How to Empty an Aquarium

If you need to empty your aquarium to move its location, take proper precautions to safeguard your fish. Otherwise, you run the risk that some of them won't be able to survive the stress.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Aquarium Fish Nets
• Gravel Vacuums
• Plastic Bags
• Coolers
• Large Bucket
• Large Bucket
• Plastic bags

1. First remove the fish and place them in bags partially filled with water.

2. Keep the fish in the dark so they will stay as calm as possible during this change.

3. Add pure oxygen to the bags if the fish will be in them for longer than an hour.

4. Remove coral and decorations next. Keep these accessories in buckets with water from the tank so they will stay wet.

5. Be sure not to clean anything inside the tank right immediately. This removes necessary bacteria that protects the fish and could put them in danger.

6. Wait at least a week before cleaning the filter or accessories until the fish have had a chance to adjust again.

7. Have the salt water you will need to replace in the tank ready and waiting a day in advance.

8. Save as much of the original water as you can by siphoning it into the buckets.

9. Store it in these buckets until you can put it back into the tank again.

10. Remember when you return the fish back into the tank you must not reuse the water in their bags.

Tips & Warnings

• You can either ask a pet store to put oxygen into the fish bags or have several small balloons filled with pure oxygen. Put a balloon inside each bag, puncture it and quickly tie the bag so none of the oxygen gets out. This will keep your fish safe for up to 12 hours.
• Once you have set up your tank again, check the water levels for the next week to be sure they are OK.

on 11/22/2005 When cleaning the filter, use a flat-head toothbrush to get into the hard-to-clean areas.