Conference 7.286::fish

    Hello..
    
    
    I have a awful situation.... I am moving to Florida March 21st....
    I have a 20 gal. freshwater tank with mostly tetras....I've had them
    for many years.. and don't want to leave them behind. How would I
    move a tank from NH to FL?  I've read all the previous notes...
    From what I gather I would try and keep as much as the old water
    as possible...Put the fish in a cooler with a air pump plugged into 
    the cigarette lighter, and keep the tank with a little water in it 
    to keep the bacteria.
    
    I am afraid there will be too much bouncing in the car and the temp.
    change. Any suggestions on how to move such a long distance?
    
    Any help would be greatly appreciated.
    
    ~Carla~

    
    Carla,
    
    You can also keep soem bacteria alive _and_ this temporary cooler
    filtered by getting a small sponge filter such as a Tetra "Brilli"
    sponge (Tetras smallest) and 'loading` it with some bacteria from
    your undergravel filter or your mechanical filter.  This can be done
    by either vaccuming some waste from the gravel bed,  or rinsing the 
    foam/floss filter that's in the mechanical filter in a bucket,  then
    dropping the Tetra "Brilli" into the waste water and letting it run 
    for an hour or two.
    
    Then,  drill a hole the same size as your tubing into the top of your
    cooler for the air line to pass thru.  This way,  you can keep the 
    cooler closed,  run  the new Tetra "Brilli" filter in the cooler,
    and clean out you original 20 gallon tank so the bacteria won't go
    aerobic on you and sour up the car/truck/trailer/whatrver.
    
    The fish will do well if you've got  3 - 5" of water in the cooler,
    and the only time you'll need to take it easy driving is in the city,
    cornering / braking.
    
    The cooler (closed) will change temperature very slowly, so that will
    not be an issue,  as long as you take it inside at night if you stop.
    Also,  when I take fish on  a potentially stressful ordeal in a bucket
    or whatever,  I'll float a few of the plastic plants in the bucket (or
    cooler) for the fish to hide in. Also,  I'll add a teaspoon or two of
    "Stress Coat" to the fish water.  This additive really helps out a
    traveling fish,  as does a drop or two of Methylyne (sp?) blue to the 
    water,  which is a phrophylactic against stress related disease.
    
    Once at your new home,  merely fill the tank with 78 degree water, use 
    some "Stress Coat"  in the new water as described on the label,
    decorate tank,  and clean/squeeze out the 'Tetra Brilli` into the new 
    20 gallon tank water.  This will re-establish your    bacteria bed, 
    and the fish can go into the tank (with acclimation of course) that 
    night.
    
    No problems!
    Rob
    
    Southern CO. Aquarium Society