Moving my 12-gal fluval edge tank w/ betta & rasboras

[direlobo]

I moving literally about 250'. I have an established tank with live plants, 1 male betta and 10 harlequin/lamb chop rasboras + 1 zebra snail. This is also my 1st tank (I started about 6-9 mo ago).

I'm on the 3rd floor of a town house, and my new place is on the 2nd floor across the street. So I'm wondering if I can...
-prepare fresh water for my tank in a bucket in my new home,
-then turn off the filter in the fluval edge tank, drain half of it
-bag the rasboras and betta (separately)
--take out my three quartz rocks
-get the movers to immediately walk the tank down two flights of stairs, roll it on a dolly across the street, then walk it up one more flight of stairs,
-I'll immediately add already prepped fresh water + something appropriate for plants/bacteria, plus replace large quartz stones
-- then add rasboras, then betta
Total time laspse...15-20 min perhaps...

Does this make sense? As newbie am I missing something?

What do you think?
Thanks!

[direlobo]

realized that it makes more sense to use three or four 5-gallon buckets to save 2/3 of water & transfer the fish, then empty the tank, move it, then refill the tank, then add fish water & old water, then add the fish...slowly.

[SueD]

No need to save all of the old water if you are keeping everything else - substrate, filter media etc. It will be just like a huge water change as long as the new water is the same temp and dechlorinated.

[Trillianne]

As Sue has said, you don't need to save the water, just keep your filter media wet.

I will tell you from my own past experience... water is heavy and accidents happen. 1 gallon weighs nearly 10 pounds! No need to increase the possibility of an accident with that extra weight.

[Cliff]

I too would suggest moving the tank without any water at all in it. Aquariums are meant to hold water, not move water. No telling what could happen.

[bignellm]

Agreed. In my past exp., I've saved about 1/4 - 1/2 the water in 5 gal buckets, just to keep the bio-filter fed, when I put the tank back together. That way is like a large 75-50% wc. 250' is no biggie. Seems you put well enough thought into the move.

[direlobo]

Ok, so only enough water to keep the filter media wet and to transfer the fish. that makes it sooo much easier. thanks everyone!