Moving large tank

themcnertney · Dec 30, 2019

Hello. I will be moving my 220 gallon from where it currently is upstairs to my downstairs basement. The tank is in a room next the the stairs. It will be going though a standard door to another door, down three steps to a landing then making a 90 degree turn down the stairs to the basement.

any suggestions? Maybe glass suctions? Can I stand it up and use a dolly?

Jon Fishman · Dec 30, 2019

Get a lot of people. I moved a 250g yesterday with one other guy, from a guy’s garage, to a Benz Sprinter, to my driveway....... It can’t go any further than that until we get more people!!!

MarineMalecki · Dec 30, 2019

+1 on lots of people......and the glass suction cups....all were used to install my 300 display when I was building a new house

themcnertney · Dec 30, 2019

Where do I buy the suction cups? Can I stand the tank up and use a dolly as that is an option I would like?

Jon Fishman · Dec 30, 2019

I saw suction cups on Amazon.... but only rates for 330 lbs.

themcnertney · Jan 4, 2020

Will glass suction cups be able to support the weight of the tank?

WVNed · Jan 4, 2020

It took 7 people to move my 240 into the basement. I rented a kit here with 8 suction cups. We used all of them.
https://www.customaquariums.com/glass-aquariums/delivery-moving-kits.html
Doors are tough. You need extra people to receive the weight on the other side of the door.
I also bought two of these so we could rest and roll it on the easy parts. They also where handy for the stand. They are cheap at harbor freight.

We have found that around 60lbs per person is a very manageable amount of weight. The cups themselves are rated for a 125lb load capacity. Should you and the people helping have the ability to lift more than the 60lbs per cup, it still helps to have more than one suction cup for that person to "Get a Grip!" Keep in mind, these are our recommendations based on our experience. Your ability to lift weight must be evaluated individually.

The grips hold 125 pounds. The average person can't carry a 125 pounds for an extended period.
Even if they can lift it and set it down that isnt carrying it. Don't expect them to.

jwilliams860 · Jan 4, 2020

Is it the standard 220 or something custom, on the landing you could stand it on its end slide it to the next set of stairs then lay it back flat. Its shouldnt be crazy heavy, myself and one friend moved mine when I had it and then me and the same guy moved a 300 DD tank about a week ago. If you have 2 able bodied guys one each end you should make it through the door

Blue Spot Octopus · Jan 5, 2020

I would make a wooden mock of your tank and see if is even possible. Then when you move your tank you will need at least two spotters to call out directions.

WVNed · Jan 5, 2020

We went the long way around with the 240 to avoid some really tight spots with steps by going out and around the back instead of through the house.

Garets92553 · Jan 5, 2020

I’ve been trying (thinking/been lazy) to get my 220 into my house. When I bought it me and another guy just slid the tank off the stand and into bed of truck. Metal stand was almost perfect height of truck bed. I did my whole build not taking tank off stand. I lifted one side of the tank at a time to put foam mat between stand and tank. Then got the furniture dolly took wheels off screwed them to 2x6. Cut same width of tank. So my tank and stand can be wheeled around easy. I could probably move it inside myself. I have RV parking and just one back door step to go over. Glad I don’t have all the stuff in the way you do. Good luck.

Dom · Jan 5, 2020

Don't you mean a hand truck? How would you use a dolly on stairs?

If you mean a hand truck, just be sure that you place a piece of wood on the foot large enough to accommodate the pane of glass on which the tank is resting.

The more people, the better. I helped move a 320 last summer. We had six guys, three on each end. But all were not on each end of the tank at the same time. We switched off. Those not handling the actual tank, guided those that were.

DogsRule · Jan 5, 2020

You could look into renting an "appliance dolly". They are made to slide large appliances up or downstairs. The tank would be placed on end & then strapped into the dolly. I would wrap the tank in movers blankets before placing on the dolly, just as a added precaution. HTH

themcnertney · Jan 6, 2020

DogsRule said:
You could look into renting an "appliance dolly". They are made to slide large appliances up or downstairs. The tank would be placed on end & then strapped into the dolly. I would wrap the tank in movers blankets before placing on the dolly, just as a added precaution. HTH

This is something that I have been thinking about as well.

themcnertney · Jan 6, 2020

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Milwaukee All Purpose Appliance Dollie Dimensions – 60″H X 24″W X 12.5″D Load Capacity – 700 lbs. Load Strap – Yes Weight – 41 lbs. Wheel Size – 6″ Toe Plate – 24″W x 4.5″D

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Dragon52 · Jan 6, 2020

I used a hand dolly to move my 120gl tank by myself but I put a small towel on the bottom of the dolly to keep from getting a scratches to the tank.

thediscobandit · Jan 6, 2020

Lots of people wont necessarily help you in this scenario. Narrow stairway with angles. Probably only get two sets of hands on it at a time.

Ive moved tanks in the 150-260 gallon range many times with just myself and a sturdy dolly like the one pictured above (with brakes if possible). I would say narrow, winding staircases are the biggest challenge. Its possible that if the hallway is standard width, and there is a 90 degree shift, you wont be able to turn the tank at the landing, even with it standing on end. The part you have to consider is the cross section on the 24x30 tank standing on end is roughly 40 inches wide. If you can turn 40 inches on that landing, you might be able to make it.

Is there an exterior door on the lower level you can go around the house to? It might sound harder but actually may be easier than getting a tank stuck in a stairwell.

themcnertney · Jan 6, 2020

I definalty think that the dolly is the way to go. I will have 3 other guys to help me.

themcnertney · Jan 9, 2020

Been doing some brainstorming and I am kind of nervous about an appliance dolly having a small plate on the bottom. When the tank is tilted back, will the weight of the tank and the landing plate of the dolly cause a pressure point and possibly damage the tank?

thediscobandit · Jan 9, 2020

Dan McNertney said:
Been doing some brainstorming and I am kind of nervous about an appliance dolly having a small plate on the bottom. When the tank is tilted back, will the weight of the tank and the landing plate of the dolly cause a pressure point and possibly damage the tank?

I would use some cardboard under it as a buffer. Should be fine. You'll also want some ratchet straps to keep it secure on the dolly while moving down stairs. Use cardboard where the straps contact the tank as well.