Moving tank to stand

[pufferfreak]

Right now my tank is on my desk and my dad and I made a stand and I was wondering what is the best method to move the tank like 4-5 feet to the stand from my desk? I have a 29 gallon with like 40 or something pounds of live rock and 40 pounds of sand. What would you suggest I do? Thanx

 

[oceanjumper]

Not sure if you were serious.... but I wouldn't lift it up before you emptied the tank. You might break the tank in two....

 

[oceanjumper]

or, if it will work, push a hard carrying plate under it. ( I would still take out the rocks and the majority of water. Leave the sand...)

 

[pufferfreak]

won't taking out the rocks hurt the corals and what about the fish?
With the plate idea i have a erally stong neighbor like he can bench like 500 so he could help with the plate and my dad and I could get the other side does this sound smar?

 

[melbournefl]

Not sure, might break the tank but you *could* try this ... "unpile the live rock" and spread it out on the bottom of the tank, drain as much water as possible and still keep the rock covered and just enough for the fishies, etc. Gently lift one end of the tank up only high enough to begin working a piece of 3/4 inch ply under it. The plywood should be large enough to overhang the tank by about 6 inches all the way around. Sloooooooowly move the tank as close as possible to the stand and gently slide the tank off the plywood and onto the stand. That being said, if I were forced to do this I'd probably use the opportunity to do some housekeeping and drain off enough water to support the lifestock into a *CLEAN* container, move the rock and critters into the container (caution of things that cannot stand being out of water for even the briefest of periods, i.e. sponges, some breeds of starfish etc.) drain the tank the rest of the way and make the move.
Just my .02, I really can't think of any real easy way of doing this sorry, good luck in whatever you decide.
Later,
Paul

 

[newreefers]

I have moved my tank 7 times in 5 years. this is how I would do it for your situation. Drain as much water as possible out of the tank, put some in a 5 gal bucket, put what rock can withstand air for a second into the bucket. This will take down the weight of the tank. Use the ply wood method, but put some 1x1's around 3 edges of the tank as it will slide on the plywood, this will stop it from going over the edge. I would not bench press your tank. get a couple of 2x4's and cut it to the height of your stand, when you get the tank to the stand use the 2x4's to help balance the tank at the right elevation for the sliding of the tank from the plywood on to the stand. hope this helps you and good luck.

 

[pufferfreak]

Well i decide that im going to lay the live rock that has corals on the ground of the tank and then drain enough water and put the other rocks in the bucket then use the plywood method or a peice of steel because my dad can easliy borrow it from work.
Thanx i probably would have broke the tank without your guys help.

 

[sebae0]

i moved a 130gal tank 4 times now all you have to do is drain water down as far as you can, leave what is delicate in the tank and put eveything else in buckets. one guy on each end pick tank up and move the 5 feet you have to go. my 130 had 300 pounds of sand and some rock in it and i had to move it from one house to another, didnt lose anything. just me though

 

[bbronco]

I have over 10 takes i move them around all the time. I have a 30 gallon bucket that i put the water in to. (rubbermade trash can cleaned real good and used only for fish water) then put fish and rocks in it then pick up take move it. move water and fish then pump the water back in to the tank put fish and rocks back and im done. works great till you have to moce a 120 gallon tank!!