Questions on moving a large tank

[ozkrogh]

Hello all,

I've been lurking in this forum for years and I'm truly amazed by all the amazing tanks people have. With all the build and new tank threads, I either read stories of a dozen buddies helping to move a tank in place or I see pictures of a crane airlifting a massive tank into a new home. Has anyone ever had the freight company provide the manpower to move the tank from the back of the truck to it's final location?

I'm looking to have a larger glass tank (72l x 30w x 28h) built and I was wondering what input you would all have as far best ways to get the tank in place. It's one area I really haven't done much research on but as I get closer and closer to completing a basement remodeling project, the time for ordering my tank is right around the corner. I'd rather not make enemies of all my friends by having them sacrifice their backs for my tank... plus hiring someone to do the work would provide insurance against any accident that might damage the tank.

I have no idea how heavy my tank would be. Am I just overly paranoid about moving such a beast or is this something that could be done in a reasonably easy fashion with 4 or 5 guys and those plate glass suction cup carriers?

Thanks in advance for the advice and especially for all the inspiring threads here on RC. Hopefully I'll be able to start my own start up thread in the next 3-6 months!

-Chad

 

[kwl1763]

4 or 5 no. If you get 7 or 8 probably. I ved a 280 with 6 and will never use that few again. My 450G 10x3x2 took 12 guys struggling!

 

[nyvp]

my 560/g took 6 people and 6 suction cups 8 would have been better though

120x36x30

 

[orientalexpress]

my 330gl took 8 peoples.

 

[Mr.Furious]

First off where in the house are you putting it? If your putting it in the basement is it a walk-in or do you have to go down stairs. Sometimes some of the "drastic" ways to move tanks on this forum are actually easier and least dangerous for both people and the safety of the tank. For example it was actually easier to remove the window in the room my tank was going and to carry the tank around the side yard and through the window into place. Otherwise I would have had to do some crazy contortionist tricks if I went through my house. All I know is definately get alot of help or some strong movers and make sure they have the right equipment considering it is a glass tank (i.e. suction cups with handles)

 

[bmrescort]

What you need to do is go to the local musclehead gym and ask 3 or 4 of the biggest guys you see if they want to make a few bucks moving a fish tank

 

[Crusty Old Shellback]

My first 400G acrylic tank we moved with about 10 guys and a bunch of suction cups. That was just for the lifting. To move it around, we sat it on a couple of furniture dollies w/ 4 x 4's across them for extra support.

On my second 400G acrylic tank which was heavier because it was constructed completely out of 1 1/4" acrylic, I found a platform lift a Home depot to use. It had a 2' X 2' platform and was hand cranked up and down. We used that and slid the tank out of the wall onto the lift, then lowered it down onto furinature dollies once again. You know, the wooden 4 wheel ones. Rolled that out of the building and used a 2" square steel stock to slide the tank on down the stairs and into the back of the truck.

Once at my house, again slid the tank out of the truck onto the lift and moved the truck out of the way before turning the lift around and setting it on the dollies in my garage. I'll probably use the lift again when I get ready to move the tank onto it's stand in the house.

Using the dolly and lift sure beat carrying the tank down a bunch of stairs. It weighed about 700 lb's.

 

[ozkrogh]

Interesting range of feedback!

Thanks for the input... and to address some specific posts:

nyvp: Is your tank glass or acrylic? 6 people on that tank, if it was glass, sounds like an amazing feat!

Mr.Furious: Excellent point. The tank will be going into a walk-out basement which means it will have to be carried around my house, down a fairly gentle slope, and in through a single door. The door jamb is about 30 inches wide which leaves little wiggle room. To accomodate this, I plan on taking the door and hinges off and turning the tank on it's side to get it through the opening. Fortunately, once inside the basement, it's a straight shot to where the tank will be placed so no stairs, narrow hallways, or other obstacles to navigate.

The recommendation to tip the tank on it's side actually comes from a tank builder that I received a quote from. An additional constraint is the plan for an external overflow along the back of the tank so turning the tank on it's side is pretty much a requirement at this point. Final tank design hasn't been mapped out but I'd like eurobracing around the top to strengthen the tank. This should make tipping the tank on it's side safer to do but out of curiousity has anyone else tried this?

If anyone else has other ways they've moved a big tank I'd love to hear but I guess it's time to start calling in some favors and find out who I can count on to help with the move.

M next thread will have to be on tank/equipment design.

 

[Crusty Old Shellback]

I've turned all sizes of tanks both on their side as well as on their end to move them around. I stored my 200G glass tank on it's end on a furniture dolly for about 8 months with no problems. made it easy for me to move it around as necessary by my self. So no wories on setting it on it's side as long as it's supported well around the edges if sat on something.

 

[kwl1763]

Ya turning it on it's side/front is no issue. It sounds like you have almost the exact situation I did. I would suggest turning it on it's front on 2 heavy duty furniture dollies. Then put plywood down and roll it to and through the door. The intial getting it on the dollies and the lifting into place is the hard part. The rest is a piece of cake. I think you gould do it with 6 if it's 1/2 glass on the sides and you have suction cups. If it's 3/4s 8 or more normal sized guys. Obviously if you get 6 brutes you can do anything.

I have a 120x36x25 with external overflow and eurobracing and that is basically what we did with no isssues.

 

[nyvp]

yupe its glass. no big guys , no gym people just 6 guys with suction cups. we picked it off the truck to dolly push dolly around to tank lifted it into place.

 

[uztaryn]

I have a 500g acrylic tank that I bought from NormR on here. He replaced it with a glass tank.

Here is what we did.

He had a freight company bring the new tank to his house. He drained the old tank. I agreed to pay the freight company to move the old tank to my house. He had the old tank taken off the stand then onto the floor. Then the moving guys brought in the new tank and placed it, grabbed the old tank and drove it to my house then brought it in and placed it on my stand.

We paid them to do the work and guess what.... IT WAS WORTH EVERY PENNY!

Those guys were struggling the whole time and they were professional movers. Pay the freight guys! Don't bug your friends.