fish in a cooler with a battery operated airstone, your corals in another cooler with a powerhead on the inverter, and a few cups of sand in a gallon Ziploc freezer bag floated in the rock tank. Shouldn't be a big deal. All you're likely to lose is the sand -- so make sure you have more dry rinsed stuff ready to go. You could also premix your new tank water beforehand and carry it in buckets to save yourself a bunch of time when you arrive if you want... __________________ Unattended children will be given double shot espresso and a free puppy. Current Tank Info: 125g FOWLR -- Conversion Back To SPS In Progress

03/21/2006, 07:30 PM	#20
REV Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alabama Posts: 394	Yeah, I wouldn't mind any contributions to my upgrade fund... but not from steveo32! __________________ John Doe Current Tank Info: 72 reef

03/21/2006, 07:40 PM	#21
2crazyreefers Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Vt. Posts: 733	IMO get some heavy duty bags and fill seperately with LR, corals, fish etc and place them in coolers and you should be fine. Most corals and fish we buy get shipped cross country this way. __________________ My 4 part recipie for my acros = calcium - alk - flow & luck.

03/22/2006, 11:31 AM	#23
REV Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alabama Posts: 394	I think all of my softies and lps are pretty well anchored. Are they known to let go because of the stress?? SMLEEE - did you put loose softies in, or did they "let go"? __________________ John Doe Current Tank Info: 72 reef

03/22/2006, 11:45 AM	#24
smleee Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 1,344	Yeah, I meant loose softies, sorry. We just had tons in the tank before we moved, in the sand, behind the rocks, etc. So we just tossed them in....... eee

03/22/2006, 11:48 AM	#25
REV Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alabama Posts: 394	Whew!! Don't do that to me! __________________ John Doe Current Tank Info: 72 reef