big move

so im packing up my bags and moving from so cal to norcal. its gna be a pain to move my 2 40g @.@

an inventory of wht containers ive got.
5g bucket - sand (main tank)
1gal cooler - crayfish and mollies
8gal cooler - kribensis & neo.brichardi (main tank)
13g rubbermaid - the rest of the fishes (main tank)

i should probably go buy another rubbermaid tub for all my accessories.

i think ive got a pretty good handle on the situation, but does anyone else got any other advice i may have overlooked?
and 'yes' im risking the trip w/o battery powered air cuz they dont ship fish to stores that way, so i figure im safe for a 5hr drive.

The only thing I could suggest is not to feed the fish before you leave. When I moved I just used trash bags to put accessories in. Be safe and keep your vehicle doors locked!

Shea wrote:

The only thing I could suggest is not to feed the fish before you leave. When I moved I just used trash bags to put accessories in. Be safe and keep your vehicle doors locked!

For sure. A fast for a day or two can make all the difference with some fish. Stress from transport can make them block up their intestinal tract and they bloat up and die. Then of course you have the added shipping container pollution problem.

Although the trip is only planned for 5 hours I would add a little prime to each container. The toxic levels in the bag will take a very long time to build up and gives you that little extra assurance.

Be mindful of how hot it is outside. Keeping a package out of direct sunlight can mean life or death. If they are going in the car with you and your AC is working you should be fine. If they are going in the back of a truck/moving van ect... I would worry about overheating. Something to act as an insulator would be great.

When you get to the next spot if their ride has been dark don't open the container in a bight place.

When I ship any fish I like to think like it as if I was being shipped. How long would I last in a small container, hot...ect.

Good luck!

I wish you luck with your move I have moved my setups twice in the past three years no easy task but I have been very successful each time no losses.strikingthematch is right add some prime keep them out of the light to prevent over heating other than that I only wish you safe travels and hope to hear your fish and you make it to your destination safely.

Good luck with the move.

Are you going to take some of your current water with you, so you can effectively do a half and half old and new, or is that over the top?

good luck!

if the water gets too hot, just throw some cans of soda from your personal cooler in there

lol thanks guys! seems i was worrying for nothing, looks i have all my bases covered. looks ive become knowledgeable enuff to where this is now common knowledge, i just wanted to see if i was missing any key elements.

thanks for the advice
lol trouble is if common knowledge was common it would be common.

i love the Box. guess i need to get in touch with the NorCal chapter now

so im ready to transport my fish. gna use my Dad's Dodge Dakota.
my new manifest of transportation supplies include

5g bucket - sand (main tank)
8gal cooler - crayfish and mollies
13g rubbermaid - kribensis & neo.brichardi (main tank)
30g rubbermaid - the rest of the fishes(main tank)
garbage bags for decorations

since its a 4door truck ill put the livestock inside the cabin. trust me its big enuff. and the tanks will sit comfortable and secure in the bed with the rest of the stuff.

I was thinking you must have moved by now. Well good luck and safe travels

naw, i moved to Modesto on the aug 13th, my roommates been feeding my fish for the time being. i really anxious to get my fish tomorrow!!!

Funny, I have a friend that's leaving Modesto this weekend. Anyway, she got her fish and supplies at an lfs called Tropical Haven. It might be a place you want to check out if you haven't already. (she did only buy for saltwater but they have fresh as well)

Hope your move is going well or already went well. Just so you have some idea how durable fish can be. I got a overnight shipment yesterday. Here is how my day went:

Woke up in the AM and prepared for the delivery. At 1pm I recieved a call from the Airport my fish were in bags and leaking. Apparently the box had gotten crushed. So I talked the lady at Fed Ex how to prep the fish to finish the trip. After talking out possibilities and making arrangements I finally got the fish at 7pm that night and the 3 survivors were all in Fed Ex bags in a plastic tote. I acclimatated in the parking lot of the terminal and drove home to do it again with tank water. This morning all fish are swimming and look very healthy. So these guys can handle allot.

Hope your trip goes well!!

lol i was born and raised in Modesto. Tropical Haven i know thee well.

and ye im about to leave my parents house in about 1hour for SoCal. i havent seen my babies in weeks!!!

well i made it. set up all the tanks today. and put the fish in. so far so good. i did lose 2 out of my 5 cardinal tetras. disappointing but not surprising.

Glad to hear things went generally well. As understand them, cardinals are delicate, so 3 out of 5 survivors sounds fair I guess, but still saddening.

Kasshan wrote:

so im packing up my bags and moving from so cal to norcal. its gna be a pain to move my 2 40g @.@

].

If it makes you feel any better in the last 3 years I have moved 3 times. I had 40+ tanks. Now 33. That is a B*&ch to move!

I just moved to another loft only 15 blocks away, and had to move a 36g and a 20g planted tank. I have some plant die off and lost one rummynose, so I feel your pain.

at this point i am completely satisfied with two 40g tanks. perhaps when i own my own house ill get a 3rd tank to hold a beasty SA cichlid in. but thats not for a long time. 5yrs+
2 neo.brichardi died too but ive got a whole mess of em. otherwise everything went smoothly.
also the marble crays (which turned blue in my 2week absence) didnt eat any of the mollies. goodie!