Exactly how to move your fish safely and effectively varies depending on the size of the aquarium or fish bowl, distance travel and mode of transportation. Even seasonal temperatures may effect how you travel with your fish.
Moving Fish - Moving fish is more about time spent in the container rather than the distance traveled. If moving your fish is expected to take less than a few hours by car I might suggest putting him in a small cup. I often keep one or two lying around for just such an occasion. I keep those mainly for transferring my fishes temporarily while cleaning the tank. These containers usually fit right into your car’s cup holder,use the covered type and make a small hole at the top so there is free air flow into it. Avoid excessive heat and cold from the sun or heater/AC unit. Never leave your fish unattended in a hot (or cold) car. Temperatures can reach 120 degrees in the sun, which can quickly kill your fish.
Another great method for storing your fish for a move is in plastic fish bags like those you buy most fish in at your local fish store. Put the fish in the bag with a few inches of water and capture as much air as possible in the rest of the bag. Remember, they require oxygen from the air to breathe so get as much air in the bag as possible. Close with a rubber band and double-bag. Fish stores add compressed air to the bag directly which helps to maximize the amount of time a fish can live in the bag. They often are shipped from one side of the world to the other spending a couple of days in these bags. This method can be used for short distance travel or long distance. When mailing your fish long distance you will need an insulated box, live fish shipping labels, and possibly heating or cooling packs depending on the time of year. You will also need to contact your local shipping company for rules and regulations regarding shipping live fish. Please note too that shipping your fish increases the risk for illness or death. If you have the ability to carry your fish with you, I suggest it.
One more thing to note, before shipping your fish long distance, is fast him for a day or two to minimize waste in the water. Because fishes are shipped in very little water they can quickly become overwhelmed by toxic ammonia. Have a friend or family member carry the fish on his lap. This works fine for small distances.
Moving the Tank - The work involved in moving a fish tank can vary greatly due to the tank size and distance traveled. Obviously a small bowl is much easier to move than a large-scale aquarium. For a smaller 5 gallon aquarium that is well established (meaning it has a good colony of beneficial nitrifying bacteria) you should first disconnect the filter, heater and any other elements. Remove and properly pack your fish (see above). Drain most of the water with a siphon or bucket leaving enough water to keep your substrate and plants wet. Usually a couple of inches of water is fine. If you have a HOB (Hang on Back) filter with filter bags and media, go ahead and remove the bag and place it in the tank so that it remains wet. Some debris may get into your tank but you can filter it back out later. Canister filters can be disconnected and typically moved as is. Filters vary greatly so you may need to asses your situation individually. The tank, plants, substrate and filter media can then be placed in your car or moving truck. Secure well so that it does’t move and so that nothing will fall on top of it. This method works well for shorter distances.
The bacteria in your filter media will not quickly die off. A couple of days out of the tank could cause your aquarium to go through a mini-cycle but a couple of hours will have no adverse effect on your filter bacteria.
For large aquariums over long distances I recommend one of two things. Have a professional aquarium moving company crate your tank and ship it for you. You will need to ship your fish and plants ahead of you and set up your aquarium from scratch. Moving a tank can be costly. In many cases it is cheaper to buy a new aquarium than to have it shipped by a pro. The tank itself is relatively inexpensive compared to all the accessories like lighting, tank stand, filters, etc. You’ll need to assess the cost benefits for yourself.
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