moving 500 gallon

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Oh and just for the record, my suggestion for getting this thing down there would be to cover the stairs with 1/2" ply to give you a ramp, secure the tank onto another piece of ply with a block at the front to stop it sliding off, cover the tank with cardboard + blankets and wrap a few decent lifting straps (make sure they're rated to cope with the load) around it and find SOME WAY to get the winch from your jeep to it... I'm sure if you think hard enough you'll be able to find some way to get it there (through a window? use timber & blankets to protect the frame, etc)..

I'd be doing everything I could do avoid using manpower to get a tank that size down stairs.

-Dave
 
I'm willing to bet the tank has been moved already, but if not, I came up with a pretty decent idea i believe.

Use plywood to make a ramp on the stairs for the tank to slide down. Lasso the tank a couple times with strong rope or use multiple ropes to control the slide down the stairs. Use heavy duty blocks and tackles to slowly let out rope and thus the tank down the stairs.

In this way, although the actual weight of the aquarium isnt reduced, if you have a sturdy enough point to attach the blocks and tackles, you could theoretically slide it down the stairs with one person granted you have enough rope and heavy duty enough equipment.

- Matt
 
12 Volt Man;3626984; said:
that is a massive tank. I have never seen one that big moved.

my LFS had an 800g glass tank, but it was built in place, and deconstructed when the store moved...
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You should have seen up move the 540G. 2 people. LOL
 
mad ness;3385224; said:
didnt go thru all posts so if repost, apologies.

suction cup things that glass installers use. one per person and use as many as can fit on the sides of the stair case.

for safety but this is much easier suggested than applied is use those straps used to tie down cargo. some have winch lever type lock device. loop a couple long ones around long side and anchor them somewhere uptop, clicking it tight as you go.

or combination of above and make a wooden/steal base with a lip that can withstand the weight of the tank at 45 degrees for the bottom of the tank with a bottom that is rigid enough to withstand bowing on the glass. Put a piece of buffer such as foam for safety. thick plywood on stairs with knotches, securely screwed in. on the bottom of the base described above, attach fitting knotches. then using suction cups and straps, pull the tank up in steps.

might want to consult an engineer or general contractor for advice on specs.

oh just incase this hasnt been considered, make sure the upstairs floor can withstand the weight.
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maybe you should have read it, because the tank is going DOWN stairs into a basement, not UP:nilly:
 
attach the tank to a piece of wood anchor a wench to the tank maby to several tow straps that go all the way around the tank, slowly let teh tank down the stairs, have a trailer at the bottom and eight people slowly tilt the tank over and put it on a flat bed trailer
 
I had to move a 12' 500 gal tank down stairs. It too a lot of planning but it did go. I uses 4x4 posts running the length of the tank, and 2 car jacks and 4 scissor jacks at the corners. Used the car jacks to lift the tank to get the scissor jacks under it. Once the tank was more than 1/2 way extended beyond the stairs, we put more 4x4 posts down and the jacks on top of that and kept sliding it inch by inch until the entire thing was supported. Once it was off the steps and totally supported by the scissor jacks we slowly lowered it down on to a set of dollies.

But, we didn't have the option of taking the tank apart.
 
anything yet?
 
VERY CAREFULLY!! KEEPING ALL fingers and toes out of the way
 
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