When it comes to moving, most of the process is pretty straight-forward and predictable. However, there are always some things that can throw you a curveball when you are getting ready to move. For example, what do you do if you're moving and you have a large fish tank that needs to go with you? Here are some things you should know about moving your fish tank safely and correctly.

Making Sure It Is Safe

It's important that you let your moving company know ahead of time that there will be an aquarium as part of the move. These require special handling because they are fragile, so let the movers know early so that they can plan for it, too.

About two days before your move, stop feeding your fish. This allows them the chance to pass all of their waste through their bodies before they move, making it easier and safer to move them without filtration in the water during that time.

Getting The Fish Ready

On moving day, you will need to have a few clean, new buckets to put your fish in. Don't place more than two to three per bucket, fewer for larger fish and more for smaller fish. Use water from their aquarium to put them into in the bucket. This ensures that they stay in a stable, familiar environment and don't need to adapt to any change in pH or temperature.

Close the buckets and seal them tightly so that you don't risk them coming open. If your movers will be taking the buckets, make sure they are clearly and boldly labeled as live fish. Otherwise, pack them in your personal vehicle so that you can keep them secure.

Moving The Tank

Once the fish are secure in buckets, it's time to break down the aquarium. Remove all of the plants and decorations from the tank, drying each one completely before you pack it up. Then, siphon out all of the water. If you are only moving a short distance, you might be able to keep this water and re-use it when you set the tank back up, but if you're moving more than about an hour away, discard it and re-establish the tank from scratch.

Make sure that the aquarium is handled carefully by your movers. They may even pack it in a secure, strong-sided box to keep it protected while it is en-route to your new home. Talk to your mover today for more information about how to safely prepare and move your fish tank as part of your relocation.