How to move an aquarium when moving house?
Moving an aquarium is a challenging and time-consuming endeavor. When carrying this out, there are a number of considerations that need to be given, the most important of which is, of course, to give careful consideration to the welfare of the aquatic life that ordinarily inhabits the aquarium as well as their safety and health. Secondly, you need to worry about the actual equipment that they are being kept in. For instance, how effectively are you able to safeguard the glass panels of the aquarium and make sure that any food containers do not burst apart, etc.? Thirdly, you need to give some thought to the process of moving: will you be doing it all by yourself, or will others be assisting you, such as a removal company? If the latter, do they have a good understanding of the fragile items they are transporting, or would it be more beneficial for you to have some sort of protection over the marine life that is being relocated? While this article will make an effort to provide advice, if there are any concerns that need more attention, please make it a point to discuss them with an appropriately qualified professional, such as one working in a pet store; as the saying goes, “it is better to be safe than sorry.”
There are a variety of perspectives (some of which are referenced at the bottom of the page) on the question of how one should most effectively relocate an aquarium. These include not feeding any animals prior to the move so that they will not contaminate the water and simply moving the fish into a small transport container, while partially draining the aquarium, and then putting them back in the aquarium. Other options include not feeding any animals prior to the move so that they will not contaminate the water. No matter what you decide to do, you must make certain that you have a strategy and that everything will be able to go as easily and problem-free as possible. This will ensure not only the safety of the marine life but also your own well-being.
Because it has already been brought up, the first thing that you need to think about is the aquatic life that you will be bringing. When relocating fish, Jerome Gaw advises clients to stop feeding their fish a few days in advance of the move. Check to see if your fish are in good health, for example, if you decided to follow this line of action, as was mentioned, do not hesitate to seek the opinion of a suitably qualified fish expert if there is any doubt. Even though this may seem logical, of course, depending on the health of your fish, this may not always be a good idea. If there is any doubt, do not hesitate to seek the opinion of a suitably qualified fish expert. In addition, Jerome recommends physically enclosing the fish in plastic bags; while this strategy might be effective for very short journeys, it goes without saying that for longer journeys, you will almost certainly need to make sure that the fish are provided with an adequate amount of air by using an air pump. The size of the fish at issue is another evident element that should be taken into account.
When relocating an aquarium, one of the most important considerations to bear in mind is that doing it while the tank is still full of water will be very challenging, if not downright impossible. To this purpose, attempt to remove as much water as possible so that it becomes lighter and will not risk spilling when tilted. This should be easy to understand if you evaluate the amount of water you put in and then analyze its weight. Be careful, move slowly, and be cautious while working with aquariums since it may be expensive to replace them and there will also be a lot of annoyance.
When transferring an aquarium, the delicate nature of the aquarium’s components is another important factor to take into account. Remember that the aquarium is a big item that might pick up quite an amount of momentum if the vehicle that it is driving in abruptly comes to a stop, so take precautions to ensure that the glass of the aquarium, for example, is adequately protected from being damaged by being hit. To this aim, you might think about purchasing some low-cost materials like air packing or bubble wrap in order to effectively insulate your aquarium against the risk of damage. It goes without saying that if you arrive at your destination with the aquarium life still alive but their home damaged, that would be a significant inconvenience and a problem that you don’t need when you might want to be concentrating on things such as settling in rather than searching for the closest pet shop.
When it comes to relocating, there is one more item to think about, and that is what to do in the case of an emergency. In spite of the fact that you have high hopes that it won’t be problematic in the least, there are certain things you should prepare for just in case, such as bringing some towels in the event that water goes all over the place. Another thing that you might maybe check out in advance is the location of any potential pet stores in the new region that you would be traveling to anyhow, just in case you wanted to get in contact with someone right away and would very well require this information at some point in the future anyway.
Even if you are careful to follow all of the instructions and have successfully placed your aquarium in your new home, you need still to ensure that the water quality is checked for temperature, pH, and other factors so that you do not fail at the very end. Last but not least, in the same manner, that you would have ensured its safety in its former location, check to see that the aquarium is located in a safe place that is free from any dangers and anything that may harm it, such as animals or other objects. Take extra precautions to ensure that you do not inadvertently cause a significant financial loss by causing any kind of damage. In a nutshell, make a detailed plan, move slowly but with good cause, and constantly evaluate your progress; if you follow this strategy, I have high hopes for your success. Last but not least, there are certain circumstances in which it would seem appropriate to just consult with experts. If you are going by airline or over a period of numerous days, etc., this should not be seen as a failure but rather as the practical and pragmatic approach that it is, unless you are completely sure of your abilities. In addition to this, why not discuss the rest of your idea with us in the forums?
In conclusion, the following is a potential checklist of activities to carry out.
- make sure that the goods, such as the packing, are ready for travel, and then choose a new place that is secure.
- transfer the inhabitants of the aquarium into containers that are suitable for shipping, and then secure the tank by removing enough water so that it can be moved without difficulty.
- while making sure that the fish and the equipment are being taken care of, transport the equipment to the new place and then reinstall everything there.
- verify that everything is configured in the manner in which you would want it to be and in the manner in which it ought to be for any new installation.
- now that everything has been taken care of properly, you may relax and enjoy the moving process.