How to move a fish tank

Relocating with a fish is one of the most challenging undertakings when it comes to moving house. Other than dealing with a great number of household goods, you are also responsible for the well-being of your pets during the moving process. Some of them are easy to manage during the move, while others like fish are extremely delicate and require special attention and care. In order to move a fish tank, you need to be aware of the responsibility of this process. Being a fish keeper, you should prepare yourself and get informed about the steps to take in order to move it. There are a few steps that should be taken in order to move a fish tank to another home safely and smoothly.

Prepare your fish tank for the move

Before you move a fish tank, you should come up with a good strategy for making it safe. When it comes to moving them, fish tanks are like mirrors. They are bulky, they might be oversized and complicated to wrap. In order to secure and move a fish tank properly, consider the following tips.

Should you move it?

First, decide whether you should move a fish tank or not. If it’s an old one, it might not be worthwhile. If you are moving long-distance, consider all the pros and cons and check if buying and setting up the new aquarium will be considerably more expensive than moving the old one. Some people would suggest that selling the old fish is a more appropriate thing to do than moving them across the country. If you eventually decide not to leave your fish tank behind, you might find the following tips helpful.

Which packing materials to choose?

Make sure to get the essential equipment. Fish bags, nets, de-chlorinator, rubber bands, different containers for transporting water and other content of the aquarium, scoop, wrapping material, air pump, tank cleaning pad will be necessary. If you don’t have the right packing materials, you can always consider professional packing services NYC. Moving companies know how to secure items made out of glass the proper way.

The ornaments should be transported in a sealed bag filled with a bit of water from the tank in order to preserve the beneficial bacteria. Use bubble wrap and any cushioning material to wrap each side of the aquarium and protect it properly.

How to prepare your fish for the move?

Do not feed the fish the day you decide to move the tank. Fish can survive a week or more without food and food may contaminate the quality of the water, so refrain from feeding the fish while in transit. When it comes to relocating a fish tank, you must make sure it’s empty and clean before the move. First, move the tank and then the fish and remember that it will take around a week until it is safe to put the fish in.

Make sure to clean the aquarium and the ornaments with clean water. If you have different species of fish, separate them so they don’t hurt each other during the move.

What are the difficulties of moving a fish tank?

Whether you need to move a fish tank locally or long distance, the process of securing it will be the same. There is no easy or quick way to safely transport a fish tank, no matter its size. What you should prepare for is a lot of patience, skill and strategic thinking. There are many difficulties with moving your fish to a new home. We made a list of the most common ones:

• Breaking of the glass is common when moving a fish tank. They are all made out of glass, no matter how big they are. Since items made out of glass are the most difficult to move, you should make sure to secure them the right way.
• If you can, disassemble your fish tank. Moving it in one piece can be difficult, and more often than not, almost impossible.
• Your fish will take time to adjust to a new environment. Believe it or not, fish react to every change in the water they live in. Temperature change during the move, as well as different bacteria in it, can be fatal for them. Make sure to get all the information about the treatment of your pets after settling into a new home.

In order to move a fish tank, you need to take one step at a time. Packing it in one piece or disassembling it will take time. Not to mention that you should secure your fish before getting them ready for the move.

How to safely move a fish tank?

Take a look at all the steps you need to take to move a fish tank successfully.

• If you are moving a fish short-distance, you can transport them in sealed bags filled with water and oxygen.
• In case the fish will be transported by air, in the cargo area, make sure your fish is professionally packed and secured.
• Find accommodation for the fish while you are moving the tank. Visit your local pet store and find out the general conditions and how much it will cost you to have your fish taken care of until you are ready to move them to a new place.
• Switch off the heater approximately a half an hour before you start removing the content of the fish tank.
• Treat pumps and heaters as any other fragile item and pack them accordingly.
• Keep the filters damp so as to preserve the friendly bacteria needed for your fish’s well-being. Keeping as much friendly bacteria as possible is a priority during the long-distance move.
• Keep filter media wet by packing it in a bag or container with the tank water and air.
• Drain the aquarium and put aquarium plants inside plastic seal bags in order to keep them fresh during the move.
• When trying to catch the fish, do not chase it with a net, since it will cause additional stress for the fish.
• Once the aquarium is set up at the new place, make sure you don’t introduce any major changes for some time. Do not feed the fish excessively during the first couple of days and postpone any tank maintenance for some time. Also, it will take at least up to one month until the tank is ready to accommodate new fish.

How to find a secure moving company for fish tank relocation?

When it comes to moving fragile items, sometimes it’s better to hire professional movers than to do it by yourself. However, not every moving company will guarantee the safety of your fish tank, especially if it’s large in size. In order to find the best moving company and avoid a moving scam, you should look for movers who specialize in relocating aquariums.

It’s not a secret that this kind of move requests special equipment. Thus, the movers you hire should have years of experience in the moving industry. Also, you should check if they have all the right equipment needed for the job. Let your movers know all the details of your move. Ask them to explain how they plan to move a fish tank. Before the moving day comes, make sure to secure your fish in the sealed plastic bags so they are safe for transportation.

If you need to move a fish tank in New York, you are in luck! The Big Apple has great relocation companies who will ease this process for you. Reliable Soho movers will make sure you have nothing to worry about while transporting your fish to a new home. In the end, whether you decide to hire movers or not, make sure to prepare your fish tank and take one step at a time while moving it.