How to move a fish tank

Eight steps to move an aquarium

1. Plan the fish. Arrange for the fish to travel with you, not on the truck, and prepare buckets with lids and bags with an air pocket.
2. Stop feeding a day ahead. Skip feeding on the day before the move so there is less waste in the bags.
3. Save tank water. Keep a few gallons of tank water in clean buckets to refill the new tank and bag the fish.
4. Move the fish. Catch the fish with a net, bag them in tank water and keep them out of heat and cold.
5. Remove decor and plants. Place decorations and live plants in a bucket of tank water and pack gear in a labelled box.
6. Drain and clean. Drain the tank into buckets, remove gravel into sealed containers, and drain filters but keep the media wet.
7. Pack the glass. Wrap the empty tank in padding, lay foam inside the base and move it upright with the stand separately.
8. Rebuild. Set up the new tank on a level surface, refill with saved and treated water and let the fish settle.

An aquarium is a living system in a heavy glass box. Moving it works when you treat the fish, the water and the glass as three different problems. Plan the fish first, because they are the part with a clock.

Water weight is the rule

The USGS gives the weight of water at about 8.34 pounds per gallon. A 55-gallon tank holds over 450 pounds of water alone. That is why a tank is never carried full and why the floor under it at the new home matters.

The fish and the clock

Fish cope with a few hours in a bag or a covered bucket, but heat, cold and shaking are risks. A long-distance move calls for a plan made in advance, such as a pet shop, a friend or a fish shipper. See moving with fish and what movers will not move for the rules movers follow on live animals and plants.

The glass and the stand

Wrap the tank in padding and carry it upright, never by the rim. Foam sheets inside the base protect the bottom pane. The stand moves like any piece of furniture; see how to wrap furniture. Mention the tank to the O'Brien's estimator so it appears on the written list.

After the move

The biological filter can take time to recover after a move. Test the water, feed lightly and watch the fish for a few days.