How to Move an Aquarium

An aquarium is one of the trickiest items to move because it is a living system, not just a glass box. A full tank must never be moved: the water weight will crack the seams or shatter the glass. The fish, water, plants, and gravel all travel separately, and the whole job is a race against time to keep the fish alive and the beneficial bacteria in your filter from dying.

Pro tip: Saving as much old tank water and wet filter media as possible preserves your cycle and prevents a deadly ammonia spike after the move.

Watch out: Never move an aquarium with water in it. The weight will stress the seams and crack or shatter the glass.

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