Table Of Contents
Transporting Your Fish
Moving can be challenging. It becomes even more complicated when you need to move with some pets be it dogs, cats, or even fish. You should try to implement the best practices for relocating pets to ensure that they arrive at their new home as quickly, safely, and with as little anxiety as possible.
If you're moving with your fish, you have to think about how you're going to transport your fish, as well as how you’ll move the aquarium so that it's ready for use when you arrive at your new site. In essence, you can't just remove it and be on your way.
Moving a fish tank isn't as difficult as you would imagine if you knew what you were doing. Before travelling and after moving day, take note of the procedures below to ensure that you take care of your fish and their tank during the moving process.
Checklist For Moving With Fish
When transporting your tank, you must have a plan in place for relocating all of the tank's contents, including its fish and equipment. Specifically speaking, the first thing you should do when transferring a fish tank is to collect all of the necessary materials.
You may already possess some of the items on the following list needed to transport fish, but you may need to go out and buy the rest of them in preparation. What you'll need includes:
Containers for your fish
A twist tie may be used to hold a plastic bag to the top of a fish tank if you just need to transport the fish for an hour or so. Plastic containers with tight-fitting lids are another option. Clean 5-gallon buckets with lids are ideal for moving bigger fish or those that need more time to transport.
Buckets for plants
While travelling, the plants will need to be immersed in the tank's water supply.
Dechlorinator
A dechlorinator for fish systems eliminates chlorine from water to make it safe for fish.
Automatic water heater
To ensure that your container for fish has the right temperature while moving, this item is a must to keep your fish safe and comfortable. It regulates the temperature of your fish tank.
Bubble wrap/old towels/old blankets
These will help to ensure that the fish tank is safe from any impact that will result in its breakage.
Test kits
As a fish owner, you should use a high-quality test kit at least once each month. If your tank is properly maintained and tested, you can avoid algae issues.
Packing tape or duct tape
These will help to secure lids on buckets or any container for moving your fish.
Battery-powered air pump
To ensure that your fish are getting enough O2, use an air pump to increase the stirring in your aquarium.
Sealed container
To ensure that no pollution comes in contact with your aquarium, a sealed container is a must-have.
Insulated polystyrene fish transporting box
This box is highly durable and has water-resistant features to keep your fish safe while moving.
Fishnet
This is used to move fish from tank to tank.
Siphon hose
This is used to drain water from your fish tank.
Other packing supplies
A lot of packing items are needed for shipping fish tank equipment, decorations, and even the aquarium itself. Moving boxes, air-filled plastic cushioning, and packing paper are some items included in this category.
NOTE: When transferring your fish tank, don't forget to account for moving the fish food, aquarium test strips, water dechlorinator, and the table or other structure your tank rests on.
Getting Your Fish Ready For Moving
Transfer your fish into transport containers
The sooner you get your fish into their transport containers, the sooner you'll have time to dismantle and clean the aquarium. Nonetheless, it is essential to remember that fish are prone to stress when they are relocated from their natural habitat. Wait as long as possible before putting them in their travel containers to reduce the stress.
Fill the containers with water
Fill the container they'll be travelling in with water from the tank, but allow some room at the top for air. This will guarantee that their surroundings are as pleasant and normal as possible. You can fit three or four fish in a bucket if you use one.
Remove all tank décor and aquarium plants
All of the tank décor and aquarium plants will need to be removed as a first step. It's a good idea to look inside the cracks and crevices of any decorations you own for any fish hiding there. Most fish will just swim away if you gently elevate the decoration/ornament above the surface of the water.
If they refuse to leave their hiding location, the only solution is to put the ornament inside a big fish bag filled with 1/3 of your aquarium water, then lock it in with a rubber band.
Keep decorations and plants in waterproof receptacles
Keep your leftover decorations in waterproof receptacles like buckets or plastic storage boxes. It's essential to keep in mind that rocks may be rather heavy; therefore, it's a good idea to distribute the material in numerous containers. If you want to keep your aquarium plants from drying out, put them in plastic fish bags and secure them with rubber bands.
