I need advice on how to move a large tank.

[dascharisma]

I am getting ready to order a 60"x48"x31" tank. Before I do, I want to figure out how I will move it into my house. Due to the size of the tank, it will need to come through a window in my basement. The window is 1 foot higher than ground level and 3.5 feet higher than the floor in the basement. There will only be about 2 inches of clearance off the window on either side of the tank and around a foot of vertical clearance. The tank should weigh around 750lbs out of the crate and 900 or 950 in the crate. I would prefer to move the tank while still in the crate since I am worried about chips given the amount of clearance available.

Here is my dilemma. I am currently looking into having the tank professionally moved, but I would at least like to consider moving it myself to avoid the expense. To those of you with experience moving such things; How many men would it take to carry the tank the 100 feet from my driveway to the basement window? Would building a platform that spanned from inside the basement though the window to the outside, and then using dowel rods to roll the tank through the window be possible? Once the tank is in the basement it will need to be put on its stand. The rear of the tank is going to be inwall. Will it be possible to slide the tank once part of it is sitting on the stand or will it be immovable?

I would appreciate any advice.

Brad

 

[mflamb]

It took 10 guys to get mine in the door, about 18 to get it into the stand. The dowel rod idea will work. Put a piece of plywood in the window to roll/slide it in on. Rent at least 6 suction cups from your local rental center...well worth the money. You can use 1x1 strips of wood to slide the tank onto the stand and then with some suction cups, pick up on one end to remove some of the slide strips and then pick up the other end.

 

[pennyguy23]

Well it took about 8 of us to move my 96''x36''x24'' about 30 feet. We went through my front door. I have some pics on my thread. We didn't rent suction cups because I was just scared that one would work and my tank would come crashing down.

 

[pennyguy23]

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=808292


Page 4

 

[CaptiveReefer03]

Suggestion -

Use furnature dollys for the move from the street to the window if you can. Hire someone becasue they are insured and it will be covered if there is damage to anything. I used a piano company for my 360 when I had to move it into the house and it took 6 guys and 2 furnature dollys to do the job along with about 4 hrs of time. Best luck to you and post some pics up when your said and done!

Regards-

 

[tattooreef]

it took 8 of us to move my 130x24x26 into my house and onto the stand granted we only went 30 or 40 ft. with it. the suction cups scared the crap out of me at first for the same fear that you have, but they were a life, back, and groin saver. lol. so honestly find your biggest strongest friends rent the suction cups and make sure you cook them all dinner afterwards. good luck!

 

[rxinc]

I moved my all glass 72x24x29 tank w/ total 4 guys ( one was 6'6" 350 #)

Absolutely/ definately get the suction cups - they are designed for moving big glass ( shower walls etc) so don't worry. - couldn't done it w/out them.

Also a moving dolly worked fine rolling it as far as we could, just had to carry thru door way and lift onto stand, made ramps for 2 steps up walkway.

instead of wood dowels might try those plastic dish like moving pads, they slide very well over carpet or plywood to get thru your window. I got them at Home depot or Ace hardware.

 

[jimroth]

Just today I picked up my new tank (65 X 30 X 24"). it's around 300lbs. We got it off the truck and into my van with mostly just two (big) guys, since the driver had lots of those wacky suction cups.
On the home end, we BARELY got it into the house with 5 guys and no suction cups. But we made it. Driver said those suction cups are $180 each, so it was cheaper (and more fun) to get a bunch of guys and buy beer and pizza afterwards!

 

[Sk8r]

If your tank is bottom-drilled and fitted with nipples for hose connection, f' gosh sakes be sure to get the stand ready and in its final position to receive it---you can't set the tank down otherwise, and those fragile fittings will be in the way of any unscripted set-down.

Know those flat 5" slidey-discs with one teflon side, one sponge, get em at Lowes? Set a few of those under your stand before you put the tank on. That lets you do finesse moves without killing yourself.