What to do when moving house (with an aquarium)

Before the move

Time it right. Do the tank move in one day if you can. Avoid extreme heat or cold. If it's a long drive, have a plan for where fish will stay (buckets with lids, battery air pump, or a friend's tank).

Gather supplies: buckets with lids (food-safe, dedicated to the tank only), bags or containers for fish, duct tape, towels, a siphon, dechlorinator, and your test kit. Keep filter media wet in tank water so you don't lose your cycle.

Moving day: step by step

1. Stop feeding 24 hours before. Less waste in the water during the move.
2. Drain most of the water into clean buckets (about 50–70%). Keep the filter media submerged in one bucket of tank water. Don't rinse it in tap — you need those bacteria.
3. Catch the fish and put them in bags or lidded containers with tank water and plenty of air. One species per container if you have aggressive or nippy fish. Keep them dark and cool (not cold).
4. Empty the rest of the tank — substrate, decor, plants. Pack decor in damp towels or in water so it doesn't dry out. Plants can go in a bucket with a little water.
5. Move the tank empty. Never move a full or half-full tank; the weight and flex can crack the seams. Carry it on a flat surface and avoid bumping.

At the new place

Set the tank back up as soon as you can. Put substrate and decor back, refill with your saved water plus dechlorinated tap to top up. Keep the filter media in tank water until the last moment, then put it straight into the filter and run it. Acclimate fish gently (float the bag, then mix in tank water) before releasing them. Test ammonia and nitrite over the next few days — a small spike can happen; a large one means you may have lost too much bacteria. If so, small water changes and minimal feeding until it settles.

Quick takeaways

• Plan the move in one day; keep filter media wet in tank water to preserve your cycle.
• Fish in bags or lidded containers with tank water; keep them cool and dark during transport.
• Move the tank empty. Set up as soon as you arrive and test for a few days after.