moving 360 gal tank filled 20 feet

[Angel*Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6290010#post6290010 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Rykna
I moved my 90 gallon half full. It was a horrible. The tank sprung a leak, caused by the stress of moving the beast half full, and I ended up having to by a brand new tank. I would suggest gettign several( in your case many) large plastic garbage cans, save as much water as you can, move occupants into buckets, or the garbage cans, remove as much as you can! Substate and all. Have a hefty amount of help when you do this 8 people minimal. You might even consider asking assitacne from a local pet store that moves and sets up fish tanks(pricey though). Let me know how it went!
Good Luck,
Rykna

Thanks for that post - my carpet people had me convinced they could handle this - everybody thinks I'm crazy for wanting to carpet around the tank

 

[memito]

No offense, but I really can't believe that people are really talking about moving a tank - of any size - full of sand and rock - and 10% water - especially a 360 gallon tank.

I am no expert, but I know that tanks can suffer from micro fractures just from sitting on a slightly uneven surface. Even if a 10%-full move is "successful" who knows what sort of micro (or even macro) factures you might have subjected the tank to.

I am of the opinion - as much as you don't want to probably hear this - that you should take the tank apart, put all of the inhabitants and LR/LS in rubbermaid containers and then move the tank completely empty. I understand that is a complete hassle, but there won't be a lurking potential problem that could be at the least a leaky tank and at the worst a surprise explosion due to fractures incurred during a "loaded" move.

Good luck.

 

[rustybucket145]

Be sure to set up the video camera!!! America's Funniest Videos Here We Come!!!!!:beer:

 

[Angel*Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6849162#post6849162 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rustybucket145
Be sure to set up the video camera!!! America's Funniest Videos Here We Come!!!!!:beer:

LOL
But seriously - good thinking!

 

[Untamed12]

If the video is good, the prize money might break even on the cost of the new tank! (sorry..bad humour. I seriously hope that you have no troubles whatsoever with the move)

 

[ratboy]

I agree with memito. I have a 360 oceanic tank that took 8 HUGE guys to move the tank -- empty. And that was after I had 3 piano moving companies accept the job then back out when they saw the beast. My tank is 3/4" glass (double up on the bottom) so it probably weighs over 1000# empty. If you try to move it and it decides to tilt there is no way you can stop it and if it broke you could kill anyone in the way that is helping you. The 2 hours you will save by not draining the tank are nowhere near worth having to replace such an expensive aquarium.

 

[fishtk75]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6836808#post6836808 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by memito
No offense, but I really can't believe that people are really talking about moving a tank - of any size - full of sand and rock - and 10% water - especially a 360 gallon tank.

I am no expert, but I know that tanks can suffer from micro fractures just from sitting on a slightly uneven surface. Even if a 10%-full move is "successful" who knows what sort of micro (or even macro) factures you might have subjected the tank to.

I am of the opinion - as much as you don't want to probably hear this - that you should take the tank apart, put all of the inhabitants and LR/LS in rubbermaid containers and then move the tank completely empty. I understand that is a complete hassle, but there won't be a lurking potential problem that could be at the least a leaky tank and at the worst a surprise explosion due to fractures incurred during a "loaded" move.

Good luck.

Yes please do this empty.
Put all in 45-50 gal trash cans with small power heads,heaters and small lights for the coral.
It will be as a natural ocean storms on the ocean floors it comes back even stronger.
That is what I amy going to do to move my 75.
Better to be safe then sorry and lose the whole tank and your back.

 

[Roland Jacques]

sounds lazy and crazy.

you don't want your corals or fish in a tank with moving shifting and falling rock......

unless your stand is over biult like crazy this should not even be conciderded

the stress on the stand (and tank)will be bad assmuing your floor is completely perfectlylevel (not).

 

[ConsultantERP]

And here are the results,

I emptied the tank of all water, fish and coral.
Disconnected anything the could be disconnected


The stand is made of 2x6 lumber and very sturdy, so what we did was jack up one side 1-1/2 inches and put a 2x4 under 2 legs, after that we went to the other side and did the same thing. We went from side to side until we were able to put a 4 wheel furniture dolly under each leg. At this point the tank was fairly easy to roll around with 2 people pushing and 1 person steering.

Here is where the problems started.

The tank has a footprint of 4 feet X 6 feet and those furniture dollys do not roll very smoothly. As a result the tank experienced some twisting when we started or stopped the moving. The end result is that I had a couple of leaks. Not bad leaks (5 gallons a day) but leaks non the less. I am now in the process of resealing the bottom edge and hope to have it up and running again soon.


I very much appreciated everyones help and warnings about how I should do this. I guess the real point is that it had to be done and regardless of the way it was moved, if I did not completely empty the tank of rock and sand then there was going to be some weight that could cause shifting or twisting of the tank.

Again, thank you everyone.

 

[ChemE]

Sorry to hear that it wasn't a total success. I hope sealing the leaks goes smoothly so that you can get back up and running in short order. Best of luck.

Chris

 

[memito]

I too am sorry that it didn't work out. Hopefully the repairs will go smoothly.

Good luck.