I'm moving house. Please talk me through what I need to do

[onitlikeacarbonnet]

I move next Friday.
I have a tropical tank but only a couple of fish. Millions of snails, but that's a whole other thread.
Can anyone tell me how I can move the tank and fish and what to do at the other end so I don't kill them in the process.

[OlennasWimple]

Lurking for advice too...

[dalmatianmad]

Hiya, I've moved twice in the last 5 years and I filled a bucket with water from the tank and transfered all the fish into the bucket, my daughter sat holding onto the bucket by her feet in the footwell of the car and l think we covered it with something but can't remember what!
I drove really slowly and set tank up and transfered water and fish back in...
I've heard of people putting them in bags or almost emptying the tank and leaving fish in and carrying it out to car but my bucket worked and they all survived.
I was concious to keep as much water as possible.....

[onitlikeacarbonnet]

Thanks dalmatian
I had thought of half draining the tank and leaving the fish in it but worried about temperature. Also about how heavy it will still be.
It's not a huge tank but I don't think I could lift it alone even half full.
How long was it between transfers?

[LauraCRyan]

Bag the fish and snails up, you'll probably need several bags for a big tank. Put the bags either in a bucket or paper bags or something to keep them out of light (reduces stress for fish). Don't use anything uncovered like a bucket with the snail because they will climb out!
You want to use as much of the dirty water in the bags and all your unwashed old filter media gravel and ornaments when you set up the other end so you don't have to re start cycling the tank but is still recommend doing water tests regularly once you set it up again.
Are the snails ones you want or ones you want to get rid of?

[celeste83]

If the snails are pets, don't pack them in the same box as the kitchen salt

[onitlikeacarbonnet]

So I did a last clean the other day (as my ex came to take the unit the tank sits on and I had to half empty it so we could like it) and now there is a horrible smell (that's a sick face)
What have I done? And what can I do now?
The fish seem happy enough, the temps ok.
I don't have anything to test the water (didn't know I had to do that ) what does that entail?

Once I've moved I'll be back for lessons on how to care for these poor wee souls properly.

[LauraCRyan]

Smell is possibly ammonia from the tank or just a build or algae and sludge on the filter, take the filter apart and clean out the cartridges or change them if needs be and clean the impeller. If you live near a pets at home take them a sample of the water they can test it for free I'm sure other pet stores do this to but I can't speak for them maybe call ahead and ask? You can buy test kits for at home but they're expensive, if you live near a PAH or other pet store try them first for a free test!