buckets= expensive

im using new sand, live sand. so im hoping that i wont have a problem.

 

Haha. Just make sure that the containers can handle the weight, and that you can carry them. If there are any stairs, someone will get a soaker. On the last move, the young tank mover guys didn't show, so I had to help carry a 180 through one foot of snow and up a hill. Hope your move goes better. You gotta be the man with the plan.

 

larger catering companies often order sauces or juices even from suppliers who use those high quality blue barrels, which are food safe and very durable. If you approach these places with $30 they will usually give you the ones they arent using anymore, I got some that way and they were practically brand new, only one trip with orange juice concentrate. I then got a 250 gallon steel framed tank that used to have a kelp product this company used. Same price.

 

John knows where to find the deals.

 

are you kidding me, 5 pages about buckets?

wow

 

As tuff as this sounds buckets will be the easiest. I have moved a few times & the buckets are the way to go. First, they will seal water tight with the lids. If they are moving one one location to another, no water loss. The last thing you want is saltwater in your car, truck or SUV! A lot easier to move 1 bucket at a time, then 1 55gal barrel at once. Spread live stock in each bucket & label them. Same for the live rock & live sand. Once moved, just reverse what you did..

 

If your planning on using as much of your own water as possible, I'd suggest you put a filter soc on the end of your hose while syphoning to keep as much of the disturbed crap out of your water. Then catch your fish and place in containers, clean your rocks in the water leftover in your tank. Empty the tank, clean it up, transport and add your sand. This way when you reset your tank everything is ready to go right away. Don't forget to use a plate when refilling to reduce sand storm. One way to reduce temp swings in the water buckets without multiple heaters is to increase household temp the nite before you move so the buckets stay at least to room temp of 77 and leave the buckets with fish til last thing moved. Helped a friend with his 150, only he washed and reused his sand while keeping about 5lbs unwashed for reseeding. Prep took about two hours the nite before and his tank was reset the same day as the move in less time as the prep.

 

wow these ideas are something i will be using thanks. i will take pictures of the move. and ask for more advise as i go if thats ok .

we moved the "move" date till wednesday so that i can start cleaning the place tomorrow and make sure that everything is ok.

so far i think i got enough buckets, and the water containers i got at Lowes the other day. ( im definitely taking your advice john.. im going to look for the barrels and save them in case i need them sometime.. much better than the ones i have right now.)

 

shop around.. when moving my system a last year, i bought a 44 gal rubbermaid can for around $33 at home depot. also got a few brand new buckets with lids while i was there($2.50/ea)... or if your really strapped for cash ive seen peope fill the heavy duty construction bags with water, tie them off and set that in a large box for back of pickup truck transport.:-/

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

 

Sorry if I'm repeating anything anyone said, I might have missed a couple of posts in reading. I recently got a 32 gallon trash can at Home Depot for water changes for about $14. I know some other people mentioned them at Lowes for a few dollars more. Of course, prices are different based on region and whether you live in the city, country, or suburbs. If it's important to save a few bucks, I'd definitely shop/call around. Even if cost were not an issue, I would still get smaller trash cans. The smaller everything is the easier time you are going to have moving it in the long run.

I don't think I saw it mentioned, but if you were at all considering those long and low rubbermaid totes for any reason, I would avoid them. Number one, it's really hard to get something shaped like that with a low center of gravity onto a dolly. Number two, most of those are made with really thin plastic which means they can rip, tear, and bend under pressure. Number three, because they are thinner, you're at a much higher risk of spillage as the water will cause some bending and the lids will not fit tightly.

As far as anything else, if it were me, I would keep some amquel or prime or something on hand in case there's an ammonia emergency. I would also try to do the tank move on a day separate from the main move. Moving really tuckers you out!