Not everything can be simply loaded onto a moving truck and carried away to a new location. Aquarium fish, however, require special preparation and transportation to keep them from dying or becoming sick as a result of the move.
Below are several helpful hints that will keep you and your fish happier during a move.
Before the Move Occurs
You shouldn't wait until the day of the move to get your fish ready for the event. If you do, you are likely to lose a lot of your fish. Instead, take time to prepare your aquarium's inhabitants before the day arrives.
The first thing to do when preparing for the move is to stop feeding your fish a few days before you take them out of their aquarium. This will help keep the water cleaner and prevent bacterial overgrowth when you place the fish in their traveling containers.
Fish that are healthy shouldn't be harmed by a few days without food. However, if you are concerned about a particular specimen or species, be sure to check with your local fish store for advice.
In addition, you need to begin purchasing a few containers to use to transport your fish, plants and other items that need to remain submerged. Five gallon buckets are useful for moving fish, but be sure to use new buckets that have never contained any other substance besides pure water. Even a trace of soap or other household chemicals can quickly kill all of your fish.
Along with the buckets, purchase matching lids to keep the buckets covered and prevent splashing. As with the buckets, use only new lids that aren't tainted by chemicals.
Finally, a few inexpensive battery operated air pumps with air tubing and air stones will be invaluable in keeping the water moving and well-aerated. Oxygenated water is important to keeping as many fish alive and well as possible.
The Day of the Move
Once the day of the move arrives, you should be ready with your buckets and air pumps. Begin by carefully removing approximately two-thirds of the water in the tank and transferring it to the buckets. Each bucket should be no more than about half full to prevent the weight of the water from overturning the bucket during the move.
Next, remove all plants and decorations inside the aquarium and inspect them for any fish, invertebrates or other animals that may be trapped. Once you are satisfied the plants and decorations are clear, place them inside a bucket with aquarium water. The water will help maintain the beneficial bacterial colonies that inhabit decor and plants.
Next, net the fish in the aquarium and transfer them to the buckets. Be sure to group peaceful fish together and place more aggressive species in another bucket, if possible. Add a few drops of aquarium stress coat conditioner to the buckets to prevent the disruption from damaging the delicate slime coats of your fish.
Finally, seal the buckets with lids and drill a small hole in each lid for routing air tubing. Attach the battery operated air pumps to the buckets using duct tape and place the air stones so they provide oxygenation for the fish inside. Use fresh batteries to prevent the pumps from stopping during the move, and check on them from time-to-time to ensure they remain operational.
The Arrival
After arriving at your destination, it is important to get your tank operational as soon as possible. If it is going to be a while before you are able to do so, then at least place the buckets containing your fish in an area away from direct sunlight or cold air.
When setting up the aquarium, use as much water as possible from the buckets containing the fish as they will be adjusted to the water chemistry and temperature. If necessary, add dechlorinated water a little at a time to make up for what was lost during the process.
Finally, keep the aquarium unlit for a day or so to lessen the stress levels of the inhabitants. In addition, avoid feeding your fish during this adjustment period.
For more moving tips, reach out to companies like Bekins Van Lines Inc.
