6 Steps to Safely Moving a Fish Tank

Moving can be tough. Throw a couple pets in there and it gets even tougher. Our animal companions—be they furry, feathery, or scaly—need to be carefully factored in to our moving plans, with best practices considered for getting them to your new home as easily and safely as possible (and ideally, with less stress for everyone involved). And when you’re moving a fish tank, you have to consider not just how you’re going to move each of your individual fish, but how you’re going to move their aquarium so it’s ready for habitation as soon as you arrive at your location. After all, you can’t just unplug it and go.

Moving a fish tank is easier than you might think, provided you have a keen grasp on what needs to be done and when. Follow the six steps below to make sure you account for your fish and their aquarium before, during, and after moving day.

Collect Your Supplies in Advance
You have to transport your tank empty, which means having a plan in place for moving everything inside of it, including your fish, equipment, plants, and decorations. As such, your first step when moving a fish tank is to gather the essential supplies that you will need to make this happen. Some of the items on the list you probably own already; others you’ll have to go pick up in advance. Here’s what you need:
- Buckets or plastic bags or containers for fish. Small fish can be moved in plastic bags secured firmly at the top with a twist tie, provided you only have to travel a short distance (an hour or less). You could also use small plastic containers with lids. For larger fish and/or longer moves, you’ll want to use clean, 5-gallon buckets with lids.
- Buckets for plants. These will need to be submerged in water from the tank during travel.
- Packing tape or duct tape. For securing lids on buckets or plastic containers, if using.
- Fishnet. For transporting your fish from their tank to their transport container.
- Siphon hose. For removing water from the tank.
- Other packing supplies. You’ll want to be sure that you have plenty of packing supplies for transporting equipment, decorations, and the fish tank itself. This includes air-filled plastic padding, packing paper, foam board insulation, and moving boxes (cardboard or plastic).

Place plants in buckets and fill with water from the tank. Leave air at the top so water doesn’t spill out.
Siphon out remaining water and put it into a large, sealable bucket if possible. You’ll want to fill the tank back up later on with as much of its original water as possible.
Wipe down decorations, dry them, and pack them. If they’re fragile, wrap them in air-filled plastic padding and/or packing paper before packing.
Transport any pebbles or sand at the bottom of the tank to a bucket or other type of plastic container.
Remove all equipment and wipe it down and dry it if necessary. Keep the filter damp. Pack all of your equipment carefully.
Wipe down the tank and dry it completely.

Take off the lid and wrap it in air-filled plastic padding. Secure with packing tape.
Cut foam board insulation to size and place it at the bottom of the tank. Fill the tank with towels or packing paper.
Wrap the tank in air-filled plastic padding and place in a moving box. Put foam board insulation around the sides, in between the tank and the box. The box should be large enough to accommodate the aquarium and insulation, but not so large that the tank has room to shift around. If there is space around it, use packing paper to fill in the gaps and help prevent it from shifting during transport.

Figure out where you’re going to put the aquarium. If you’re not sure of a final resting spot yet, at least narrow it down to the room it will be in. This is where you’ll want to set up.
Unpack the tank and give it a once over to make sure that there are no cracks in the glass.
After you’ve confirmed the tank is good to be refilled, start the process of rebuilding your fish habitat. Put the pebbles or sand down first and then set up your equipment. Place decorations and plants back in the tank and then refill with the water you brought over in buckets.
Using the fishnet, gently transport your fish back in to the tank. Pour the water from their moving containers back in to the tank, removing any waste first if necessary. If you need more water to fill up the tank, get some from your tap and dechlorinate it before putting it in there.
Wait a few hours before turning on your heater and pump. This will give the water time to settle and get to room temperature.

Return to your normal feeding schedule with your fish once they’re safely in their new home. Check on them regularly and watch for signs of stress or distress, which are common after a move. If you’re at all concerned, call up an expert who can help you out—your local pet store is a good place to start. Hopefully though, your fish adjust quickly and are back to their swimming happy selves in no time!