Advise. Moving Tank to Garage

[scaramanga]

Ugh......

So we are remodeling our condo and I need to move my IM 80 tank to the garage. Tank was setup on 2/9/2026 with new dry sand and all my live rocks from my 75g that was running for a year +.

My plan is to get the fish, some rocks, heater and wave maker and put them in a tote. Then rest of the rocks and some water in another. Get as much of the water as I can into buckets without disturbing the sand. Then move the sand into another set of buckets.

Move tank and stand down to the garage where it maybe permanently setup for the next couple months.

Will I be ok to use this sand to re set it back up? Should I just go bare bottom at this point?

Anything else I should know about moving it?

Once remodeled we plan to sell the condo and will be looking at a new place out here. Hence the 2 months

 

[drexel]

How deep is the sand? If not too deep, you can reuse.

 

[scaramanga]

How deep is the sand? If not too deep, you can reuse.

This should be an easy not complicated question to answer, but it has some twists and turns lol.

So I am paranoid.... When I first setup my 75g tank I used these laser cut flat bottom marco rocks across most of the bottom glass. I was worried that single points of pressure from non flat would break the tank. So I laid those down below any rockwork in the display. Then put rockwork on top of those. Then put sand down. I've used maybe 50lb of sand in this aquarium. It looks like a 1 1/2" to 2" sand bed because of the rock. Its probably closer to 3/4" to 1" if the rock wasn't there.

Follow up question on top of this would be should I continue to use this flat bottom rock. It always seems to slide anyways.....

 

[T-tank]

Depending on where you put the tank in your garage, be prepared to shim/level the tank more than when it was in your house. Garage floor slopes.

 

[OldReefGuy]

Just IMO......if the new/temporary location tank is only there for a couple months....I wouldn't even bother with the sand.....

 

[drexel]

If it’s an inch or less, you can rinse it with some old tank water and just add fresh SW during the move to make up for it. You can split the sand between two buckets, rinse with your hand and place small amounts at a time when setting up. If the sand turns up a lot of junk and is dark, then just take the top layer to help ease the transition.


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[scaramanga]

Am I wrong in putting down the flat laser cut pieces?

Just IMO......if the new/temporary location tank is only there for a couple months....I wouldn't even bother with the sand.....

I was thinking this also. I’m going to have to tear it down when we find the new house. This is why I estimated a 2 month transition. I have nassarious snails. Can you go without sand with them?

 

[OldReefGuy]

Am I wrong in putting down the flat laser cut pieces?



I was thinking this also. I’m going to have to tear it down when we find the new house. This is why I estimated a 2 month transition. I have nassarious snails. Can you go without sand with them?

The snails will prefer sand......

 

[OldReefGuy]

Having said that, I dont know any LFS that keeps them in sand when they are for sale.......but also, thats really not long term either

 

[DanK.Reefer]

Am I wrong in putting down the flat laser cut pieces?

This is a good idea to avoid sharp pressure points on the glass. Other good option's are to use stone tiles or thick pieces of PVC starboard material. Anything that can spread the weight of the contact points and preferably not scratch the bottom glass panel.