Moving a new tank, Requesting reality check.

[zapbap99]

id just pay someone to help you if you dont have anyone im sure you can find someone

 

[RocketEngineer]

This would be easier at my Dad’s: Put the forks on the tractor, pick it up crate and all, and just drive it to the back, putting it down over the railing. Oh well

 

[Phil D.]

Think firefighter's would help, just to relieve the monotony of fighting fires! LOL!

 

[lost66]

Calling firefighters to help with 100g tank? Oh come on, someones live may be in danger that time and they will be busy lifting your tank.
Don't you have a facebook/nextdoor or something like this for your neghborhood?

 

[RocketEngineer]

I wouldn’t call them, I would drive over to the station, knock, say hello, see what they say. The worse that can happen is they say no.

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

They are fire fighters... not a dang moving company!

Honestly, this thread is getting ridiculous. Put it on a wheel barrow, dolly, build a sled, first and foremost...unpack it from the crate!!

 

[Skibum]

I'll reiterate and then shut up. SUCTION CUPS. 2-3 Guys and no stress.

 

[Snoopy 67]

Do you have a decent store nearby that can handle it?

 

[CollectOyster04]

Not knowing what kind of deal you got it for, but seeing how much the combo goes for, would you really want to risk something happening using the pvc and tractor ????? In my line of work, I use a furniture moving company quite often. For something like this, a professional company may charge $100 give or take depending on your area(mine, not as much). The piece of mind of not worrying about it being damaged far outweighs the risk. $50 Craigslist find may be a different story. Just my .02. Nothing worse than a should've, could've, ....didn't. Could be an expensive do over. Maybe it's just my luck...

 

[sp1187]

I have yet to hear anyone give good reason not to move the tank in it’s shipping crate via rollers and the lawn mower. That’s the longest distance and my biggest concern. After that I might just go to the local fire department and ask about getting some strong backs for an hour at most in return for a donation of some sort. They would only have to carry it maybe 20 feet and the deck stairs are as wide as the deck itself.

you'll still need at least one other person to move the pvc to the front and to keep it from sliding side to side.

 

[Sarah24!]

Hello,

Ummm ahh well, it’s not that bad specially if you have 3 people. Now to put this into light, I’m 90 pounds maybe 90 lol and my brother and I moved my 125 from my old house to the lfs (s when I went to a 240). As long as you keep your back straight and use your legs, your gonna make it. We had to carry my old 125 at least 20 yards before we even got where he was parked. When I recently moved my lfs moved my tank and it’s 240, it’s big. The owner who is 65, and some 20 year old picked it up and loaded it, I did try and help, though I think I was more in the way. If it’s extremely long ways, slide it onto rolling furniture dollys, (rent At uhaul for ten dollars lol), I know I rented like 6 of them. Roll it where you need, have the stand ready and everything ready for you to place the tank on the stand and your all set. I highly suggest you unpack the crate lol, set the stand up, keep protecting the glass, and then pick it up.

 

[RocketEngineer]

I was only planning on keeping it in the crate while moving it across the yard. That’s really the biggest challenge. Once it’s at the deck, strong backs and plenty of help will get it inside easy enough. The stand is ready to go.

 

[Sarah24!]

I was only planning on keeping it in the crate while moving it across the yard. That’s really the biggest challenge. Once it’s at the deck, strong backs and plenty of help will get it inside easy enough. The stand is ready to go.

Well ahh if I didn’t decide to rearrange my leg structure, I’d just help and have you on one end and myself. I can’t mathematically for the life of me (and I’m stunning at math), see how your tank weighs more than my 125 that was star fire glass, but to fathom it’s heavier than my 240 is just not feasible.

Speaking professionally medically only you really know your own body, and limits. It’s safer to not pass the boundaries of you know them. If that is the case you significantly increase the possibility of harming yourself. So if that’s true and trust me no shame in that, I can barley even stand now yet alone walk. If this is the case, then just ask 2 people to lift it for you, (meaning you direct traffic that’s IT). We all want to help and we don’t always know the full scope, and (one doesn’t need to share if they are not okay with it). But I’m sorry your ideas of moving your tank, are just horrible. You are more prone for injury doing these ridiculous methods than hiring 2 people to just pick it up. I mean I’ll be honest a gallon of milk for me is heavy at the moment. So lol I buy the half gallon ones now until I heal. I can’t even clean my own tank, but the difference is I know my boundaries. 3 months ago, I would be able to lift that tank with just you and move it. Again we want to help and if there are local reefers that live in the same area ask them, call your lfs, call Your public aquarium, (don’t call movers gas cost alone for them would buy you a second tank). I mean this very professional and with heart but your going to hurt yourself and or others with these crazy ideas. Just have two people pick it up, again I had 2 on my 240. We had four total but, there wasn’t enough room, going through the house and doors. my 240 is 72 long 24 wide and 34 tall, it makes 100 tank look really small lol.

