How-to Move Monster Tanks

[knobhill]

I did a search and couldn't find much info on this. This weekend I am moving my 360g glass tank to its permanent home. It is made of 3/4" glass and has a reinforced plywood bottom. I am unsure of how heavy but am guessing about 800lbs; It is currently sitting on a dolly. I am having a bbq on sunday and will have about 10 strong guys on hand to lift. It must be raised 38" and then lowered 2" to go into the steel stand which has a 2" lip.

Any suggestions on the "big lift?"

suction cups?
moving pads?

Should we place the tank in the stand on its side (on the ground) and then pick both up simulataneously? a diagonal lift. I fear it will put too much stress on the seam.

Look for some ideas. Thanks

 

[dirtbikerider]

I don't know much about suction cups, I have heard they help a lot. My advice would be all hands on deck and would prolly do a cardboard cutout the footprint of the tank. Then carry he cutout down the path the tank will go to see where clearance would get tight before hand. Much easier to fix a problem while carrying cardboard than a heavy glass tank. Are you moving from one house to another or is it down the hall, what kind of move are we talking? Sorry I kind of started giving my 2 cents before I got all my info. Hope it helps

 

[bbortko]

lift with your knees!

I'm an electrician and sometimes we have to set 1000+ pound transformers in places where we can't use a pallet jack. One trick is to buy a stick of rigid conduit and cut 3 pieces a few inches wider than the depth(front to back) of your tank place one left, right and center then roll them out one by one. For the last one a couple of people can hold on to the top rim and lower it slowly, with one end already on the stand the other end will weigh less than half the total weight making it managable for two lowers and one person to remove the pipe.

 

[DaveB]

Get multiple dollies (maybe 2 of the flat rolling kind and one appliance dolly), get suction cups, and work in shifts. Do as much rolling as possible and use the suction cups to lift.

The diagonal lift idea won't be an issue provided it doesn't tip over... but if you have the cups you can get it up, over and back down and in.

Going through a door, if that has to happen, is going to be the hardest part, as it'll likely need to be diagonal to fit through. And when 800lbs is on end and diagonal like that, it is VERY hard to hold in place and control.

But with 10 guys you should have more than enough people to spot and keep things safe.

If there are steps involved, put two 2x4s running up them. That way if a suction cup or person fails and it drops, it won't break - it'll land on (and likely gouge the crap out of) the 2x4. If it's downhill, you can also slide it down the wood. If up the stairs, at least it lets you set it down to rest.

Perhaps most importantly, limber up.

 

[knobhill]

Thankfully, the tank is going up only 1 step, through french doors into the room that is its permanent home. It is already on 2 furniture dollys that are nailed togethor. I have 2x4s and plywood to make a ramp up the 1 step but it is sounding more and more like the suction cups will be needed. I will go to harbor freight tools tomorrow and buy 20 of them.

is there any chance of the cups failing?
there will definately be pics of the move to posted sunday

 

[jtalley]

I recently did a 900 lb tank lift with about 10 people and suction cups. Just make sure you put a thin film of water on them to make them stick better and test each individually by lifting on them as hard as you can. Definitely roll or slide as much as you can.