Transporting a 90 gallon saltwater setup, tips?

[yamaha]

Hello,

I'm currently in the process of purchasing a 90 gallon reef setup. There are no fish currently living in this, but would like some tips on how to transport without damaging the enviroment as much as possible. The drive would be less then five miles total, so I don't think this will cause to much trouble. Here's what I've been thinking:

1. Drain out as much water as possible while saving it in two large garbage cans. One with the live rock, the other with just water. This way it will eliminate damage.

2. Transport slowly, since there are no fish, I would really be in no rush to get the tank back up and running. The tank has all the necessities that would be needed to get it up and running the same day.

Thoughts?

[Tommy]

when transporting fish tanks and trying to perserve the water, we always drained the tanks out into those big rubber maid containers with the snap on lids.

I dont know much about salt water, but i never had a problem with doing it with fresh water tanks.

[CRAZIECRACKER]

salt water is sooo tricky. you could just re-establish the tank man, might be easier and safer for the fish

[slyderdai]

salt water is sooo tricky. you could just re-establish the tank man, might be easier and safer for the fish

Yeah that's what I would recommend. It's be easier on you and you won't have dead fish lol

[Cypher]

theres no fish.

[slyderdai]

theres no fish.

I know that.... But salt water is very tricky and if you could throw off the Ph levels swapping it in and out of garbage cans or Tubs or whatever.

[Keyan]

transporting it is one thing.

transporting it on the hills of pittsburgh is another

[OPZ]

Yea, I'm just ganna say good luck man. Thats ganna be hellasiously tricky...

[hyunelan2]

When you physically move the tank, it's good to set the tank on a piece of plywood or something, then carry the plywood. It prevents uneven pressure/stress from popping the silicone seals somewhere.

[yamaha]

Thats what I'm going to do. I'm thinking about keeping half the water and just cycling new water in.

[evan938]

if theres no fish, start with new water. figure theres probably 70-80 gallons of water after you remove coral, substrate, etc...at 8.xx pounds per gallon, youre talking about moving 500-700 pounds of water. even if you divide that into 3 cans, thats still gonna be about 200lbs each.

if youre dead set on saving the water, post on craigslist and see if anyone has a bunch of 5g buckets to borrow. thats how i plan on doing it if/when i move with my 55g set up...i have fish though, so i dont have time to wait for new water to cycle

[Ugzz]

sean.. this is going to suck

[hyunelan2]

Evan - with your 55g, you can just save 50% of the water, and it'll be like a 50% water change. The bacteria you are trying to save to prevent cycling again is in the filters and on the gravel anyway, not in the actual water.

[evan938]

i have sand bottom :)

im sure i could get away with losing some water, but if im gonna save 1/2, if i can, i might as well save as much as i can.

im not too concerned with it though...we're not even sure if we're moving yet. the 17 miles each way to work sucks, but my rent here is so cheap, if we move, its gonna cost us an extra 100-150$/mo for something close to what i have now (2br/2ba, 981sq/ft)