How to move a 700 lb fish tank with one guy?

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Cope

Cope

Fusing with fire
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Step one was just a lot of brainstorming....
Step two, empty water and dismantle light, Plumbing.
Step three, and here's where it got sketchy. I decided or rather the tank decided me and all my buddy's could not lift it and even if we could we could not be carrying it and fit through doorways...
So what now? Build a rolling dolly that is the same height as the stand that will be the new stand! No lifting requited! Well that all sounds well and good until I tried it.. Strap dolly to old stand. moved the tank on to the dolly and it was sketchy.... way to sketchy to even be around... tried to roll it and o e of the casters folded and bent it's axle... the casters are rated at 300 lbs each... so with some quick thinking I screwed some braces on and strapped it back to the old stand. Back to the store and bought 4 more casters, these ones rated at 600 lbs each... I used cribbing and a 10' 2x4 to lever the tank and stand back up so I could get the tank back on the orignal stand. Added some bracing and widened the track with by 5" on both sides, now I'm just 2" inside a standard door opening..
Slide tank back on dolly/new stand and roll nice and easy out of harms way..
Step four, Drink beer....
Step five will be getting the tank out of the house and on the trailer then drive 400 miles and get the tank over the lawn, up on the deck and in my house... I do t see how hard that could be???

smile.gif


Dolly and new stand, mark one...


Dolly/stand mark 2


When I get the tank to its new home I will lift the entire deal up and remove the feet and casters, then skin the stand, add doors and strap it to the wall.

On the trailer I will build some bracing at 45 degree to the tank and also screw the entire deal to the deck of the trailer and ratchet strap the **** out of it....

Wish me luck!



before pic.
 
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Good luck..

My buddy has a 300 gallon salt water tank...
 
This one is 500 gallon salt.
Im remodelling a house and the owner wanted it gone so i figured id take it.. we will see just how stupid of idea that was....

In truth my pops was around to help but hes 65 and has a bad back so he was just around incase it fell on me and to yell when i was being stupid...
:)
 
Cope said:
This one is 500 gallon salt.
Im remodelling a house and the owner wanted it gone so i figured id take it.. we will see just how stupid of idea that was....

In truth my pops was around to help but hes 65 and has a bad back so he was just around incase it fell on me and to yell when i was being stupid...
:)
Click to expand...

I wish you taught my buddy how to move it himself back in November....

But we all got it done... About 5 guys... :icon_fU: :BangHead:
 
I really have to say that it just never occurred to me that I might have a 700 lb fish tank, LMAO
 
If yer dad was sposed to yell at you, he should have when you told him bout the tank lol.
Jk looks like a nice setup
 
I had the most fun with a 55 gallon I had some Wimple Piranha in. I had four nice one, about 6"-8" long. My ex poured bleach in the tank and killed them the day she left. I've not had another tank since.
 
Oh trust he was none to happy getting ropped into this...

We both ran salt tanks for many years and that was the only reason he was even down to be talked into this debauchery...
 
Heres a shot of the filters and plumbing...



The darn thing runs on TWO hot tub pumps. The cabnet on the other side is a AC unit just to cool the water...

who ever set it up must have had 10 grand into setting it up, no way I was just gonna throw it all in the debris box... I shutter to think what its gonna do to my eletric bill...

But its gonna look dam good in my living room...
 
Im into the Saltwater tanks myself. I just have a small one right now, and some days its a handful. I would love to have a larger one, but the largest I want is a 150 gallon. Although, if I had the opportunity and the price is right I would consider something larger.

Nice job moving the tank and have fun. Its a great hobby and is just as expensive as owning a Mopar, LOL
 
Want a 200 lbs TV ? With help, and a hand truck, it was moved outdoors early January. I have yet to get it hauled away. My advise, give it away again before you're too old/weak to move it again.
 
I'm sure you already know thss, but I'll add it any way. Wherever that thing goes, make sure the floor can handle it.
 
straightlinespeed said:
Im into the Saltwater tanks myself. I just have a small one right now, and some days its a handful. I would love to have a larger one, but the largest I want is a 150 gallon. Although, if I had the opportunity and the price is right I would consider something larger.

Nice job moving the tank and have fun. Its a great hobby and is just as expensive as owning a Mopar, LOL
Click to expand...
What does it cost to maintain a 150?
 
fratzog lover said:
What does it cost to maintain a 150?
Click to expand...
I honestly can not say as I dont have one yet. Im using Red Sea tanks, right now I only have my 34 gallon up at the moment and as soon as this tank is established I will be moving it into a 65 gallon. Eventually moving up in tank size to a 150.

Im not sure if your into the hobby, but the initial startup is not cheap. This hobby is just as expensive as owning cars. You can get basic equipment from the start or you can buy top of the line. Just my 34 gallon I have well over 1k in equipment. I found the tank on Craigslist for dirt cheap so that is a plus and that doesnt include the live rock, live sand, corals or fish.
 
Total weight will be @ 5,000 Lbs, with rock and water maybe a little more.

Cost to run, say 200.00 a month just in power, thats not including salt or dosing nutes...

cost to stock tank with coral and fish... 20,000.00 if bought retail (i wont buy retail)

i already have the floor braced with a 4x12 and direct compression blocks to subfloor. I may add more as the bracing was built to handle 240 gallons but is way over kill...

Im surprised no one mentioned my OSHA aproved flip flops...
I figured if it lands on my foot boots aint helping....

:)
 
I'm in the process of taking down my 75g salt tank. I had all kind of coral, and the fish were great. Even though I hardly ever did water changes my system worked well, but keeping the glass clean was just too much of a chore for my taste.
 
I have friends but I'm 400 miles from home on a job...and like I said even with help there's no way to be carrying it while fitting through a doowway...

Hence this plan..
 
Should I get a bigger tank?

:poke:

I guess my plan of yellow fin tuna is out?

I always wanted an indoor pool.....:steering:
 
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