CWO4GUNNER

As you may know I'm planning to make chnages to my tank locations due to the purchase of a used 120 tank that will replace the 60 tank in the front room and move the 60 tank to the office where the 120 tank is currently located. Problem is I still need to clean the used 120 tank (250 Lbs dry) and refinish its all wood cabinet sitting underneath. This means I would have to bother requesting help from my neighbors more then once for the same thing (oh-bother) to move and lift aquariums. But I have an idea Id like everyone's pinon on.

I was thinking of finding a 2x4 stud in the ceiling or attic and drilling a 1/4 hole and attaching a large heavy duty J-hook and then using a hunters pulley to rope lift the aquarium off the cabinet for refinishing. Then lower the aquarium to the ground for floor sliding to the bathroom for cleaning and subsequent relocation to the front room where I will install another J-hook again using a hunters pulley ropes to lift the empty 120 tank into place. What do you think?

whiskeyhill

why not just find someone to help you pick it up and get some dollies and place on there can roll to where you need

whiskeyhill

seems like an awful lot to build and using pulleys and lifting,hoping hook holds and crashing tanks and could be a whole mess.

CWO4GUNNER

I have a dolly in fact I have individual small truck dolly's for car tires to move cars but the problem is lifting the entire stand and aquarium to get the trucks underneath without pinching your fingers and spending 2 days in bed for a bad back LOL. I hate asking the neighbors they already think I'm Rambo cause I'm retired military, shoot guns and ride motorcycles, friendly but I just feel they are always on egg shells around me. I can ask my friends 4 mikes away but they are both over 68 and I don't want to get them injured at their age. You see I'm the only 52 year old in a 65 and over neighborhood LOL, they made an exception in my case being retired military.

cajunstitcher

Would putting the tank on a blanket or quilt and then dragging it work? We have done that with heavy pieces of furniture. That way you don't have to carry it and chance dropping, and it doesn't scratch the floor because the blanket is under the tank.

CWO4GUNNER

No water remember and 250 Lbs max. Maybe I will go in the attic and ensure the hole is drilled center stud with a another 2x4 saddled on top to distribute the load on the ceiling stud.

whiskeyhill

Here's the best idea....do you go to church? If so I'm sure you can find someone there to help you. If not they have plenty of people that would be willing to help you if you ask or for a donation...you know how that is but if friends are all fragile wouldn't risk asking them. But that whole idea sounds scary to me...something the stooges would do. Has to be some young people around you that can help.

CWO4GUNNER

Exactly what I plan to do but first I have to lower the 250 Lbs tank off the 32" stand. Getting it up there with a dolly leaning and plywood sheets then a dead man lift from one side just about took 2 years off my life, not to mention listening to the wife holler out referee commands while barley helpful is something I don't wish to repeat LOL.

CWO4GUNNER

Yup your right I do go to a great small church and men's fellowship. There is just something about me that has to try to do it alone first if at all possible. I mean you know first you have to ask then explain why, then make sure everyone is conformable, maybe offer orange slices. If I had some friends around here my own age I would ask but most people around here are using a cane or walker LOL.

Redvelvetsword

If you do use the pulley system, be sure to reinforce the rope (or whatever you use) at the top of the tank to be sure it does not crush to top.

CWO4GUNNER

That is a concern. Whatever is holding the tank needs to have all the lifting force placed on the bottom not the sides squeezing in and causing a crack. I cant tell you how careful I was sliding it off the pickup making sure its weight was distributed along a minimum of 1/3 of the bottom as it slid and cantered from tail gate to motorcycle ramp. One high spot object on the bottom like a rock allowing it to rest on the glass and not the frame could have easily send a crack across the glass.

I just tried lifting the entire stand and tank to slip a low profile dolly truck under one end. All I can say no way without something to grab onto like two polls, must be 150 Lbs on one end alone. If I can get a prybar under each corner I might be able to get my wife to slip the truck underneath. Once on the truck I could take it through the sliding glass door out back and start cleaning the tank glass real good mask it for protection, then sand the wood cabinet for refinish.

Lucy

CapeKate just bought a 125g tank, I'm sure she'll have some input on how she and her husband moved it. Maybe you can look at her blog, she may have mentioned it.

CWO4GUNNER

Thanks I read about her order and how they set the aquarium on the dining room table. You have to understand though that although her aquarium is 120 gallons and an inside length 71 inches, 22 inches wide, the height is less then 18" inches and so the glass is required was 1/4 inch thick, hence her aquarium weighs half as much dry as the same volume made of 1/2 inch glass. Although my aquarium has the same volume and is only 48 inches long and 19 inches wide, it has a showcase view of 31 inches in height almost twice as much and therefore a column water pressure of almost twice as much requiring a minimum of 1/2 inch thick glass. Initially when I read she placed it on her dining room table I was shocked until I saw the dimensions. My dinning room table would come close to collapsing.

Lucy

You could have said, thanks but mine's heavier. lol
Good luck, I hope you get it moved with no problems.

CWO4GUNNER

Well I'm glad that you find me funny. Goodness knows we all need to laugh more, so its my pleasure...

Lucy

I'm sorry, I really meant no offense.
It's good to laugh. I had a good laugh at myself about shims in your other thread.

