Big Tank move-Looking for advice! Help!

[r2odie]

About to buy a 375 gallon glass tank. 10 ft long 24" wide 30" tall. My biggest concern is moving it. Thinking 8 big guys with suction cups. Are suction cups reliable? What kind should I buy or can I borrow or rent somewhere? We do have a truck and trailer to transport it. Any suggestions/advice welcome! HOPING I can get some Hialeah guys to help load it (the truck with/or without the trailer can be backed up almost right to the tank) and some Lake Worth guys to unload it. Help!

 

[jonnyu]

Well a tool rental rental shop will rent them. If it's a glass tank I can't even imagine how hard that thing will be.

 

[r2odie]

Yes it's glass.

 

[ReefWhatYouSow]

I picked up my 210 with eurobracing near Miami and brought it to Tampa on a trailer. We actually used 3 guys to pick it up and place it on the flat dollies. Wheeled it to the trailer. Set down a smooth then piece of wood on the trailor for it to sit on and another piece under the edge of the tank on the ground where we were going to set it to tilt it into the trailer. Leaned it down to the trailer while picking up and pushing the heavy end onto the trailer. We got on the trailer and centered it towards the front of the trailer. Prior to going down to pick up the tank I had cut pieces of plywood to the size that would wrap around the tank. I screwed thee into each other to make a box on the tank (not a piece on the bottom though). Also be careful not to drill into your tank! Lol...

I then used pieces of 2x4 at the bottom, snuggly bracing the tank. I drilled these pieces into the bottom of the trailer. The tank did not shift and it was protected against any debris that would hit it.

Maybe a little overboard but you have to protect your investment, right?

 

[andrewdeme]

hire someone with insurance to move it professionally

 

[Ludwigia73]

what andrew said...

My company, Sunbelt rents the glass suction grips. Not an advert, just trying to help.

 

[G_Sanab922]

hire someone with insurance to move it professionally

Keyword: Insurance.. Good luck on the move

They will most likely charge you a high price or not do it at all to avoid the liability, if you go this route.

Or you can rent the suction grips like ludwigia said, have used those before and seen other's use them, they work great. I've never heard any horror stories about it.

 

[jonnyu]

Well if it helps I think u haul rents people for $15 a hour if you rent a truck. So might be they way to go

 

[r2odie]

what andrew said...

My company, Sunbelt rents the glass suction grips. Not an advert, just trying to help.

Can you give me more info about the suction grips? Are they single? Double? Should I get one or two per person? Where are you located? I'll probably have to rent them here in Lake Worth. Thanks!

 

[Ludwigia73]

They are the singles, my Boca store has them. Last I was there (on vacation now) they had 3 or 4, but call em just to be sure. Tell em Chris told you to call.
561-391-3601

They may be able to get more with some notice.

 

[mrx66699]

Glass that long is going to suck moving ...I have a 540 acrylic and moved it with quite a few people when I brought it home but since then moved it into place with just 4 and helped a friend move his same tank with 6 but you are going to need a lot more since its glass and 10 ft ....I would have someone do it for you and insure. ..definitely do not use a dolly or anything that can crack it .....another guy I know moved his by himself with some hired help and one of them let a dolly snap back up a few inches and thats all it took.... a waste now as it would have cost more that he paid for the tank to have the pannel replaced lol

 

[r2odie]

thanks for the advice so far! anybody around Hialeah Gardens next Saturday or Sunday afternoon that could lend a hand for maybe 15 min.? Pizza, beer, soda? let me know what it takes lol! We figure if we can get at least 8 guys no one will have to lift more than like 100 lbs.

 

[tommychip]

good luck with the move!!