Moving Large Aquarium

[jeff@zina.com]

No moving company will take the job. Any thoughts on how to get it down there?

Arnold Schwartzenegger. He'll be free in January...

A scissors lift would be the way to go, if you can get that downstairs.

Jeff

 

[karaim]

The scissor lift is actually a good idea, if the scissor lift would go diagonally.

 

[LooseHip]

I did something similar with a 180 I had (not sure on the exact weight, but it was a heavy all glass aquarium ~400lbs). Stairway was 32" wide as well. I slid the tank down the stairs. Placed two guys on the bottom, one guy on the top to provide some resistance, took 5 mins.

When I moved the tank out of the basement, I rented suction cups. I was able to carry it out of the basement with the help of 3 other people. It made the job much easier. I highly recommend them as the suction cup handles are much easier to grip.

 

[DeathMagnetic]

jeeze how big was this mill? I've got a series 1, its only about a ton.


I've had to cut holes in floors to get stuff down into basements. its not alot of fun, but it always a option.

it was a series II 4 hp you are probably right.. its only 5000 lbs...

:lmao:

 

[Anothermarty]

A rigging company not movers for something like that. Try searching for a local crane/trucking and rigging company a good rigger would have no problem getting it down.

 

[cakemanPA]

Several of the big suction cups for glass, straps, a couple of big guys, blankets/pads underneath it, and you gently slide it down.

 

[scbrooks87]

If you go the route of sliding the tank down the stairs with the suction cups, and straps and what not, I'd make a plywood bottom for it to disperse the pressure from the stairs, maybe staple some drop cloths to the bottom of the wood to protect the stairs also.

That looks like a tough drop there, but if you can slide it down, it may not take as much strength to keep it from just skiing down as the friction on the bottom will help prevent it from free sliding.

Best of luck! I'll be following along to see what happens!

 

[Jeff000]

Hire riggers. Heavy movers. They will move anything anywhere, just going to cost ya, but something like that shouldn't be too bad.

 

[Luckless]

I'm also wondering how you got it up there. Are there any decent ways to tape the glass up so that if it does suddenly shatter while you're moving it down the stairs you're not likely to kill someone? (And not risk weeks of work cleaning the tank again afterward to get the tape gunk off?)

 

[noobtothereef]

i like the scaffold/chainfall idea, i scaffold setup with wheels, put over the tank , rig the chainfall, lift the tank, roll it over the stairwell and drop it down, you only need 1 strap right in the center ith a piece of wood used as a "spreader bar" to keep the strap from crunching the top of the tank together, lower the tank onto the stairs and slide it the rest of the way down. By using 1 chainfall and 1 strap you can angle the tank to the stairs

 

[johnsnake]

Very good suggestion

 

[iced98lx]

Very good suggestion

:lol::lol::lol:

 

[swclown]

I had the same problem recently. Keep calling movers or a rigging company. The first company I called came out and said oh hell no but the second company (just movers) came out, thought about it and came back with stronger guys. It took four really strong guys with no straps or suction cups to get my 240 (96X25X25)down the steps and onto the stand. Keep in mind getting it on the stand is tricky too because of fingers in the way.
It was like 300.00 for my move and I tipped the guys well but well worth it. The possibility of the tank being damaged or a friend getting hurt trying to move it negated any financial considerations.. AND..the movers told me after the fact that they actually have moved solid oak dressers and cabinets that were heavier so it can be done by just movers..

 

[Mustang67]

If you go the route of sliding the tank down the stairs with the suction cups, and straps and what not, I'd make a plywood bottom for it to disperse the pressure from the stairs, maybe staple some drop cloths to the bottom of the wood to protect the stairs also.

That looks like a tough drop there, but if you can slide it down, it may not take as much strength to keep it from just skiing down as the friction on the bottom will help prevent it from free sliding.

Best of luck! I'll be following along to see what happens!

+1

And or go with a ply wood bottom, and duct tape a full sheet of card board to the bottom of the plywood. Once you get the tank down and flush on the stairs gravity will do the rest. Make sure you have a few people at the end to ease the tank down.

 

[pinnatus]

Go to the nearest graveyard and borrow the casket lowering device.

 

[woodnaquanut]

Very good suggestion

Five year old thread and there's sill a heart beat! :thumbsup: