20 hr 1200 mile move

It can be done but in all reality, if there is no way set up a tank at your new place prior to the move, you can expect some losses. I would sell the livestock to a trusted person and get some frags from them once you are settled. That big a move is stressful enough without your mind on the livestock. Good luck with the move . Moving to the Carolina's are in my retirement plans.

 

I would be more inclined to sell livestock and pack up all equipment. Too much can happen on such a move and the last thing I would want to do when I arrived is start setting up a makeshift setup probably using treated tapwater, or possibly find someone locally to house your livestock until you could get properly setup at your new place. Then have them ship them to you.

 

I moved from Orlando to Iowa with a reef tank i had very minimal losses it can be done. I personally individually bagged everything since that's how they do it when they ship it i lost no fish but i did lose a couple pieces of sps but nothing huge

 

I've done a 13hr move with zero losses. The trick is to do it in as much a straight shot as possible. (ie no overnight stops, buddy tag team driving). Heated bucket if possible with car converter. Although to be honest I didn't have a heater in that move so I just took a nalgene bottle and filled it continuously with hot water from rest stations and floated it in the bucket. I've done clownfish fry this way on up to an 8hr trip as well (think that one was closer to 9 with stops). Bagged and styro coolers with a small heat pack taped to the top should get most small -medium size corals. Anything larger than a softball I'd try and frag now and just take the frag with and sell the mother colony. Fish I'd honestly try and rehome if they are over 3 inches. Especially if they are swimmers like tangs and such.

Most recently we moved a handful of fish (tang, couple of chromis, clown, wrasse, blenny) on an 8hr we did this inside a 32g brute 1/3 full and it worked beautifully! I put a tiny heater in it but we only ran it because it was the dead of winter (summer I wouldn't bother). Cheap little fixed temp. tetra heater from walmart. I put 2 clay pots upside down in there... they have busted walls (sanded off edges) that worked as little huts and the fish just hid in there when scared. This was minimal stress on everyone (driver included) and most of the fish were gladly swimming and fully colored when we got there. I believe we even had some cloves, a leather, and some zoa's in the bottom of that barrel too....lol.) Best hauling yet with fish.

If I had to do it over, I'd say have a tank there set up with water or as much water made up as possible so your not doing more work than necessary when you first get there. Otherwise

Hope that helps.