How to move your fish tank
Our aim is to help every fish tank removal to be stress free and to make sure your fish and other livestock is happy and healthy. That is why we have made this free how to guide.
There is a lot that goes into moving your fish tank carefully and correctly. This is a brief how to guide about how our process works, but we do advise in all cases going for a professional service. Move my fish accepts no responsibility for any loss or damages occurred from moving your aquarium and livestock without our professional aquarium removal service.
Key Points
Ensure the fish are heated and oxygenated
It is important to keep the temperature stable and the water oxygenated for the health of the fish. When they are in a bag the oxygen would be used up over time, which is why fish shops usually recommend getting them out of it within an hour or two.
Move my fish’s vans are equipped with 240v power. This means that we can plug in a heater and air stone throughout the journey and any waiting period.
If you are carrying out this yourself you can look to get a polystyrene box and buy some heat packs online. These would help to keep the temperature from dropping too fast. Oxygen tablets can also be purchased online or you can get battery powered air pumps too.
Make sure the aquarium is totally empty of all water and substrate
It is very important to have the aquarium totally empty before transporting your fish tank. Even a small amount of water can cause stress on the glass and joints which could lead to a crack or leak.
After we have removed all substrate, Move my fish would use a vet vacuum to get the last of the water out on each removal.
If you don’t have a wet vac then you could use a dustpan and bucket to get out the last of the water.
Wrap the aquarium and cabinet
The aquarium and cabinet may either be going in your car or van or in with the removals company. It is important to make sure it is protected from any scuffs or scratches.
Move my fish would wrap your aquarium in bubble wrap (reused on each tank to save on any single use plastic) followed by pallet wrap. The cabinet would also have pallet wrap. Once loaded into the van any corners have carpet or foam put over for additional protection.
If you are carrying this out yourself then you could use old towels or blankets to cover your aquarium and cabinet during the move.
Have a plan if things go wrong or take longer
Sometimes things can go wrong. Whether that is some pipe work breaking or the solicitors taking a lot longer than expected until you (and your fishy friends) can get into your new house.
As Move my fish has had a lot of experience with aquarium removals we have came across a lot of the potential problems over the years. This means that we are ready for any possible problem or delay. The biggest ‘save’ that we always have is that the fish are plugged in with heaters and air stones. So even in the worst case we are not limited or rushed on time to get them back into their home.
There are so many possible problems or delays that could happen but it is worth sitting down and thinking of problems and solutions before the day.
Our basic process
Turn off power
It is a good idea to turn the heater off before so it has a chance to cool down before removing from the aquarium
Empty out cabinets
Every cabinet seems to have ‘fish stuff’, from test kits to filter media it always seems to build up. It is a good idea to get this taken out first and put into one of your packing boxes or bags. Make sure any essential items are still to hand. Including and fish food for example so it’s not lost in the stacks of boxes the other end!
Have water containers ready
Make sure you have enough containers for all of your water you want to save. You may also need some new water at the other end so have this ready too (especially if it is a marine aquarium)
Have transport containers/ fish bags ready
Move my fish uses blacked out transport containers but if you are using fish bags then have a bucket to hand.
Take off lid/ move lights
You want to make sure you have as much room to get into the aquarium as possible.
Fill transport containers or fish bags
Fill your transport containers or your bucket with aquarium water so you can use this in the bags.
Drain water into water containers
Start to drain you water into your containers. Its best to lay some towels down first so there are no drips on the floor from changing over to each drum.
Remove hardscape/ plants or corals
Builders buckets are great for putting hardscape in. Any corals would want to go into your transport containers or bags and plants can get wrapped in cling film to keep damp.
Catch the fish
It is best to get 80% of the water out before trying to catch the fish but this would all depend on the size of your fish.
Substrate out
Once all of your water is out carefully take out all the substrate. Make sure that none of it drags against the glass and causes scratches.
Pipe work/ wires disconnected
Disconnect and pipe work, equipment and wires. Move my fish separates equipment into wet and dry boxes.
Filtration media into transportation container
It is important to keep your biological filter media oxygenated during the removal.
Vacuum out aquarium
As mentioned before, it is very important that the aquarium is totally empty. Now would be the time to use the wet vacuum or dustpan to get the last of the water out.
Wrap tank and cabinet
Wrap up the fish tank and cabinet to make sure there are no scratches during transport.
Lift to van
Carefully move your aquarium, cabinet, water and fish into the van. Move my fish uses a range of trolleys (including a scissor lift) for the heavier aquariums and cabinets. Make sure however you move your aquarium and cabinet you use the correct lifting techniques and enough people.
Drive (and wait!)
A lot of the time when moving house there is a delay from when you have to be out of the house to when you can get into your new one. Make sure you have a plan for what to do if this is a long time. You don’t want you fish getting too cold or running out of air in their bags or transport containers.
Lift out of van
This is the same process as putting it all in. Again make sure however you move your aquarium and cabinet you use the correct lifting techniques and enough people.
Put into position
Once your aquarium and cabinet are in position make sure you check it is all level. A pack of shims and spirit level comes in very hand here for any small alterations.
Pipe work wires connected
Time to get all of your equipment and wiring hooked back up. It could be work giving the equipment a good clean up before it goes back in. We wouldn’t recommend cleaning the biological filtration media at this time.
Substrate in
Carefully add in your substrate. It is a good idea to give your old substrate a clean before going back in.
Harsdcape and plants in
Time to add your hardscape back into the aquarium. Any plants can also be added whilst the fish tank is empty.
Water in
Add your aquarium water back in and new water that is needed. Check the temperature to what your fish are currently in and raise as required.
Fish in
Once all of your equipment is running again and your water is brought back to temperature it is time to add the fish back in.
Final check
Time to double check over all equipment and pipe work, making sure everything is set correctly and running as it should be. The water may be cloudy from the move and the fish might be hiding a bit. Cloudiness usually clears in 24 hours and the fish would perk up the next day too.
We hope that this brief guide can help you to move your fishy friends safely and stress free.