Founded in 1890, Hansen Bros. Moving & Storage the parent company of Portabox has successfully weathered many history-changing events including the Great Seattle Fire, WWI, the Spanish Flu of 1918, the Great Depression, WWII, the 2008 recession, and 9/11 among many other public crises. We are taking the current COVID-19 threat very seriously and will promptly adhere to any and all directives from local, state and federal government officials. Hansen Bros. and Portabox have been categorized as an essential industry business (moving & relocation) within the current mandate established by Washington State Governor Jay Inslee.

As essential services, we will maintain normal operations until such time as either company management determines we must close our offices or we are directed to do so by a governmental authority. We are taking extensive precautionary measures including the adoption of all CDC guidelines and the establishment of our own policies intended to minimize health risks for all customers, employees, contractors, vendors, and community stakeholders. We are proud to be able to support the needs of our customers during this crucial time but are prepared to quickly change course as required.

Stay safe together with Hansen Bros. and Portabox

The COVID-19 crisis is fluid and there are many uncertainties and factors outside of our control that may, with little or no advance notice, impact our delivery of moving & storage services. Please be aware the current crisis could potentially result in small inconveniences such as a delayed project start time or significant inconveniences such as the complete rescheduling of services.

Although there are many unknowns to be navigated, you can be certain that Hansen Bros. and Portabox will be timely and transparent in our communications regarding servicing your moving & storage needs, and our professional relocation consultants will work diligently to offer creative solutions in the event your project is impacted by the current health crisis.

Steps We're Taking:

  • Company-wide Implementation of all precautionary measures recommended by the Center for Disease Control (CDC).
  • Office staff and crews are being monitored daily for symptoms and/or known exposure by management and asked to go home, contact their healthcare provider, and self-quarantine as directed. Staff that experience symptoms and/or aware of exposure when not at work have been directed to stay home and notify their supervisor.
  • Office staff and crews are receiving daily briefings on precautionary measures and have been directed to follow them on and off the job.
  • Office staff and crews are being instructed to maintain appropriate “social distance” of 6 feet minimum between one another, customers, and all other people.
  • Office staff and crews are being provided with appropriate hand sanitizer and surface disinfecting supplies. They have been directed to disinfect truck cabs and moving equipment between each move to the best of their ability. These supplies will continue to be replenished as we are able, based on availability from retailers.
  • We are limiting visitation to our branch offices. If you wish to purchase moving boxes or supplies, please simply call in your order and we will happily deliver to your vehicle outside.

We are all in this together.  The team at Hansen Bros. and Portabox is proud to continue offering our services in accordance with the necessary precautions outlined above. We are here to make the process of storing belongings seamless & safe for you.

Guide to packing an aquarium for transport

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When it comes to moving, only a few things can be as tricky as packing an aquarium for transport. It is full of devices and parts that need to be detached. Then there are all the decorations like rocks, figurines, and gravel. But most importantly, it is full of living things, your precious fish! This means that, before you start tackling this sensitive task, you need a complete and detailed game plan. This is why we’re here to help. Before we begin, it is very important to note that fish can only survive up to 48 hours out of their natural surroundings. Because of this, you need to act fast and clear out a working area by placing some of your items in Renton self storage. With our help, your aquarium will be ready for the road, and your tiny aquatic friends will be perfectly safe and sound.

gold fish in a plastic bag
Don’t forget that fish can only survive out of the aquarium for 48 hours!

Packing an aquarium for transport requires some specialized tools

A delicate packing operation such as this one shouldn’t be rushed under any circumstances. You can’t just pack without preparing and hoping that everything will work out. With that in mind, you need to properly get ready for the job. And this implies getting a few important tools and supplies that will make the job easier. Given that you own fish, you might already have some of these, but we will list everything you need regardless. If you want the packing process to go smoothly, you will need:

  • An aquarium fishnet. You need to get your fish out of the tank somehow, and using a classic fishnet is the safest way to do so.
  • A couple of 5-gallon buckets to safely contain your fish, plants, and aquarium water.
  • A few plastic/rubber hoses. These come in great when siphoning the water from the tank to the buckets, and vice versa.
  • A traveling cooler to keep your fish at the optimal temperature.
  • Plastic tubs or bags to contain aquarium decorations and gravel.
  • Cardboard boxes
  • Bubble wrap or other protective plastic
  • Anti-slip paper to prevent the glass surfaces from sliding around during transport
people preparing an aquarium for packing
Be careful when removing your fish from the tank

Last but not least,  you will need an open working space with no obstacles. When packing a fish tank for the move, you’ll be working with a lot of water, glass, and living animals. This is why it is imperative to prevent any damages or mishaps. Regardless if you’ve already packed the other items in your room, you need to move them to another location. The best option is to rent out storage pods Seattle. This way, safety is guaranteed, and you can dedicate your full focus to the packing efforts.

Start preparing your aquarium for packing at least 48 hours in advance

When it comes to packing your aquarium for a move, two factors play a very important part. One is making sure that the tank itself is safely packed, and the other is the well-being of the fish themselves. You’ll be removing your pets from their usual environment, which can cause a lot of stress. The first, and most important thing to do, is to stop feeding your fish 48 hours prior to removing them from the tank. This leaves enough time for the water filters to cleanse the water as much as possible, and remove any impurities from it. This is very important because the water will be stagnant for the duration of the move, so it must be clean. While this is being done, you can move your other items to on demand storage Seattle. Now let’s see what you can do to make sure your fish are safe.

Packing your fish based on the moving distance

Fish are living, breathing animals, which means you can’t just put them in a cardboard box and call it a day. If you’re undergoing a local move, your fish won’t need much preparation, and you can use simple plastic bags to protect them. The move shouldn’t take more than a few hours, which means your fish won’t suffocate. Fill a bug with one-third of the aquarium water, and safely move your fish in it with the fishnet. If you have aggressive species of fish, make sure to place them in separate bags. Then, put the bags into a travel cooler to maintain temperature, and isolate them with a bit of bubble wrap.

empty aquarium on wooden palettes
The tank should be completely empty and dry prior to packing

If you have to travel over long distances, however, plastic bags simply won’t be enough. In this case, you’ll need the 5-gallon buckets we mentioned earlier. These buckets should be absolutely clean, and you have to make sure that they weren’t used for anything else other than water transport. In this case, it is best to buy brand new buckets. Fill the buckets with the water from the aquarium, and place your fish inside. Once you’re done, close the lead and seal it with a bit of packing tape. Remember not to tumble the buckets too much, as to not scare the fish. For added safety, you can add labels such as “fragile” or “live fish” on the buckets as well, so your movers know to treat them with care.

Safely packing an aquarium for transport

With all the fish out of the tank, it’s time to focus on actually packing an aquarium for transport. Start by unplugging and removing your lamps, heaters, and filters from the tank. Wash them in warm water, dry them fully, and then pack them in plastic boxes. Once all the electronics are out, you can safely remove plants, gravel, and other decoration from the tank. Wash them and place them into separate bags or boxes. Once everything is out, wash the tank and dry it. To protect the glass before moving, tape styrofoam padding on both sides of the glass, and then wrap it with bubble wrap. Once you place the tank in a box, fill any gaps with paper or packing peanuts. Then, close the box, tape it up, and mark it as fragile. Remember not to put anything on top of the tank, to prevent any possible damages.

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