Every relocation to a new home includes a fair amount of questions and difficulties that need to be answered and dealt with. It is not strange that some household possessions require more attention than others. In other words, things like books, clothes, and accessories are a lot easier to deal with than large furniture like beds and wardrobes. But, there is a specific kind of possessions that require the most delicate way of handling things. Items like aquarium are one of those sensitive things which demand your full attention and dedication. In order to avoid a number of major risks for your pet and your tank, it is necessary to have a clear understanding on how to relocate your aquarium.
Prepare for moving your aquarium
Two main things are considered in order to do a successful transfer of your aquarium to your new home. You will have to provide all the necessary equipment in time, as well as to prepare your tank and pets to move.
Equipment you need for aquarium relocation
Before dealing with the tank itself get all the supplies that you will need during the move. You will need siphon hose to drain a part of the water and a couple of clean containers to store the same water for later use. Then you can use a fish net to catch all your pets carefully and place them in previously prepared containers to transfer them. If you are not sure what to use to transfer your fish it’s better to ask in your local pet shop about how to do it. Temperature regulators and battery-operated air pump will provide your fish with much-needed conditions to survive the trip. You will need to check the water condition before, and after moving because changing the environment is highly stressful for your fish.
Tank preparation
After securing your pets it’s time to deal with the tank. Feel free to remove plants and drain and store the rest of the water from the tank. Now it’s time to remove all decorations like rocks, castles, caves, and sand. Then take out pumps, heaters, light fixtures, tubes, filters, and other things you may have in the aquarium. Clean them, dry them, and pack them safely so you can use them in your new home. If you are not sure what to use to clean all the accessories, again, ask in your pet shop or veterinary about what is safe. For packing the tank itself, maybe the best thing to use is Styrofoam since the aquarium is a fragile thing to carry around without protection.
Your fish will need dark transport tube with calm ambient for stress-less moving.
How to relocate your aquarium safely
There are three steps when it comes to this phase:
- Relocating a tank
- Moving your fish
- A time range
Relocating a tank
When your tank is loaded in your vehicle you can wrap it in blankets or another protective material. Think about filling the tank with soft materials like clothing and stabilize it on a strictly flat surface. Avoid placing tank with fish to direct sunlight since it can raise the temperature of the water.
Moving your fish
An important thing when dealing with the relocation of your aquarium is to save as much original water as you can. This way you will minimize the shock of environmental changes to your pets. Small fish can be transported in fish bags placed in Styrofoam containers to maintain the proper temperature. But a large fish is best to be transferred in tubs or coolers.
A time range
When moving with the aquarium the regular way it’s best to stay in the time range of one day. Anything more than that may require special equipment or help of professional movers. In that case, do a little research for not all movers have the necessary gear nor are willing to deal with aquariums.
Setting your aquarium in a new home
When you arrive at your new home the first thing to do will be to place an aquarium on the appropriate surface. It has to be perfectly flat to avoid any structural damage to your tank when it’s full of water. Recheck all the accessories that belong to it and start attaching them one by one. This is best to be done two days before you bring your fish, if possible, so your fish is not faced with extreme environmental changes. After gadgets, you are free to add all the decorations. Replace the filter and anything you can to give your fish a fresh start and safe way to adjust to the new surroundings.
Your pet will need an adjustment period after relocation, same as you.
Tank care after the move
Don’t be alarmed if your fish refuse to eat for a day or two. This is perfectly normal due to stress from moving and changing its habitat. It may sound silly but it’s something like environmental change shock. Feed the fish slowly for at least a day and do a regular water check for ammonia, nitrite and temperature checks. If needed, add additional filters to clear out the water. Pay close attention if your fish look sick. Don’t forget to check out the local aquarium shops in the area and see if they can provide you with backup cartridges, food, and other supplies you will need. However, don’t forget to visit local aquatic veterinary services and ask about their opinion on the subject of relocation. Get them to know with your situation and ask for any advice.
You will have to go through thorough water inspection after you are done with moving your aquarium.
With good planning, even things as complicated as moving an aquarium can be an easy and stress-free experience. How to relocate your aquarium is just another additional thing you will have to learn. However, don’t for a moment allow yourself to forget you are dealing with living beings. If you don’t have enough time to do it yourself, or you don’t feel competent enough, you can always ask moving companies in your area to do the moving for you. It will bring you some additional expenses but better safe than sorry.