Preserve your tank water by siphoning
You're almost ready to start reeling in your fish. If you initially remove and preserve part of the water from your tank, the fish will have less area to swim and elude your nets, making this process much simpler. We recommend starting a siphon with a hose inserted into a plastic container to prevent harming the fish.
Determine the number of containers
Determine how many containers you may need based on your tank's size. Some shops may be able to loan containers for massive water tanks if adequate notice is provided. However, a deposit will be required and returned upon the return of the containers. To keep your fish from being too stressed, try to keep as much of the tank's water as you can.
Prepare The Fish Tank For Moving
In order to move your fish tank, you must move both the tank's construction and the fish inside it. Prepare the remainder of the tank for your relocation after your fish are securely housed in their containers.
- You should place plants in buckets, which should then be filled with tank water. Leave a large enough gap of air at the top of the container to prevent water from leaking out.
- If possible, remove the leftover water and store it in a big, airtight container. Filling the tank back up with as much of the original water as possible is important later on.
- Afterwards, dry the decorations and put them away. When packaging delicate items, use air-filled plastic cushioning and/or packing paper.
- Remove any sand or stones from the bottom of the tank and place them in a bucket or other container.
- After removing all of the equipment, give it a good cleaning with a damp cloth. Do not dry out the filter. Make sure all of your gear is packed properly.
- Clean and dry the tank thoroughly.
The moving boxes holding decorations, equipment, and other supplies should be well labelled. Putting your fish tank back together after moving is a lot easier if you know where everything goes.
Pack And Move The Fish Tank
Because aquariums are delicate, they need to be handled with care. If your aquarium is damaged during a transfer, you won't be able to use it in your new place, so take the time to pack it properly.
- Remove the lid and fill the plastic cushioning with air. Use packing tape to seal the gap.
- Cut a single piece of foam board insulation to fit the tank's bottom and insert it there. You may use towels or packing paper to fill the tank.
- Fill a moving box with an air-filled plastic cushion and wrap the tank. You should insert foam board insulation between the tank and the box on both sides. For an aquarium and insulation, the box should be big enough but not so big that the tank can still move inside it. You may use packing paper to fill up the spaces surrounding it and prevent it from moving during transit if necessary.
- Make sure the package is properly sealed and labelled. Keep the tank upright during transportation by marking the box with arrows indicating which side is up.
The tank and its accompanying crates will need to be loaded into a moving truck on moving day, and you or your distance movers should avoid stacking anything on top of it.
If you're transporting your pet fish in a moving truck, keep them in the truck's cabin or your own vehicle as a safety measure. You don't want to have to worry about them falling over while you're on the road.
Put Everything In Their Proper Place
When you move into a new house, you first want to put your fish tank back together. Take on this activity even before you begin unpacking other necessities so that your finned pals spend as little time as possible in their moving containers.
- Determine the location of the aquarium. Make sure you know where the ultimate resting place will be, even if it's only the room. We recommend setting up here.
- Take the tank out of the box and inspect it well for any fractures in the glass.
- The process of recreating your aquarium fish habitat begins when you have verified that you can refill the tank. You should lay down pebbles or sand before setting up your equipment. Refill the tank with the water you brought over in buckets after putting the decorations and plants back in.
- Gently return your fish to the tank with the help of a fishnet. Refill the tank with the water from their containers, eliminating any waste if required. Get some water from your faucet and dechlorinate it before adding it to the tank if you need extra.
- If possible, wait a few hours before switching on the heating or the pump. Allowing the water to settle and get to room temperature will enable it to be at its ideal temperature.
Once your fish have settled into their new home, you may resume your usual feeding routine. You should watch for symptoms of stress or discomfort after a relocation, which is frequent.
Your local pet shop is an excellent place to look for support if you're worried. Hopefully, your fish can adapt rapidly and return to their normal routines as soon as possible.
For Ease Of Moving Your Fish
To avoid hassle and ensure your items' safety and your fish's health, you can reach out to a moving company that can also transport your pets safely. You might save more if you do it by yourself, but the life of your fish, the security of the transportation of your items, and the convenience they offer may be worth it.
