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View Poll Results: Moving Fish Long Distance: Bag or Bucket?
Bag 4 16.67%
Bucket 20 83.33%
Voters: 24. You may not vote on this poll

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Unread 04/21/2012, 04:40 PM   #1
b0bab0ey
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Question Moving Fish Long Distance: Bag or Bucket

I've read so many differing opinions on this that I just can't decide. So, you get to decide for me.

If you had to do a long distance move (say 10+ hrs), would you just bag all your fish up or move them in, say, 5 gal. buckets? For the sake of argument, we'll say 2 fish per bucket with an air stone running in each bucket.


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Unread 04/21/2012, 04:42 PM   #2
snorvich
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I would definitely use a bucket. But prepared with battery operated air pumps. Size of bucket and number of fish per bucket depends on size. Also, be prepared to keep the area warm or cool.


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Unread 04/21/2012, 05:55 PM   #3
REGGAEX
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Buckets the way to go


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Unread 04/22/2012, 08:28 AM   #4
Vince272992
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bucket with some type of hide out such as live rock or PVC pipes and have a small bubbler in the bucket for oxygen to make the trip least stressful as possible


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Unread 04/22/2012, 09:20 AM   #5
Ryan2013
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I dont know about putting rock into the bucket with the fish. If it shifts while your moving it could kill one of them. Definately do buckets with air stones though, the last thing youd need is to be caught in traffic with a bunch of bagged fish slowly running out of oxygen.


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Unread 04/22/2012, 09:28 AM   #6
Dr Colliebreath
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Either will work, but I say go with buckets with airstones and no rock. The fish may get sloshed around against the rock.


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Unread 04/22/2012, 09:32 AM   #7
Reefkeeper 18
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Deff a bucket


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Unread 04/22/2012, 09:36 AM   #8
TruReef
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bucket with airstone. been there, done that successfully.. all corals in two or three buckets and all fish in another. snails and hermits in another, separated of course.


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Unread 04/22/2012, 01:29 PM   #9
GSMguy
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I moved all my fish and corals from Virginia to New Mexico in buckets, no airstone During the drive but I did use powerheads and heaters in the hotel room at night. The sloshing when the truck was moving was enough oxygen during the day. The trip took 3 days and it was another week after I got to NM before I got them back in the tank.


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Unread 04/22/2012, 03:41 PM   #10
jjk_reef00
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+1 on bucket with airstones


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Unread 04/22/2012, 04:45 PM   #11
hobbzz
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I moved two b&w occ in winter from Wisconsin to Florida in a 5g bucket w/heater, and a venturi powerhead running off of a cig lighter power adapter. 1300 mi/24 hrs and they were fine.


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Unread 04/22/2012, 04:47 PM   #12
Old Glory
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You could use plastic storage bins.


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Unread 04/22/2012, 09:59 PM   #13
b0bab0ey
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Either buckets or sterilite containers with airstones it is! Thanks everyone! I feel a lot more confident now about my game plan!


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Unread 04/23/2012, 05:17 AM   #14
sbeason
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I did a 460+ mile move and just put them in a 5 gallon bucket with a powerhead; no rock or anything else. The trip took 7 hours and everything was fine.

Thanks, Steve


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Unread 04/23/2012, 06:02 AM   #15
el aguila
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I did a long distance move for a Blue Spotted Jawfish in the winter. Got an insulated bait bucket; put fish and water inside in a bag in the bucket; and ran the air hose in with an exhaust air hose closing the top with a rubberband. This way I could keep water oxygenated without worrying about water spilling or slopping out by just using a bucket.

I kind of used the best of both options bag and bucket.

I also kept a thermometer in the bucket. If the temp started to dip, I would pour in a little hot water on the outside of the bag to adjust the temp.


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Unread 02/04/2018, 01:32 PM   #16
gwstephens
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Bait bucket

Would this work?
https://www.amazon.com/Engel-Coolers.../dp/B01IDOAPN6


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Unread 02/05/2018, 12:44 PM   #17
Bret61081
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gwstephens View Post
I wouldn't spend the $$ unless you will be using it often. I used a cheap styrofoam cooler from 7/11, lined it with a bag and cut a spot for the air bubbler hose. Ive also used a bucket with good luck too


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Unread 02/09/2018, 09:35 AM   #18
ca1ore
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Why would a bucket be better? The conventional wisdom for shipped fish is to keep the bag sealed as long as possible because the CO2 buildup lowers water pH and shifts the form of ammonia to ammonium ..... which is much less toxic. I would think, for long trips, that an unsealed bucket with an airstone would actually be the worst thing you could do. I've never given this a great deal of thought, so perhaps I'm missing something.


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Unread 02/09/2018, 02:32 PM   #19
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If you drive and have the room, covered bucket with air pump. I deliver clowns to LFS this way 25-50 fish in the 5 gal bucket with cover but have a small hole to have air stone. They can live for long time like this, if you keep temp reasonably OK.


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Unread 02/09/2018, 02:35 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ca1ore View Post
Why would a bucket be better? The conventional wisdom for shipped fish is to keep the bag sealed as long as possible because the CO2 buildup lowers water pH and shifts the form of ammonia to ammonium ..... which is much less toxic. I would think, for long trips, that an unsealed bucket with an airstone would actually be the worst thing you could do. I've never given this a great deal of thought, so perhaps I'm missing something.
No feeding, you not going to have much ammonia. The volume in a bucket is so much more than in a little bag.
IMO we worry about ammonia when we looking at 36+ hrs in small volume. Consider add ammonia binder for long long trip. Suffocation/hypoxemia trump over ammonia every time.


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Current Tank Info: Reboot 320 anemones reef. Angels: Yellow Chest Regal(2), Flame (2). Copperband But. Tangs: Yellow, Purple. Wrasse: about 20 wrasses various species. Anemones: Giantea X4 (Breen, Blue, Purple and Multicolors), Haddoni X1 Red, Magnifica X1 Purpletip

Last edited by OrionN; 02/09/2018 at 03:42 PM.
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Unread 02/09/2018, 03:40 PM   #21
ca1ore
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OrionN View Post
No feeding, you not going to have much ammonia. The volume in a bucket is so much more than in a little bag.
IMO we worry about ammonia when we looking at 36+ hrs in small volume. Consider add ammonia binder for long long trip. Suffocation/hypoycemia trump over ammonia every time.
Ok, all good points; makes sense. I've never transported anything more than an hour or two myself.


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Simon

Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones!

Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs
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