Can you move the mountain? -How to move a large tank-?

[Eläköön]

Good morning MFK I hope you are all fine and well, my question is rather simple.

How to move a large tank into a basement? the kind that has a landing, and then turns into another direction.

I currently have a 5x3x2 tank that I was unable to get into the basement. I moved it on its lengthways base and slid it down the stairs but created a nice hole in the wall so i decided to move it back up. After some thought I realised that if i took it down on its smallest base, so vertically I could easily manouver it around the 2 corners.
The problem I now face is that the tank is extremely heavy and I am worried that having All that weight vertically might be dangerous for the people involved.

How many people should I use to help me? and any idea of placement?
Also I have heard of a furniture dolly but I don't know what this is so would like to know and how it would help

Thanks in advance guys and when I do finally get it down there then I'll have my own MONSTER TANK that I can show to you all

many thanks
El

 

[pi-eyed]

Sounds like the best way to move your tank is to bring it down the stairs on the skinniest dimension. Once you make it on the landing stand it up long ways and turn it to go down the rest of the stairs. I would suggest having 2 people do this--a 3rd person may just be in the way. I have moved several big tanks up and down stairs with just me and one other person(the biggest being a 340g + glass tank). Choose a strong person to help and I wouldn't use a dolly as it may crack the glass..

Good Luck,

----Chris

 

[Egon]

Yeah, I agree with the above. Bring the tank down the same way and then stand it up (if possible) and rotate it. Bollys work good on flat even surfaces. Not good on stairs.

 

[Eläköön]

Thanks for the support guys, if anything I was thinking I would need more people to prevent any more wall punctures that will need to be replastered
I was thinking to slide it on its side down the first 5 stairs or so (because its too tall to go vertical at the top of the stairs) then once i get near to the landing put it upright, and turn it to get around the corners, repeat for the second corner then slide it down to freedom. 2 questions though.

1. when the tank is verticle i'm worried I'l have to set it vertically one step before the turn, as to get it round the bend, should i put something soft underneath to break the tanks fall as it goes down the step?
2. once the tank is into the basement it needs to go onto the stand, any ideas how to do this? the tank is roughly the size of a single bed and weighs a tonne I don't think 2 guys could do this safely.

tools I have is 2 different kinds of jacks, and one of those wheeled platforms.

 

[Egon]

If 2 guys can't lift it get 4. If you only have two and your both strong then follow this: When I'm lifting a big tank with two we set the tank up on an end so the tank is at the highest it can get. then we tip it so the bottom of the tank it's leaning on the stand, right in the middle. (This works with longer tanks better.) Then we move to the other end of the tank that's on the ground and we both lift. Now one end of the tank is in our hands and the other end is on the stand. Then we walk and push the tank onto the stand.

 

[Pandamania]

If possible, I would take it totally apart, move it piece by piece, put together and reseal it. Lots of work and time, but it won't be broken....

 

[pi-eyed]

If 2 guys can't lift it get 4. If you only have two and your both strong then follow this: When I'm lifting a big tank with two we set the tank up on an end so the tank is at the highest it can get. then we tip it so the bottom of the tank it's leaning on the stand, right in the middle. (This works with longer tanks better.) Then we move to the other end of the tank that's on the ground and we both lift. Now one end of the tank is in our hands and the other end is on the stand. Then we walk and push the tank onto the stand.

Same method I use. If a third person is available, have them steady the tank so that it doesn't slip off of the stand..

-----Chris

 

[Eläköön]

thank you so much for your insight guys I really do think this will work was starting to have doubts if i would ever get the tank set up.

and as for taking it apart? well i tried, i got one piece of glass off, its so tightly sealed together that its nearly impossible to get any kind of tool into the gap between the glass, its very damn well made
so instead of risking chipping or breaking the tank, I've resealed it and realise that physically moving the tank down there would be the only safe option left

p.s 10 mfk points to anyone who gets the thread name reference!

 

[PostalPenguin]

A furniture dolly will work well. They look like this. If you look closely you will see two ovals near the wheels. These are belts on rollers which make it so it can slide down stairs easily. It also has a strap that you can use to secure the tank. Put a piece of plywood on the side that will be on the bottom to keep the pressure from the tank evenly spread out.

I'd still have an extra person or two to help control the dolly.

 

[Eläköön]

GOOD NEWS EVERYONE

The tank is now down the basement and also on the stand. Those of you with a keen eye will notice that the right end piece of glass is gone.
It shattered but luckily it came off perfectly, so when I'll go get another piece of matching glass made, the tank needs resealing anyway.

here is a picture of my 225g tank 5x3x2

Would like to thank you all for your suggestions, I used both a dolly and just sliding. The way to get it down that i described at the begining is what I used and now soon enough once its resealed with a new piece of glass I will have my very first monster fish tank. Thanks everyone