When packing-up and moving fresh or saltwater aquarium pets, the second step in the order of things to do is to fill the transport container you will be using to move the animals in about 3/4's full with water.
Transport Water Tips
- Aside from having enough fresh or saltwater prepared to initially fill the transport container, you'll also need to store and take some replacement water with you. This will be used to take care of the container water during transit if it becomes necessary to make small water changes from point A to point B, most importantly when making a long distance trip and/or transporting heavy-waste producing species.
- Water from the aquarium can be used, and if needed stretched-out by mixing it with some new water. If you are concerned about the quality of the water in the aquarium, at least 24 hours before moving perform about a 50% water change. This will help to insure it is in good shape to use, and the animals will have had time to acclimate to any changes in the chemistry of the water.
- To help prevent water from sloshing back and forth and spilling out of the transport container while a vehicle is moving, you can create a "baffle" by taking a proportionately sized plastic bucket/container (one that will fit the depth of the water without touching the bottom, and width or diameter of the container without touching the sides; example - a 5 gallon bucket works well in a 33 gallon garbage can), turn it upside-down in the water, leaving about an inch of air underneath it to keep it afloat.
- Another way of "baffling" the containment water is to separate the animals by placing them into their own individual smaller containers, which are then placed into the larger transport container.
- How To >> Separate Aquarium Pets During a Move
- To avoid the worry of water leakage from a transport container, you can line it with a heavy-duty plastic bag. The bag needs to be one that fits flat on the bottom, snuggly into the corners or around the circumference and up the sides, and leaves an adequate length at the top to fold over or loosely close it. Using a slightly oversided bag will help prevent excess tension on the liner when water is added to the container.
Next >> Add an Ammonia-Eliminated Product to the Water
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