Suggestions for sliding aquarium

[pepbill]

I’m looking for suggestions for how to get a 60” x 36” footprint tank onto the sand without access to the sides. Tank is essentially built into an alcove in my house. Currently top of stand is just plywood but was planning to add 6mm EVA foam to the top to level.

TLDR; need to slide a big tank from the front. How do….

 

[Boo Baker]

1. lay 6mm foam
2. lay two pieces of 1"x1" wood on top
3. slide tank in on wood
4. when in place pull out wood
5. pray

 

[pepbill]

That was my first thought but was curious on other ideas

 

[JumboShrimp]

Hopefully I'm not 'dreaming' this, but I do think I remember a recent TSA custom build where part of sliding the tank forward onto the stand involved a thin, slippery layer of dishwashing liquid.

 

[Asm481]

I always worry when I hear leveling foam. Foam won't level. It will keep a sliver from creating a pressure point. Is this a framed tank or flat bottom. The frame never gets foam, the flush bottom needs to not have pressure points. Hopefully the stand is level!

 

[areefer01]

Hopefully I'm not 'dreaming' this, but I do think I remember a recent TSA custom build where part of sliding the tank forward onto the stand involved a thin, slippery layer of dishwashing liquid.

I've seen this done a couple of times. Also use aquarium suction / vacuum handles. Couple people working at the same time to pull it out even, Bob's your Uncle.

 

[pepbill]

I always worry when I hear leveling foam. Foam won't level. It will keep a sliver from creating a pressure point. Is this a framed tank or flat bottom. The frame never gets foam, the flush bottom needs to not have pressure points. Hopefully the stand is level!

Stand is level. It’s just to remove any irregularities on the plywood top

 

[Daasmo]

My first thought is to use dowel rods to roll the tank in place. I did something similar with a large safe and PVC. But i would think you would want the foam fixed to the stand or tank first for this to work.

 

[pepbill]

Just wanted everyone to know that our plan to use some very slick pvc trim to slide the aquarium but as Mike Tyson said, "Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face" we scrapped that plan at the very last moment and just ended up sliding the tank on the 6mil closed cell foam that was spray adhesived to the plywood. In the end worked fine just sliding on the foam.

 

[JumboShrimp]

Looking forward to future photos!