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Need help preparing fish for a 1.5 hr road trip.


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#1 Guest_SunnyRollins_*

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Posted 10 December 2009 - 05:03 PM

I have a green sunfish, bluegill(each are 1.5 inches) and 4 banded killifish(1 adult, 3 fry) in my dorm that I must bring home for winter break. Though the tanks are small (they're in 2 2.5 gallon tanks(sunfish are being moved to a 55 gallon within the next few weeks))I am thinking that simply unplugging the filters and carrying them isn't a very wise idea, because I'm concerned with water sloshing and substrate clouding up the water. I think putting the fish in individual bags would be the best idea, but I'm a fish "noob" and would appreciate any input on this subject from the more experienced fish keepers here. Thanks!

#2 Guest_CATfishTONY_*

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Posted 10 December 2009 - 05:48 PM

I have a green sunfish, bluegill(each are 1.5 inches) and 4 banded killifish(1 adult, 3 fry) in my dorm that I must bring home for winter break. Though the tanks are small (they're in 2 2.5 gallon tanks(sunfish are being moved to a 55 gallon within the next few weeks))I am thinking that simply unplugging the filters and carrying them isn't a very wise idea, because I'm concerned with water sloshing and substrate clouding up the water. I think putting the fish in individual bags would be the best idea, but I'm a fish "noob" and would appreciate any input on this subject from the more experienced fish keepers here. Thanks!


A 5 gallon buck with air pump should work just fine.
you may want to add this to the water.
http://www.arkansass...shad-keeper.htm

Edited by CATfishTONY, 10 December 2009 - 05:49 PM.


#3 Guest_nativeplanter_*

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Posted 10 December 2009 - 06:09 PM

There was a pretty good discussion about this issue recently. See if this thread helps:
http://forum.nanfa.o...ntry-transport/

#4 Guest_Amazon_*

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Posted 10 December 2009 - 06:26 PM

I have had over 20 fish in a bucket for 2 days one time. I had an aereator though. For an hour and a half I wouldnt worry about anything though.

#5 Guest_SunnyRollins_*

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Posted 10 December 2009 - 07:04 PM

There was a pretty good discussion about this issue recently. See if this thread helps:
http://forum.nanfa.o...ntry-transport/


Thanks so much for linking me to that! I was ignoring it since I wasn't planning on doing a cross country trip and was expecting elaborate idea that'd be too much for me to do(and there were! lol). However, it helped nonetheless.

I'm thinking they won't really need aeration(one time I had to shut the filter off because it was clogged and needed a new cartridge, which I wasn't able to buy for a day or two and they were all fine) and it seems putting them in ziploc storage containers with old filter media will do the trick(heck I could probably get away with no filter media, but why risk it?).

As for when I get home...will I need to cycle the tanks again before adding the fish if I leave in a small amount of the water that's in there now? Or will I just have to add water and wait for the temp to be ok for the fish?

#6 Guest_schambers_*

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Posted 10 December 2009 - 09:34 PM

If you keep your filter media and substrate wet, there will be no need for cycling. The bacteria won't die, just refill the tank with dechlorinated water at the right temperature and you will be good to go.

#7 Guest_SunnyRollins_*

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Posted 11 December 2009 - 12:30 AM

If you keep your filter media and substrate wet, there will be no need for cycling. The bacteria won't die, just refill the tank with dechlorinated water at the right temperature and you will be good to go.


Thanks so much! I was really worrying about this whole process and now I feel much more confident in doing this correctly!

#8 Guest_JohnO_*

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Posted 11 December 2009 - 07:48 AM

Five gallon paint buckets with tight sealing lids are what I use. Typical journey from Red River Gorge or Big South Fork back to my house is about 1-1.5 hours. The only fish I've lost have been shiners in summer, when the water got too hot. That shouldn't be a problem in the winter.

#9 Guest_SunnyRollins_*

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Posted 18 December 2009 - 10:07 PM

Five gallon paint buckets with tight sealing lids are what I use. Typical journey from Red River Gorge or Big South Fork back to my house is about 1-1.5 hours. The only fish I've lost have been shiners in summer, when the water got too hot. That shouldn't be a problem in the winter.


Well I didn't get to put them in separate containers like I wanted, but at least packing was easier since I put both tanks in a rubbermaid and stuffed in towels to prevent shifting. I got home this evening and all fish are doing well :).

#10 Guest_BTDarters_*

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Posted 19 December 2009 - 05:10 PM

Awesome! :smile:

Brian

#11 Guest_SunnyRollins_*

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Posted 19 December 2009 - 07:56 PM

Awesome! :smile:

Brian


Well now bad news...my bluegill got eaten last night by a crayfish(which I removed) and I think a killie vanished...my green sunfish is now hiding all the time and didn't eat much when I fed him today....is this just an adjustment period right now?



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