After packing-up and putting the animals into the container you have prepared to move them in, it's time to get under way. However, once on the road it is of the utmost importance to take care of the transport water and the container itself during the transit time. This includes the following tasks.
Keep the Water Well Oxygenated
- The ideal item to have is a battery-operated aeration device you can use during transit to generate oxygen and keep the water circulated in the transport container automatically. However, if you do not have such a device you will periodically have to stop along the way to oxygenate the water manually by hand. Better yet, have someone else in the vehicle with you who can drive and/or perform this aeration process throughout the trip, while the vehicle is moving.
Keep the Water Ammonia-Free
- This can be done by redosing with the extra ammonia-eliminating product you should bring along with you. Two simple ways to tell if ammonia is accumulating is to test for it, or smell the water. If signs of ammonia appear, or the water has an odor to it, redose. If the water appears to be getting fouled, which can also cause it to have an odor, do a water change first as follows, then redose.
Keep the Water as Waste-Free as Possible
- This can be done by using a small fine-mesh net to gently scoop it out. Another option is to stop along the way if the water becomes noticeably fouled and do a small water change. This can be performed by using a somewhat small-in-diameter piece of vinyl tubing as a siphon hose to vacuum up and remove the waste, top the container off with the backup water you should have brought along for the trip, and then redose with the ammonia-eliminating product.
- As discussed in Step 6, to help reduce some of the waste that FISH can produce, prior to placing them into the prepared transport container it doesn't hurt to give them a freshwater dip or bath.
Keep the Transport Container Protected
- Depending on what time of the year it is, water temperatures may be critical. An air-conditioned vehicle is ideal for moving aquarium animals during hot summer weather, and one with a heater for cold winter conditions.
- Keep the container out of direct sunlight as much as possible.
- Don't expose the container to extreme open-air environments, such as putting it in the back of an uncovered pick-up truck, or placing it into the trunk of a car.
- Be sure the container is secure so it won't tip over or slide around while the vechile is moving.
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