Tavel

See the problem with retirement facilities? No strapping young men to help around the house. We'll do anything for cookies and lemonade...hehe

Maybe you can call up your old officer and have him send a squad to help you out...then your neighbors would be REALLY scared of you.

CWO4GUNNER

That's funny. I used to just call the my Master Chief on base and tell him to send over 5 recruits for something like this. Some cleaning and some refinishing LOL. Now I can only give my cat and dog orders but they cant help with the manual stuff. What I need are some grand kids.
Anyway I emailed my friend 4 miles away and asked for his help, he's 68 and a retired construction worker and like me even though he's not what he once was, on a rested occasion he's as good as he ever was LOL. I could do it myself but don't want to take a chance on straining my pinata.

Ricardo_NY1

I'd say try to hire some kids/teens to help you out.........Cragilist ad, etc.

I say use a dolly or two........the flat ones...

Regarding pinching fingers, you can always lay a couple of 2x4's on wherever it is you will rest the tank so that the bottom does not touch anything, sort of like railroad ties. You can then remove them in several different ways later.

aquarist48

Please get someone to help you or move the tank for you if you haven't already.

navyscuba

Well I gotta be with you on that one I like to do everything by myself too. That's why I cracked the silicone on my 50 gal thick glass trying to move it from the garage to the livingroom. I don't know about using the pulley system. I know it will hold but my concern is the sides. Sir if I were close to you I'll give you a hand no problem. But kinda far. Good Luck.

CWO4GUNNER

Appreciate your recommendations and especially the offer to help, buts its really no biggie, just a big tank LOL. Actually heavy is more the truth and of course awkward. I know exactly how to use the ramps as that is the way I got it up on its stand. I just don't want to risk cracking it or my back using that method again. If I can come up a custom DIY harness with two wide nylon straps that slip them under the glass at each end (easy) then attach each to a 2x4 directly above each strap maintaining the width of the aquarium so no squeezing the sides. Then one long 2x4 across the top length centered but under the two smaller boards at each end (inset bolted) and finally a U-bolt in the center of the long 2x4 to attach the hunter (deer) pulley rated at 600Lbs attached to a J hook in the ceiling 2x4 truss. I only need to raise it an inch to slip the cabinet out then lower the tank for a blanket drag to the bathroom for easy washing. But I will leave the tank suspended 1/8 inch over the cabinet for an hour to insure load capability before removing the cabinet. I'm thinking of installing a J-hook over each tank to save on stress and strain. what do you think?

Dozey

I might suggest renting an engine jack, they’re cheap to rent and a lot stronger then a j-hook screwed into a 2x4 ceiling joist. Then again you could go down to your local high school and pay a couple of the football players a few bucks to move it for you. Finding kids that need some extra cash these days isn’t difficult.

CWO4GUNNER

Boy its tough eating oatmeal while typing LOL...

I know the man power request works but it would be nice to have a system that is one person workable like having a Python that makes bucket brigades a thing of the past, having to ask outsiders for help every time I have to move an aquarium is a hassle. The engine pullet is a good idea and I considered it only its designed to bang into the engine since its made of steel. I need an unobstructed lift solution with minimal directional moment which is why I don't want to pull out the ramps. One false move, turn, or bang and its all over and time to replace glass panels

Looks like my neighbor passed on the help offer, cant blame him really, the guy is 68. OK Ill take some pictures as I DIY this thing. God willing it will work.

hkirchen

Good luck to you sir, I would not have the first clue!

Dozey

I look forward to the pictures and my best wishes are with you for a safe move.

whiskeyhill

I'd say the 60 bucks for the Python would be your best investment...I know it was for me. Bucket brigade is no fun

CWO4GUNNER

Yes Iv owned a Lee's Python clone I bought at Walmart for $29 somewhere in the middle of my last cycle LOL. It is a great little device but I hate wasting the water.

CWO4GUNNER

Well I managed to come up with a method to hoist my 250 Lb aquarium (dry) off its stand so I can get the stand refinished in cheery which is a compromise from black lacquer which is too difficult. The hardest part was rigging the straps without squeezing the top when lifting, getting the flat straps under the aquarium though were easily slid under from one side. I figured out that the canopy made the perfect bridle to protect the glass. Lifting and especially lowering was not easy because the line is dead weight and is hard to release slowly, but next time I will use thick gloves. The other end of the block and tackle was attached to the ceiling via a 3/8" J-hook screwed dead center into a stud which I had to locate with an electronic stud finder. The Block and tackle was a left over hunting tool from my tour in VA during hunting season although I only used it once in 5 years and decided my steaks were best had at Walmart LOL, the pulleys only reduced the weight by 75% to 62 pounds. It was still hard on the hands but worth not having to use ramps. You will notice the plastic trash bag sealing the top opening under the canopy and the paper towels stuck to the glass. Its and experiment that holds WDV on the inside walls soaking for a few days to soften up mineral haze on upper glass. The plastic bag keeps the inside walls wet with vinegar until Im ready to clean the inside. Tomorrow I stain the cabinet and polish the inside glass. I think I'm going to buy two decorative J-hooks for each of my aquariums so emergency removal can be done by one person.