Moving and Aqarium Transfer

Question
I need to move w/ 90 gal. freshwater aquarium.  My fish are doing marvelous..thank you very much!  Your advice was very helpful on a previous occasion. I'll have to do a 100% water change and I am concerned about that.  What protocol should I follow?
Thank you for your time.

Answer
Hi Cyn
Glad your fish are doing good and glad I could help!

How far are you moving?  It's really not that bad, just more of a hassle then anything else :)  I moved 7 tanks from 10-75 gallons, and a small 100 gallon pond from Florida to Tennessee, about 14 hours.  Only lost 1 fish during the move.

What I did, picked up a bunch of those Rubbermaid type bins-the bigger the better, think mine were the 20 gallons ones.  Filled them up 1/2 way with the tank water, then added the fish.  Get a separate container for the gravel/substrate, filter media(the pads, bio balls, etc.), bio wheels if your filter has those, and any decorations and add some tank water to that container as well to keep those items wet.  That's important to keep the beneficial bacteria alive, because that's where it lives-in all those items.  Drain your tank completely, or at least as best as you can.  

My suggestion is to do the tank draining and fish moving last.  And load the tank prefarably towards the back of the truck/trailer so you can get to that first/easily.  I'd recommend putting it on a soft surface, like a couch or matress to help cushion it if you hit any bumps.  Also cover it with a thick blanket all around, and cushion around the tank-pillows/sofa cushions work good for this as well.  Make sure it won't slide around, or nothing will fall onto it.

One last thing, I bought a few of these online because I couldn't find them in pet stores by me, a battery operated air pump.  I'll post a link for some.  It's basically a "battery operated pump", comes with an air stone and some tubing.  It's important-especially if the fish will be in the bins for over an hour.  That will aerate the water and add oxygen to it.  Also a good thing to have on hand for power outages for the same reason.  I actually ordered mine right after Hurricane Charlie came through and knocked out power for 3 days.  Here's what/where I bought mine.  They're similar to that one, and a bit cheaper now as well.  The shipping's a bit high, so I usually buy a few things to make the shipping worth it.....

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=3693&Ntt=battery%2...

When you get to the new place, I'd try to get the tank set up first before doing anything else.  That way the water can get settled with the filter running for a bit.  Fill it up about 1/2 way, the slowly add some of the new water to the container with the fishj so they can adjust to any temperature and ph differences.  Take a good hour or so to do this process.  Then, add the fish to the tank.  

The tank may go through a mini cycle, but it should be fine as long as the filter media, gravel, and decorations are kept wet though.  Just monitor the ammonia and nitrite levels.

Hope that helps and let me know if you have more questions.  Good luck with your move!

Christy