Equipment needed for Moving An Aquarium

Before you start, make sure you have the following apparatus to hand:

Containers:
Aquarium Water containers
Aquarium Décor containers
Polystyrene Fish Boxes
Fish Bags & rubber bands
Plastic buckets

Equipment:
Fish Nets (at least two)
Plastic scoop or measuring jug
Battery Powered Air Pump
Water Quality Test Kits
De-chlorinator (Tap Water Conditioner)
Length of Water Hose

Miscellaneous:
Bubble wrap
Old blankets or towels
Timetable

Moving An Aquarium Timetable

The day before you want to Move An Aquarium, Do not Feed your Fish.

On the day you wish to Move An Aquarium take the following steps:-

1. Switch off Aquarium Heaters and allow to cool (approximately 30 minutes).

2. Remove all Aquarium Décor. Some Small Fish may hide in the Aquarium Ornaments. As you raise the Aquarium Decoration to the surface the small fish should slip out and swim away. If  the Fish stubbornly stay ensconced, place the Aquarium Ornament in a Fish Bag with some  Aquarium Water and seal it with a rubber band.

3. Stack Aquarium Décor in the Aquarium Décor containers. If you have a lot of Aquarium Stacking Rocks, make sure the Aquarium Décor containers are not overloaded.

4. Siphon off about three-quarters of the Aquarium Water in the Aquarium into your Aquarium Water Storage Containers.

5. Prepare your Fish Bags by filling them one third full with Aquarium Water.

6. Catch your Fish using Fish Nets and transfer them to the Fish Bags, sealing them with rubber bands. The majority of Fish are best bagged singly. This avoids any potential damage and aggression. However, some of the tropical tetras and live-bearing species can be bagged in groups.
It is easier to catch Fish using two Fish Nets; use one Fish Net to herd the Fish into the other Fish Net. Once you have caught your Fish, when moving the Fish Net, keep one hand over the opening to avoid the fish jumping out and place the Fish into a prepare Fish Bag with Aquarium Water.
This is a very stressful time for your Fish.

6. For extra safety, you can double bag your Fish. This involves placing the sealed Fish Bag inside another bag which is also sealed with a rubber band. This technique also provides additional insulation.

7. Remove all Aquarium Plants and seal them into Fish Bags with Aquarium Water.

8. Remove and pack the rest of your Aquarium Equipment. Wrap Aquarium Heaters in bubble wrap carefully to prevent breakage. The Aquarium Filter should be kept damp to preserve live Bacteria. An ideal way to transport the Filter Medium is in a Fish Bag partially filled with Aquarium Water. Long journeys may necessitate the use of a Battery Powered Air Pump to keep the Filter Media Oxygenated.

9. Drain the remaining Aquarium Water into the Aquarium Water Containers.

10. Scoop the Aquarium Gravel or any other substrate into plastic buckets. A plastic measuring jug is an ideal implement.

11. Pack everything into your vehicle. Use the bubble-wrap, old towels or blankets to cushion the Aquarium. Make sure EVERYTHING is firmly secured and cannot move whilst in transit.

Setting Up An Aquarium At your new home/room

1. Unpack your Aquarium and place it in position.

2. Scoop the Aquarium Gravel back into the Fish Tank.

3. Pour the Aquarium Water you have saved back into the Fish Tank.

4. Unpack your Aquarium Heater, Aquarium Pumps and Aquarium Filters and re-assemble your set up. Switch them on and check they are functioning correctly.

5. Replace a few items of your Aquarium Décor or a small number of Aquarium Plants. You can replace the rest when the Aquarium has become more established.

6. Replace your Fish as if you had just bought them. Open the Fish Bags and float them on the surface of the Aquarium Water for about 30 minutes. Add a little Aquarium Water every 10 to 15 minutes. Gently release your Fish into the Fish Tank. During this time and for a few hours afterwards, switch the Aquarium Lights off to avoid distressing the fish.

7. Top up the tank with de-chlorinated water.

8. Over the next few weeks, monitor the Aquarium Water Quality e.g. the ammonia and nitrite levels, and Feed Your Fish sparingly – a little every other day.

For further information on Setting Up An Aquarium, see our ‘Setting Up An Aquarium’ fact sheet on www.fish-fish-fish.info.

We hope your have found the guidance above of use and it assists you with some trouble free, pleasurable fishkeeping. Please feel free to contact Fish-Fish-Fish on 01799 550 943 or e-mail anytime should you have any queries