Tips on Moving a Large Tank

[lhoy]

Well, I am going to pick up my 225 gallon tank on Friday. I know many of you have moved some larger tanks. I am looking for tips on moving one. The things you thought about AFTER you had moved your tank!

Questions I have:

Is it okay to use straps to attach tank to U-haul trailer to hold steady obviously don't want to make too tight.

Do you need people in the middle of the tank to keep it from flexing?

It is sitting on two piano dollies right now so I am hoping we can roll up to the trailer and only lift a short distance onto the trailer.

What else do I need to know?

BTW, I will be taking up many of you on coming down and looking at your large tanks for idea!! Thanks Bill for the suggestion and offer.

Lee (stoked and going broke!!)

[txstateunivreefer]

talk to bigbird123 he had alot go wrong so im sure he has alot of wisdom now

there is some moving gear that is floating around maast somewhere

ill be following as well since i will be moving my reef in T-45 days

[LoneStar]

Its fine to strap it to the side wall of the Uhaul truck. Just get the moving blankets and place them between the wall and the tank. Also, use them where the straps are going to be wrapped around the tank. You can also invest in a sheet of styrofoam from Home Depot/Lowes to sit the tank on while in the truck. That would only set you back around $10 for a 4x8 sheet.

The bottom pane of glass should be plenty strong to hold up the entire aquarium. Although its easier to have people on the ends, and the sides, if the tank is light enough, 2 people can pick it up on the ends with having to worry about the center flexing (as long as there is a good center brace).

MAAST does have a moving cart. It makes thing easier. Hopefully whoever has it will post where its at. The only kicker is if you borrow it, you have to take care of it. Either hold onto the cart for the next person who needs it, or drop it off at a location so they can pick it up....

Square furniture dolly's would work great. The only thing is if the dolly is not wide enough to support the tank, get a piece of plywood to make the deck of the dolly bigger.

Be carefull of the trim on the tank (I believe you bought a glass one if I remember). Try not to drag the tank across surfaces, since that can rip off the trim. You might want to contact caferacermike and see if he still has those heavy duty suction cups. Those can be a lifesaver when moving the tank through tight spots.

[z28pwr]

As LoneStar said strapping the tank should be ok, just make sure you don't overtighten the straps and use towels or blankets to avoid scratching the glass. For the most part 4 people should easily be able to move the tank unless it's a brick, then it will be a little harder. The MAAST cart will make things much easier. You may want to put a post on "MAAST CART LOCATION". Last time I used the cart it did great moving a 850 lb tank so weight shouldn't be a problem.

http://www.z28pwr.com/images/600gallontank/600gallonmove2.jpg

[RayAllen]

I have the Maast Cart. Ive had it for almost 2 months. You are welcome to come get it, but as stated you pick it up and keep it untill its needed again. Let me know and will give you my address.

Ray

[lhoy]

Hey guys, thanks a ton!!! I feel much better about the move now. I did get 10 blankets from uhaul to use on Friday as well.

Great ideas on the plywood for the furniture dollies and the styro board. I will pick up both for sure. The replies have helped tremendously. If we can't find the cart, I an not too worried. One of my friends going can bench 400 lbs so him at one end should be fine as there is no telling what he can deadlift!!

I will also try to have someone taking pics of the move as well!!

Anything else I should know?

Lee

[thedude]

I have 2 suggestions for you:

1. 2 guys can move that aquarium alone but it is not fun. I would recommend 4 guys and furniture dollies and it should be no problem.

2. A-Z Rentals on Burnet rents glass suction cups and they make moving a tank that large extremely easy.

John

[lhoy]

John,

Will any type of glass suction cup work? I will check the rental places here as well. I should have four men on each end of the move as well.

Thanks,

Lee

[RayAllen]

I mentioned above that I have the maast cart. Trust us when we say its makes it much easier. The heigth of the cart is perfect ;)

[thedude]

Lee,

You need to look for the suction cups that are used for auto glass (I think that are rated to 4-500 lbs?). With 4 guys on either end, you should have NO problem moving the tank at all. Like I said, moving the tank with 4 guys period should be pretty easy.

John

[caferacermike]

Or I cannot believe nobody mentioned that the CafeKid has said numerous times that he spent $400 on 4 Woods 8" suction cups so that MAAST Members can borrow them. I can move my 400g acrylic with only one other person. I've lifted a 220g Oceanic with only one other person. We moved it to a dolly and pushed it on out the door.

They make it gravy to move tanks around.

LMK as they are out on loan right now and will need to be collected.

[lhoy]

Ray,

It probably would but I can't get to SA from Georgetown before then. And I don't think the tank, stand, and canopy and that would fit in the trailer I rented.

Thanks though for letting me know.

Lee

[LoneStar]

Or I cannot believe nobody mentioned that the CafeKid has said numerous times that he spent $400 on 4 Woods 8" suction cups so that MAAST Members can borrow them.

ahem...


Be carefull of the trim on the tank (I believe you bought a glass one if I remember). Try not to drag the tank across surfaces, since that can rip off the trim. You might want to contact caferacermike and see if he still has those heavy duty suction cups. Those can be a lifesaver when moving the tank through tight spots.

:wink_smile:

[captexas]

1. Definately borrow the Maast cart. I moved the 240g tank I had into the house manually with a few good friends from Maast. After that, I had a lot fewer friends! The second time I moved it I used the cart and it was easy for 2 people to move it around then.

2. On loading it into and out of the trailer, I suggest having the foam under where the tank will sit to help cushion/absorb from some of the impacts. It will also protect the bottom trim of the tank from getting scratched up.

3. This helped me when I loaded my 240 into the back of a van - find a couple pieces of 1/2in. pvc pipe that are wider than the tank, but short enough to fit between the wheel wells of the trailer. Set the conduit on the end of the trailer and then lift one end of the tank off of your furniture dolly and set that end on the pipe. You will then be able to roll the tank forward into the trailer without having to support the entire weight. If the front starts to hit bottom, put another piece of conduit under it and then roll the rest of the tank on the trailer. Then when you get home, you just do it in reverse, roll enough of the tank off until it sits on a dolly. Then roll the rest of the tank out until you have to just lift the one end to set on your other dolly.

Hope that helps. Oh, and when it comes to getting helpers, it seems pizza and beer are very good lures! lol

[lhoy]

Ok, it is just me or are there always "stories" that go along with the moving of these tanks? ; )

Lee

[Drzy]

I'm picking up a tank from Glasscages.com in Houston this coming Saturday... does anyone in San Antonio have the glass suction cups, or know where I could rent them?

Many thanks!

[erikharrison]

PM Caferacermike. I know he has a set.

[Drzy]

PM sent. He's up in Round Rock though, so if anyone knows where I could get my hands on some in San Antonio, it'd be much appreciated.

[txstateunivreefer]

some of the major equipment rental companies have them.

[Drzy]

Just talked with Bigbird on the phone, who's got caferacermike's suction cups. Bigbird's using them Saturday during the day, and I'll be back from Houston early Saturday evening, so I'll pick them up from him then. I'll use them Sunday to bring the tank in my house, and then ship them back up to caferacermike.

Lookin' good! Thanks to all!

[lhoy]

Those things are lifesavers on carrying a heavy tank.

Lee