how long can coraline last out of water?

[ReefHog]

Ok heres the deal. I am moving my reef from the living room to a new aquarium in our computer room and an eel from a tank in the family room to the tank where the reef used to be. I got the reef move all figured out. New tank, sump, etc all set up ready for the move. I don't forsee any problems there.

I also have a Moray eel which I am moving from his tank in the family room to the old reef tank in the living room.

Here is the problem. I am having the hardwood floors in the living room refinished at the same time. So...the old reef tank will have to be drained and moved out of the living room for at least 3 days. Thatank is covered with pink & purple coraline algae. I don't want to loose it. It took many years to form the way it is. How can I keep the coraling from bleaching without filling it back up with salt water for 3 or 4 days? Could I just lay it on it's back and lay moistned newspapers over the back? (where all the coraline is) I could spray it often with a spray bottle filled with salt water. Any other sugestions?

Thanks

Art

[Reefland]

Hey Art!

I think this is your best option but even then I think you will experience a loss of color. I think laying wet (saltwater wet) paper over the coralline and keeping it wet is your best option.

Scott Z.

[Reefer769]

get a small rubbermaid tub and fill it with your existing tank water and just lay the algea in there. that sounds like a good idea

[Reefland]

Reefer,

Reefhog is talking about the coralline algae that have encrusted the back glass of his tank; not really anything you can remove and place back in the tank later. ;)

Scott Z.

[ReefHog]

Thanks Scott,

I figure live rock is packaged & shipped just wraped in wet newspaper (salt water wet) Then transhipped. So Hopefully I will be OK for a few days.

Art

[Reefland]

Typically on shipped liverock you will experience some coralline bleaching but I don't see any other options so it would be worth a try.

Scott Z.

P.S. Hope all has been going well for you.

[skankergee]

Hey, I dont know if you have done your floors yet or not but I just read this forum and thought of an idea.
**depending on the size of your tank, get a rubbermaid lid that the tank will fit in, lay the tank on its back in the lid and add water and an air hose & an air pump. lay lights on the tank.
hope thing go or have gone good.

[ReefHog]

Hey, I dont know if you have done your floors yet or not but I just read this forum and thought of an idea.
**depending on the size of your tank, get a rubbermaid lid that the tank will fit in, lay the tank on its back in the lid and add water and an air hose & an air pump. lay lights on the tank.
hope thing go or have gone good.

Doing it this weekend. The tank is a 120 so I don't think there is a lid that big. The lip would be enough to keep some water covering the back though.

Art