Moving a large aquarium.?

Question

the tank from his house to my house. Its bigger then I expected. He said it was 150 gallons but its at least 180 gallons . The problem of moving it is it has 2 bulkheads at the bottom so its very hard to lift it up and carried it over the stand. We cant slide it because the bulkheads will break. Any advice on moving large aquariums. Do you guys know any products or equipments to lift it up. We tried puttin a crowbar and lifting up one side and stick the crowbar in to crank it up to much pressure would crack the glass.

the tank from his house to my house. Its bigger then I expected. He said it was 150 gallons but its at least 180 gallons . The problem of moving it is it has 2 bulkheads at the bottom so its very hard to lift it up and carried it over the stand. We cant slide it because the bulkheads will break. Any advice on moving large aquariums. Do you guys know any products or equipments to lift it up. We tried puttin a crowbar and lifting up one side and stick the crowbar in to crank it up to much pressure would crack the glass. We can carried it if we get it off the stand. Th e only hard part is carrying it off the stand.

Answer 1

You could use wooden shims to start the lifting process. They are basically just very thin wedges of wood available from hardware stores. Start with just one and tap it in under the tank then another not too far away etc until you have gone all the way around and it is lifted 1/4 inch or so. Go back with 2-3 sstacked to lift it a bit higher. Etc etc . By stacking them along with pieces of 1 X 2 you should be able to lift it high enough to lift the rest of the way off the stand. Sounds like a job for 5-6 people though. Nothing like extra manpower when moving a big tank like that.

Broom handles and mop handles can act as rollers to help move one around as well.

Not an easy job, but nice tank!

MM

Answer 2

I am assuming you emptied the tank. Home depot and Lowes (if there is one near you) or even a LFS that sells and delivers large fish tank have a power lift. If you can get to the bottom of the tank a piece of wood can be placed on the rubber top of the lift. this will lift the tank from beneath. (I am assuming when you say bulk head you mean on the stand?)
or on the ceiling? Either way this lift is great. It is electric and can lift heavy items to be slid into place.

If you cannot get to the bottom of the tank one really creative way is to use rubber cement. Yep rubbercement all over your hands it will give you grip on the glass surface so it can be lifted directly up from both ends and placed on the lift of equal height. The rubber cement can just be peeled off your hand. If not elmers white glue will work but takes longer to dry on your hands. most of the lifts have wheels so now it can be lowered for better balance and wheeled.

If you cannot find a lift any sturdy table on wheels will work for rolling the tank.

I still like the kegger and friends idea!

Answer 3

Believe it or not, those cheap things they sell on TV called Moving Men work wonders. They are basically a piece of smooth flat plastic with some foam on top. You can get them at Wal-Mart, etc. While they won't help you get it out the door, in a truck, and to your friends house, they will let you almost effortlessly slide it across a floor or even carpet and do no damage to flooring. All you have to do is pry up all four corners one at a time and slide one under each. It will save your back once you get it indoors. My wife and I moved a 75 gallon tank while still on the stand with these. They are cheap, I think like 5 bucks for 6 or 8 of them. Put as many as you need to support it.

The shim idea sound pretty good to me in the above answers. Regardless the only way to get this thing moved is by removing almost all the water. 1 gallon of water weighs roughly 8 lbs. For a 180 gallon tank that's about 1440 lbs. of just H2O.

You may want to consider getting a bunch of 55 gallon CLEAN, UNUSED plastic drums to store the aquarium water in while moving it. It's easier to move a drum on a dolly than a full tank. Put the fish in CLEAN, UNUSED 5 gallon buckets with the original water from the tank for transport. By keeping and reusing the original water from the tank you will keep from having to cycle your tank again.

Buy lots of beer for your friends too !!

Answer 4

The equipment you need to lift a large tank is fairly common and cheep too. It's called 6 or 8 of you freinds and a keg as payment. But don't "pay" untill after the tank is moved!!

Ok really now, how did you freind get the thing in his house when he bought it? Thats prob the best way to get it out .

Answer 5

Besides a few buddies & beer, you need to either rent or borrow a few things. Start with some suction cup glass handles, A good custom glass shop should be able to steer you in the right direction, they use these for moving large panes of glass used in commercial buildings. You will also need a moving dolly, this will make stairs & hallways easier. Don't skimp on moving pads, use them on the tank before you put it on the moving dolly.

Answer 6

The best way without draining and such, if you don't have steps, is to drain 25% just like you're doing a water change. This helps with sloshing. Rent or borrow a piano mover, you can get them from moving companies and maybe even Uhaul.

Answer 7

well a fork lift, bobcat, or muscle. i would put in the back of a pickup or on a trailer bed. jam pack the inside of the tank and outside with blankets, and pillows.

Answer 8

strong muscles.

Answer 9

strong back and muscles not kidding