What can I do to save my beneficial bacteria during a move?

[shanetalkstech]

Hello

Next month I will be moving. It is a local move staying in the same town, but It will be an overnight move. I close on my current house on one day, and close on the house I am moving into the next day. That night, I will likely have to stay in a hotel. What would be the best way to do this and not kill my beneficial bacteria?

My tanks are a 36 Gallon bow-front, with 4 fish in it, and the other is a 29 gallon with an axolotl. That is the one I am more worried about. It took two months for that tank cycle to complete and I don't want to have to do that again especially now that I have the axolotl.

What would be the best way to keep all of the beneficial bacteria alive in the tank overnight?

 

[Andy Sager]

Hello

Next month I will be moving. It is a local move staying in the same town, but It will be an overnight move. I close on my current house on one day, and close on the house I am moving into the next day. That night, I will likely have to stay in a hotel. What would be the best way to do this and not kill my beneficial bacteria?

My tanks are a 36 Gallon bow-front, with 4 fish in it, and the other is a 29 gallon with an axolotl. That is the one I am more worried about. It took two months for that tank cycle to complete and I don't want to have to do that again especially now that I have the axolotl.

What would be the best way to keep all of the beneficial bacteria alive in the tank overnight?

Oxygen is the key. Depending on what kind of filter you are using, if you can keep it running overnight, that will help. Use a bucket for a sponge filter using your air pump and if necessary, you can get a battery operated air pump at a bait & tackle shop or any sporting goods store ( even Walmart.) If you have a HOB style filter, get a square trash can to fill with water and plug the filter in at the hotel. If you can use some tank water for this, that's great but if not, make sure you use the dechlorinator on the hotel water.

 

[shanetalkstech]

Both tanks have HOB filters that are rated for 50 gallon tanks. I can do that. About how long after I unplug them so I have? I do have a battery powered generator that I can plug the tanks into but I can't see leaving enough water in them to move. That would definitely add a lot of weight and difficulty on moving them.

Should I completely drain the tanks? Or leave a little water in them? I was going to buy a heavy duty cart to move them. Move them from the stand and roll them out to my truck and load them in my truck and then make sure they are covered. I'm not really worried about the water at the new house. The water should be the same as what I have so I can fill the tank at the new house and treat it. I could also put some of the water in buckets of that is better. I am not moving far, just a few miles away. Just have the overnight period between the two closings.

 

[Andy Sager]

Just leave enough water to keep the substrate wet. If you can, save some of the water and move it with you. This way, the fish will be feeling nothing more than a partial water change. The microbe bed in the substrate can last at least a day without aeration if it's kept cool and dark. There will be some aeration just from the motion of the moving truck so you'll just need the cool and dark.

 

[shanetalkstech]

Dark is easy enough, cool may be challenging as a Floridian. I guess it's better to be moving in February than any other time of year. I'll figure out a way to keep them cool.

 

[Andy Sager]

Dark is easy enough, cool may be challenging as a Floridian. I guess it's better to be moving in February than any other time of year. I'll figure out a way to keep them cool.

Check your DM. I may be able to help with that.