How to Move a Fish Tank Safely

Between organizing, cleaning, and rushing to move an aquarium into a new home or a new space in your current home, it’s all too easy to end up making a mistake. For aquarium owners, making a mistake can be costly for your time, money, and effort. Make sure to follow these steps to safely move your aquarium.

Gather Supplies

Depending on the size of your tank and the types and amount of fish you own, you need the right supplies on hand. Make sure you have several clean 5-gallon buckets with lids, a fish net, a siphon hose, several cardboard boxes, packing paper or moving blankets, bubble wrap, and a battery-powered air pump. We recommend:

https://www.aquaticwarehouse.com/aeration-products/Cobalt-Rescue-Air

Start Siphoning the Water

Don’t attempt to move your tank when it’s filled with water (especially glass aquariums). Using the siphon hose, begin the process of draining water from the tank into the buckets. Aim for filling about two-thirds of the bucket since you don’t want to risk spilling water.

Relocate the Fish Temporarily

While siphoning the water, carefully catch the fish and place them into the buckets. Move quickly but cautiously so you don’t harm the fish. If you own a large amount of fish, consider using more containers as needed. Once finished, drill two holes in the plastic bucket top (one for the airline tube and one to let the air from the battery air pump escape).

Remove Decorations & Accessories

Any kind of decoration should be removed from the tank as well as any accessories such as a filter or dosing pump. If the move will take more than six hours, take the filter “media” and add it to a bucket with aerated water. Make sure to dry off everything else and package the items in a box to be transported. Remove any sand or gravel at the bottom of your tank. Line a box with a trash bag and add your gravel to it. Use more than one box to avoid making it too heavy. Also, be conscious of outdoor temperatures and bring the sand or gravel into an indoor temperature environment as soon as possible.

Secure the Tank

With all the water removed, dry and clean the tank as necessary, then use the bubble wrap to cover it as firmly as possible. To add more padding, you can wrap special moving blankets around the glass to prevent shattering or scratching. Also, make sure to have a few extra hands to help you move the tank to the new destination. To prevent shattering, keep your tank as level as possible.

Set Up the Tank in Its New Spot

Once at the new location, begin setting up your tank quickly. You don’t want to risk stressing your fish out by leaving them in their temporary containers for too long. You can refill the tank with the original water in the buckets. After returning your fish to the water, set up the heater and filters. Try not to stir things up too much. Instead, pour water over your hand or a bowl. The last thing is to add the very important bacteria because you’ve disrupted the bacterial mass that made everything in your aquarium healthy. Not adding beneficial bacteria is the #1 mistake aquarists make, many times with heartbreaking results. At Aquatic Warehouse, we recommend using Microbe-Lift Night-Out II bacteria:

https://www.aquaticwarehouse.com/bacteria/Microbe-Lift-Night-Out-II-Bacteria-8-oz

Continue to add the Night-Out II for the next week to ensure the beneficial bacteria has been revitalized. Whenever we use this product along with the procedures above, we have zero fatalities.

Whether you can’t remember how to set up your fish tank properly, or you’re setting up a new aquarium for the first time, Get in touch with Aquatic Warehouse for some handy tips. We are a trusted aquarium supplier, and we also carry all of the other products you need to properly maintain a freshwater or saltwater aquarium. Call one of our knowledgeable representatives today at 858-467-9297.