How to pack and move a fish tank

Packing up your house? Well, if you’re a proud owner of some gill-bearing water creatures, then you need to know how to pack and move a fish tank as well. Fish are highly sensitive to even trivial changes in their controlled environment. Therefore, keep in mind that your relocation might be a pretty stressful event for your water friends. However, all you need is some guidance and a good plan to improve their odds of survival during the move. Luckily, movers St Petersburg FL have got your back with this one!

Before you pack and move your fish tank, here are a few things to keep in mind

With the fish being incredibly sensitive to any changes and the tanks being large and delicate, you need to think about a few things. First of all, you will need to estimate the risk associated with this task and do what’s best for your fish pals. And, keep in mind that the farther away you’re moving, the risks are higher. For instance, your aquarium fish will most probably refuse to eat during the relocation due to all of the stress. Therefore, think about giving them away to a family member or a trusted friend. If you decide to pack and move your fish tank with you, you will need to plan your next steps very carefully. Most ideally, you will hire moving help in Clearwater to assist you in this relocation.

If it is safe to pack and move your fish tank to your new home, then you’ll need some supplies

Here are some of the supplies you are goidng to need to make sure you have a great tenk relocation:

• a fishnet
• 5-gallon plastic buckets (leak-proof and clean)
• plastic bags (for smaller fish)
• siphon hose
• cardboard boxes
• packing tape
• moving blankets and bubble wrap to safely pack and move the fish tank itself

Time to prepare your fish for the ride of their lives

• Roughly one day before the moving date, you ought to stop feeding your fish. This step allows the time the filtration system needs to clean out any waste out of the aquarium. You want the water to be as clean as possible when you pack and transport your aquarium. You needn’t worry about starving them, as fish can go without food for about a  week.
• Transporting them in their old water will prevent the shock of your tank inhabitants. So, using your siphon hose, drain some of the water from the fish tank. Fill 2/3 of the plastic buckets with tank water. If you have smaller fish, use plastic bags, fill 1/3 with water and 2/3 air, or 50% water and 50% pure oxygen. Refrain from blowing into the fish bag to inflate it, and secure them with another bag if necessary.
• Start catching your fish with the fishnet, and then place them carefully into one of the buckets. You can lay bags on their sides to maximize the swimming space and exposure to the air or oxygen inside the container.
• Make sure the bag/bucket has enough air for your water friends. You can poke holes in the lids or add battery-operated air pumps.

Move on to prepare the fish tank for transport

• If you have any live plants inside your fish tank, you’ll need to pack and move them inside the bags filled with tank water as well.
• Take out all of the decorations you currently have in your fish tank. Make sure they are fully dry before you pack them into soft packing paper and into a cardboard box. Add another layer of protection (bubble wrap) if the ornaments are too fragile.
• Remove all filters and pumps, chillers and heaters, light fixtures, tubes, etc. These as well need to be completely dry before packing. Wrap them in packing paper and bubble wrap, and store them into a proper cardboard box.
• Drain your fish tank of water completely. Try to save about 75% to 80% of the water from your fish tank. This step is crucial to minimize the stress, as you will use this water to fill the tank again at your new residence.
• Transfer all that sand or gravel into an empty bucket.
• After you’ve completely emptied your fish tank, clean it and dry it up.
• The packing process is the same as with previous items. Packing paper first, then bubble wrap on top of it for added protection. Wrap the entire fish tank in a couple of moving covers, and tape everything in place with packing tape.
• Be extra careful when handling it as breaks very easy.