New to RC, and need some input...

[USAF427]

Hello all,

So I have followed some of these forums for a long time, but for some reason that still escapes me, never signed up to post, but now I am in need of some advise...

So I have had a 72 gallon Bow front set up as a reef aquarium for the past 6 years, and sad to say I will have to move for work in June. While this is a ways off, I am already fretting over what to do with my tank...

Do I break it down and sell everything, start fresh in a new city with a new tank and new fish?

Do I have some fiends "Fish sit" for me with another tank (30 gallon) while I move the tank and have the fish shipped down later?

do I have any other real viable options?

I have become quite attached to my fish over 6 years, but also realize that cost for some of these options may hamper even the best laid plans.

any input would be appreciated.

[JBarnes]

Sell it off and start over. I've moved twice (local moves) and attempted to move my tanks. Both times I lost 50% of the stuff. You just can't move it without rock, sand etc. dying off typically causing a crash when you set it back up. Plus the wife is bothering you the whole time because you are playing with the fish instead of unloading all the other household items.

Never again for me. I'll sell the livestock and redeploy after things have settled down from the move. Too much stress dealing with the fish along with all the other aspects of moving.

[USAF427]

yeah, I kinda figured. any advise on selling the livestock? craigslist? petstores?

[jerrym21]

They can be moved but I agree with selling and starting over (financialy stupid I know). I'm starting over with all new and I'm only moving from the first floor living room to my finished basement. I wanted to upgrade to a larger, better system so it was an easy sell to my wife. Now she gets her living room back and I get my dream tank.

[USAF427]

I'm actually planning on downsizing for a while, as I am getting married, and while my soon to be wife also loves the hobby (she has a 14g Nano), we are moving into a very small appartment from a house for a year or two until we get the feel for our new city. So I actually bought a 46g bow to replace my 72g. (its a foot or so shorter)
probably is a good idea to sell everything, and it will give me a little cash to start the new one up.
but where should I sell the live stock, I should be able to find buyers for the tank and equipment (b/c I can ship it) but what about the live stuff?

[edsreef]

I'm actually planning on downsizing for a while, as I am getting married, and while my soon to be wife also loves the hobby (she has a 14g Nano), we are moving into a very small appartment from a house for a year or two until we get the feel for our new city. So I actually bought a 46g bow to replace my 72g. (its a foot or so shorter)
probably is a good idea to sell everything, and it will give me a little cash to start the new one up.
but where should I sell the live stock, I should be able to find buyers for the tank and equipment (b/c I can ship it) but what about the live stuff?

Lucky guy! Yeah, ditch the old stuff, I foresee a 300+ gal system in your future! :dance:

[Palting]

but where should I sell the live stock, I should be able to find buyers for the tank and equipment (b/c I can ship it) but what about the live stuff?

Look at local reef clubs and/or local reefers. Also, you can talk to your lfs. My lfs will give me 50 cents on the dollar for any livestock.

[USAF427]

300+ would be awesome, but will settle for a 180 :-) once we get the new house. the 46 is just to tie me over until then :-) got to have something to do!

My biggest problem is that the nearest reasonable dealer (not a Petco) is 46 miles away... thats a lot of fish and live rock to haul that long...