Need Idea how to move a 72g bow front tank

[PhoenixOne]

*Sigh*...here we go. Wife is gonna have our living room painted and the floors sanded on the week of 4/13. So, I have to move the tank in order for them to at least paint behind the tank. It's a 72g bow front with 115 lbs LR, 3 tangs, 1 GBM clown, 1 bluespot jawfish, 1 neon gobie, live sand, about 8 corals, anemone and your various cleanup crew. I figure if I move the tank foward about 3 to 4 ft, they will be able to do what they need to do in about 2 hours. The floors are gonna be sanded and coated with WATER based clear coat. How can I do this without a catastrophy?

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Not going to be easy. You are going to have to break the tank down and oput all the livestock and rock in tubs in another room. Move the tank. then refill it when they are ready.

 

[PhoenixOne]

tubs like rubber maid tubs?

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

I would suggest those or tubs similar to them. 5 gallon containers as well. Also you are going to need heaters for each container a powerhead for each container as well. If this project lasts more than a day or two you are going to need light for any corals you have.

 

[PhoenixOne]

Well, I got the powerheads, and I can figure a way to use my light fixture to give them light, and I have seven 5gal buckets and if needed, go buy the biggerst rubbermaids they have but the heaters. That, I only have one. That means I have to buy like.....5 heaters? I won't be able to buy at least 5 heaters at 30 bucks a pop and have no use for them afterwards. I'm in a pickel on how to keep the water heated.

 

[rookie07]

I am moving...and I need to move my tank aswell....mine is only 34 gls however...I will be using a bunch of 5 gl buckets, and making more water, so I dont need to transfer all the water.

 

[NYreefNoob]

Phon You Can Drain Most Of The Water Down And If You Have A Strong Stand Get 2 2x4 One For Lower Part Of Stand And One For Upper And 2 People Can Wiggle It Forward. Reason I Put Slider's Under My Stand So If I Ever Have To Do It, It Makes It Easier

 

[jay1335]

I used a big catering cooler to move everything in my tank. You can prob rent them at a party depot or restaurant supply place.....they where huge about the size of my 55 gal tank....

 

[reefs4life]

I had to do that with my 75gal tank and I used 5 brand new 20 gal garbage cans for the live rock and water. and a new recycling bin for the livestock. All from home depot, once I was done I just washed them out and returned them lol

 

[wxl14]

I would get a lot of friends

 

[PhoenixOne]

I would get a lot of friends

Eh, kinda thin in the friends department. But I do like the home depot idea. And can you explain how to use 2 2x4 for the "lower" part of the stand. Here is a pic of the whole set up.

 

[NYreefNoob]

all the weight basically or force is on the bottom of the stand. if you drain it down almost all the way and drain sump out, basically would be doing a large water change, you can grab bottom of the stand and top, someone on each side and wiggle the tank forward enough to move it to do the painting and floor, if you just need it out of the room do the same thing but tank all fish out and put in containers with tank water and you should be able to slide it all

 

[lfsmarineguy]

Phoenix, we have containers if you need them just let me know. Better to use a bigger one in another room than several smaller ones if you only have the 1 heater. It's actually not as bad as you would think moving the tank if it's just in the next room temporarily.

 

[masterswimmer]

Make sure you cover the tubs and if possible run airline tubing out a window for clean air exchange. Paint fumes in such high concentration could do some harm.

swimmer

 

[PhoenixOne]

Thanks for the great advice guys!!! I think I will be able to this with all these great suggestions!!! LFS, Thank you soooo much!!! I will be taking you up on that offer and I will let yer know when I will need them. Whew....doesn't seem like its gonna be too bad!!! Thanks a bunch!!!

 

[TimberTDI]

BTW, you should always have an extra heater for backup.

Steven

 

[PhoenixOne]

BTW, you should always have an extra heater for backup.

Steven

This is true, but ya know...I haven't used a heater in about 2 1/2 years cause the water stays above 77 deg for some reason so the one heater I have "is" the backup! LOL. go figure. But you are right. I should have one just in case.

 

[DAN-O]

i did this one time for a 65 gallon tank. went to target and bought two big rubbermaid containers and filled them up with the tank water. you will need some power heads or koralias to move he water around in the containers.
empty your tank completely then move it. after you are done you can return the rubbermaids back to target if you have your receipts.

 

[reefs4life]

when I did my move with the garbage cans I didn't take all the water out of the tank, I left about 6 inches of water in the tank because I have live sand and I didn't want to fully disturb the bacteria in it

 

[PhoenixOne]

Well, thanks to all your help and BIG thanks to LFSMARINEGUY. He lent me a 55g container and was able to put everyone in one place. Only had 4 losses....snails. Everyone else did fine. Took about three days to complete painting but we couldn't get the floors sanded. I dont think I will be moving the tank again since it will be just sanding and using water based finish. So I think I will cover the tank and have a fresh air duct from outside. We'll see. Thanks once again to everyone and a HUGE thanks to the people at Aquarium Design Network for lending me their 55g container!!!