shaginwagon13
Chartered Accountant
I have moved a tank similar to your situation before.
Casters will work as long as they are rated for the weight. I found the following from my move.
1) Try and get casters with large steel wheels. The footprint of the wheels disburse the weight better and make it easier to get the weight moving. Don't get casters so large you need to lift your tank 2 feet to get the casters in place, but as large as possible so that moving it is easier.
2) Have some sheets of acrylic (buy it at home depot) and lay it down for the casters to move on. It will and should almost glide as both surfaces are smooth. You WILL dent your hardwood flooring if you don't lay anything between the casters and the floor and DO NOT use standard plywood. There are far too many splinters in plywood that have potential to snag the casters.
3) Try and determine where and in what direction your floors are sloped. 99% of floors are not completely level and its good to know what direction the tank will naturally want to move to. You can plan for this and make sure you have adequate help (friends) in place to guide the tank where you want it and not where gravity will naturally try to take it.
4) How to lift? I used a 3-ton car jack to SLOWLY lift one side at a time (never going more than 1/2" higher on each side). Have wood blocks to rest under your stand legs as you proceed to lift the other side. Repeat this until all casters are able to be inserted under the tank and take the load.
5) One your up..... keep it going. Don't rush it, but once your up on casters and moving try to get it back down safety and in place as fast as you can.
6) Lowering the tank is much easier I found. I again used the jack to raise on side slightly, took the casters out, and then down one side went onto 1/2" plywood and foam board.
7) Don't do this alone. Call a couple buddies to be there to help with any of the lifting, guiding or placing. You don't want to be the only one there in case you need some extra muscle moving or positioning the tank. You don't want to be fighting the tank... that's how stuff gets caught, slips and next thing you know your tank is through your sub-floor and in the basement.
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