Moving a tank?

ser_renely · 03-10-2008, 01:35 PM

Anyone have any tips...if possible for moving a tank that is sort of half full? Still heavy as hell, but wonder if its a bad move and should take all the water out? I was thinking of using straps with two-four people.

ty,
Ser

target001 · 03-10-2008, 01:38 PM

i have a 3 foot tank
that ive moved around before full of water with 25 kg's of live rock in it i move it while its on the stand and just slide it around

allthough i would never do it on any thing any larger

rkemp · 03-11-2008, 11:32 AM

I don’t know how big your tank is but I would not suggest moving it without taking the water out. 1 gallon of salt-water weights somewhere around 8.5 lbs. So if you have a 55 gallon you are looking at about 470 lbs of just water. Consider as well that when you move the tank the water is going to do some serious sloshing causing significant weight shifting possibly making your moving method unstable.

I would guess smaller tanks aren’t as big of a problem but anything with a number of gallons would not be worth the risk. Good luck drain the water if you can.

Brandon1023 · 03-11-2008, 11:44 AM

Are you moving it across the room or to a different house/apartment? Or what?

CV-2 · 03-11-2008, 12:11 PM

Ser,
I would take all the water out of it. Water will splash everywhere even if you're careful and normally it gets you right in the face. Also, like rkemp said, water makes it so, so heavy.

-Ryan

Crabby Jim · 03-11-2008, 06:45 PM

I would empty the tank if I were you .the tank will not like all that weight sloshing around and you are asking for trouble it is not worth it. When a tank is on a level stand the weight is evenly distributed and when you are carrying it around it is not. I think that will stress the seals and well I just wouldn't do it.

ser_renely · 03-12-2008, 07:59 PM

moving it up on a stand, not across town or anything.

I was thinking of getting out as much water as I can put it into buckets, so not to lose it. The put the water back in after I move it.

thanks guys

bmshehan · 03-12-2008, 08:03 PM

Sounds like a good plan ser, that's what I'd do. When you dump the water back in put a clean plate on the sand and dump the water on that, it will help to minimize how much the sand gets stirred up. If you have a good amout of rock I would remove it also, it could shift and crack the glass. Let us know how it goes and good luck!!

luvreefs23 · 03-13-2008, 01:10 PM

I moved a 29 gallon from the living room to a bedroom in my apt once (about 25 feet). I drained about 20 gallons and left all the rock in it but moved it stand and all. Moved went fine but i imagine moving a tank by itself would put alotta stress on the tank seams and such.

ser_renely · 03-14-2008, 09:38 AM

yeah, I was worried about the seams, mostly. I am pretty strong, so not worried about weight or me as much as the tank and water.