[Poppinthekap]

Hello,
When I became an aquarist, I pretty much went into it blindly. We decided since we had a stable dresser in my room, we could just put the aquarium on top of there. This worked out fine, but as time went on more canister filters, protein skimmers and several cords from jets lighting, etc. invaded the space. Now going into my 1 year anniversery with this aquarium, the inside is becoming more and more attractive but the outside is becoming less and less attractive and more and more cluttered.

Now I am debating trying to switch to a stand but of course this entails the stress of the owner and of the fish and inverts. Plus the cost of sumps, etc.

Can anybody help me with theprocess I would have to go through and what equiptment to buy.

Thank you for any assistance,
Poppinthekap

[Lowej82]

If I was gonna tear a tank down and move it this is what I would do......

Get some 5 gallon buckets and/or some big rubber maid containers (remember these must be moved so dont go to big). Drain about 50% of your water, Take out Fish, Inverts, Coral & LR, Placing them all into the 5gal buckets. Finish removing the rest of the water below your LS surface with distirbing it as little as possible, more water out = less water sloshing sand around. Place LR back in tank after its moved then using plate or something on inside of tank to help when refilling the water so you dont stir up sand as much.

as far as a sump you could place the extras in it, making your DT more eye pleasing. getting a sump you can buy one........which to me is burning money you could by frags coral fish and such on. One can be built out of an old tank with little effort and money. Just make sure to get/build a stand that you can house a sump below. Here is a good place to get info on a diy sump/fuge besides searching here at RB

Melevsreef.com | Acrylic Sumps & Refugiums

You would need to buy a return pump and a HOB overflow box some plexi glass some pvc.
going with a sump you could get rid of that canister filter I would say. Maybe you could sell it to help fund sump?

Good luck with the tank move, be sure to come back and let us know how it goes. Anypics?

[Poppinthekap]

Thanks, any more suggestions please.

[gimmito]

I agree with lowej82...but I would add a heater and pump/air stone for the livestock. I recently transfered my livestock and corals from a 55 w/20 gal sump to a 75 w/40 gal sump. I used melev's glass sump design for both.

[Poppinthekap]

Thanks you, more suggestions please!

[robe25m]

Just go buy some cheap plastic tubs from target or somewhere, its actually very easy to move a tank when its staying in the same house.

Its just that damn sand adds so much weight when its move time...

I have done many moves like this, I use tupperware for corals and just transfer rock and water to large plastic bins, drain tank place fish in 1 gallon or 5g buckets, move tank and throw it all back together..

Grab a cup of coffee and get to it, it really will only take a few hours tops..

Times like this also make for a great 30% water change, make sure to acclimate your fish in there buckets again..

[Lowej82]

Originally Posted by robe25m

Just go buy some cheap plastic tubs from target or somewhere,

Save your money for new stuff for the tank. I forgot to mention this go to the fast food chains ask for their empty 5 gallon pickle buckets, Rinse these out and they will be fish/invert/coral safe for you also freebies! Buying them would be easier yes, For someone like me thats the differnce in a fish or perhaps a new coral that week (after tank settles down)

[dori9941]

i rearranged ( moved to diff. rooms with out help, I miss people who help.) 4 tanks today. good luck. I'm happy. Everything was done right and the way to do it popped in my head. I'm finally thinking instead of having to read 1st
, lol. That way works and my tests came out great, i hope it goes easy for u

[xrock06x]

just make sure everything and i mean every thing is what you want and the way you want on new tank since all the above is a PITA