 

[shamrock]

i agree, be careful with your back.

if you have the money, pay someone to do it.

 

[JoshH]

I would track someone down with a small utility trailer and toss it in the back of that then drag it to the house. I think depending on your ground you would run into issues with unevenness and would need a whole ton of pvc pipe to keep the ball rolling so to speak, you could go buy a 2 wheel dolly load the tank on that and secure it to your lawnmower hitch, or rent a small utility trailer yourself. Lots of options out there. And nothing wrong with tracking down some help, but walking a few hundred feet with any excessive weight is a challenge no matter how many people you have.

FWIW I think people forget that not all tanks are created equal. My 125 Gallon 5 foot custom tank weighs north of 425 pounds. I completely believe your tank weighs what it does. And I don't care who you are, walking around especially backwards or sideways depending on how you choose to carry it for hundreds of feet with hundreds of pounds would be a no go for anyone and they would all be looking for other ideas like you are now.

 

[Sarah24!]

I would track someone down with a small utility trailer and toss it in the back of that then drag it to the house. I think depending on your ground you would run into issues with unevenness and would need a whole ton of pvc pipe to keep the ball rolling so to speak, you could go buy a 2 wheel dolly load the tank on that and secure it to your lawnmower hitch, or rent a small utility trailer yourself. Lots of options out there. And nothing wrong with tracking down some help, but walking a few hundred feet with any excessive weight is a challenge no matter how many people you have.

FWIW I think people forget that not all tanks are created equal. My 125 Gallon 5 foot custom tank weighs north of 450 pounds. I completely believe your tank weighs what it does. And I don't care who you are, walking around especially backwards or sideways depending on how you choose to carry it for hundreds of feet with hundreds of pounds would be a no go for anyone and they would all be looking for other ideas like you are now.

Hello,

I have no doubt what you say is true, but did you use a thicker glass etc? I’m just curious as to what makes it heavier (please know I’m not disagreeing), but more intrigued by it. It makes sense if there is a type of glass, it other than that, frame and over flows I can’t imagine weigh much of a difference.

Im sorry to the op if he has a custom tank and they can or in @JoshH tank weighs more. When I moved my 125 I was shocked how light it was actually. But my 240 was definitely north of 400 pounds. But thinking of it structurally I’m curious if there is a strength difference. I would assume a silicon seal is the same as any, but curious if they design the panels to interlock with each other. Anyway again from my experience my 125 with dual overflows was really light, and I’m not a strong person physically, even then.

I definitely apologize as re reading my posts to me may not sound so loving and caring, I promise that was not the intent. I’d have to see where the tank is and going to have better ideas. I do think some of the ideas are still well horrible. I know they make big meat freezer dollies you can rent which have the larger tires on them. That wouldn’t be a bad idea, you’d have more control, bumpy ground is negated do to larger inflated tires. You could leave the tank or item the way you want, and use security straps to secure it. Some have 2 wheels and others have four. But it’s maybe as wide as the tank is or wider. That would again negate the rough ground, weight of distance, better leverage to lift into the home, and better Precise control.

 

[JoshH]

I have no doubt what you say is true, but did you use a thicker glass etc? I’m just curious as to what makes it heavier (please know I’m not disagreeing), but more intrigued by it. It makes sense if there is a type of glass, it other than that, frame and over flows I can’t imagine weigh much of a difference.

Sarah,

My tank is definitely not a normal tank persay. The 60" x 30" x 17" tank is made of 1/2" Starphire glass, it does however have an insanely large 1/2" glass external overflow along with 4 inch wide 1/2" Eurobracing on top. 3/4" regular glass bottom AND back panel both with reinforcing strips. I would presume these two panels are responsible for the insane weight. Total shipping weight was 512 pounds for just the crate and Tank.

I'm merely saying that not all tanks are created equal and just because one has had experience moving one or two doesn't mean they are all the same. Standard Trimmed tanks use the bare minimum glass thickness because there is added strength in the plastic trim. Rimless tanks require thicker glass to maintain this same strength. Thicker glass equals more weight, sometimes substantially so.

I will add that upon further research Innovative Marine publishes the entire tank and stand weight at 237 pounds. So the 100 EXT itself probably weights in the neighborhood of 200 pounds.... either way, not something I'd be wanting to walk 300ish feet with...

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

It can't be done. Sell tank, buy a smaller one.

 

[StatelineReefer]

If I can suggest something that doesn't involve rupturing a spinal disc or a tank side, hiring an experienced rigger is cheaper than back surgery, and since it's the off season for most of them, they'll probably do it at a bargain basement rate.

That or there's always the option of renting a bobcat with forks, the kind with the big soft tires that don't tear up lawns or topsoil.

 

[shamrock]

following this topic myself as i'm considering 2x 4x2x2 tanks and transport around to the back of the house would be challenging for me