Reply To: Transporting an aquarium (fish and all)

I know this thread is almost a month old, but here’s what I did with my 10 gallon tank:

1. Removed all fish and shrimp, bagged them. I tried keeping the numbers down in the bags so that they wouldn’t be stressed due to overcrowding.
2. Drain the tank as much as I can, and saved about 5 gallons of it in gallon jugs. The reasoning behind this was that when I refill the tank, I have about half of my own water mixed with the new water source, which will help acclimate the fish. Future water changes won’t be traumatic on the fish.
3. Cover the tank with aluminum foil. This keeps the inside humid so that any live plants left inside won’t die.
4. Keep the tank on a wooden board during the ride. This helps to ensure that the tank remains on a solid base during the ride and won’t crack due to a sudden shifting of weight

I’ve transported the glass tank a total of four times now, and each time has been a worry and stress-free experience, with no casualties.