Moving an aquarium

[Reefedandconfused22]

Hey everyone. Looking for tips and tricks here. I’m picking up an IM EXT 100 and moving it about 200 miles.

This is my fist time and I’m doing it all by myself (I have movers helping me move it).

1) will a U-Haul cargo van work?

2) what’s the best recommendation for securing it in transport?

3) What are tips you wish you knew when doing this?

I’m not worried right now about set up. I’m gonna take my time and start that later down in the year.

 

[UncommonSense]

1) will a U-Haul cargo van work?

Yup! Anything that can haul a sheet of plywood should do just fine!

The tank is 4ft long, around 2ft wide, so it and stand side by side will be 4ft x4ft! — sump can either stay in stand, or be placed separate of tank and stand!

2) what’s the best recommendation for securing it in transport?

I like to lay foam flooring or a packing blanket down under the tank/sump to protect them if setting them on the cargo floor next to the stand… then, ratchet straps only tightened gently, with hand towels or other padding between straps and tank! (I don’t like strapping over the top of the tank specifically, just preventing it from sliding! — you’d have much bigger problems to worry about if the tank ever endured a bump big enough lift it off the cargo floor in transit! [stand can get a strap or two over the top to prevent tipping])

3) What are tips you wish you knew when doing this?

— Figure out how much the tank weighs! If specs aren’t readily available, calculate the tank’s weight based off known dimensions and glass thickness… (a standard rimmed 180G is around 275lbs, for example!)

— Figure out your plan preemptively… make sure you aren’t expected to haul this thing down flights of stairs, or load it in a precarious steep driveway!

— bring a few cheap furniture dollies, rolling heavy stuff is always easier than carrying if the ground is flat and solid!

— always thoroughly check seams on a used tank for any signs of silicone peeling/etc! (Ideally request to see it full of water! You can pump/siphon the water off in <15mins while you work out a deal!)

— ask if the seller has any misc aquarium “stuff” they’d be willing to include with the deal if they’re getting out of the hobby, they usually just want it gone!

 

[Quietman]

Oh you're just moving the tank. Usually this is a question on how to move livestock, sand, rock, water etc. Yes a U-Haul cargo van will work. Ideally you can put aquarium on pallet/board and secure with straps. Place that on a foam pad/mattress. Pallet much easier to secure with tie downs to van. Have the stand separate of course.

That would be ideal which means you might have to compromise a bit - just make sure you meet the intent of the above with the best substitutes you can find.

Get help to move, bring basic tools just in case there's some tear down work. Those glass suction cups look great to move aquariums but I've always just muscled it.

If there are stairs you're going to need to work that out. Pickup some straps they use for appliance moving and a dolly. Also get several of those blankets.

 

[Reefedandconfused22]

1) will a U-Haul cargo van work?

Yup! Anything that can haul a sheet of plywood should do just fine!

The tank is 4ft long, around 2ft wide, so it and stand side by side will be 4ft x4ft! — sump can either stay in stand, or be placed separate of tank and stand!

2) what’s the best recommendation for securing it in transport?

I like to lay foam flooring or a packing blanket down under the tank/sump to protect them if setting them on the cargo floor next to the stand… then, ratchet straps only tightened gently, with hand towels or other padding between straps and tank! (I don’t like strapping over the top of the tank specifically, just preventing it from sliding! — you’d have much bigger problems to worry about if the tank ever endured a bump big enough lift it off the cargo floor in transit! [stand can get a strap or two over the top to prevent tipping])

3) What are tips you wish you knew when doing this?

— Figure out how much the tank weighs! If specs aren’t readily available, calculate the tank’s weight based off known dimensions and glass thickness… (a standard rimmed 180G is around 275lbs, for example!)

— Figure out your plan preemptively… make sure you aren’t expected to haul this thing down flights of stairs, or load it in a precarious steep driveway!

— bring a few cheap furniture dollies, rolling heavy stuff is always easier than carrying if the ground is flat and solid!

— always thoroughly check seams on a used tank for any signs of silicone peeling/etc! (Ideally request to see it full of water! You can pump/siphon the water off in <15mins while you work out a deal!)

— ask if the seller has any misc aquarium “stuff” they’d be willing to include with the deal if they’re getting out of the hobby, they usually just want it gone!

 

[That Crusso Kid]

Yup! Anything that can haul a sheet of plywood should do just fine!

The tank is 4ft long, around 2ft wide, so it and stand side by side will be 4ft x4ft! — sump can either stay in stand, or be placed separate of tank and stand!


I like to lay foam flooring or a packing blanket down under the tank/sump to protect them if setting them on the cargo floor next to the stand… then, ratchet straps only tightened gently, with hand towels or other padding between straps and tank! (I don’t like strapping over the top of the tank specifically, just preventing it from sliding! — you’d have much bigger problems to worry about if the tank ever endured a bump big enough lift it off the cargo floor in transit! [stand can get a strap or two over the top to prevent tipping])


— Figure out how much the tank weighs! If specs aren’t readily available, calculate the tank’s weight based off known dimensions and glass thickness… (a standard rimmed 180G is around 275lbs, for example!)

— Figure out your plan preemptively… make sure you aren’t expected to haul this thing down flights of stairs, or load it in a precarious steep driveway!

— bring a few cheap furniture dollies, rolling heavy stuff is always easier than carrying if the ground is flat and solid!

— always thoroughly check seams on a used tank for any signs of silicone peeling/etc! (Ideally request to see it full of water! You can pump/siphon the water off in <15mins while you work out a deal!)

— ask if the seller has any misc aquarium “stuff” they’d be willing to include with the deal if they’re getting out of the hobby, they usually just want it gone!

Ok, pal, when do you sleep? I think there is a chance that we might have the same, non-existent sleep patterns as I only get about 4 to 4.5 hours sleep a night.

 

[UncommonSense]

Ok, pal, when do you sleep? I think there is a chance that we might have the same, non-existent sleep patterns as I only get about 4 to 4.5 hours sleep a night.

Wow! I need 8-9hrs!

Haha also, I’m on pacific time, hence the “late” posts!

 

[That Crusso Kid]

I’m on pacific time

This is the time I'm on... (okay, that's obviously a lie but I like the tune.)