Do you think I can move tank by myself ?

[Dechi]

I need to move my 46 gallons tank and stand about 7-8 feet to the right. I would just slide it on the floor to its new spot. It has about 40 pounds of rocks in it and I would lower the water level to 25% and leave the fish in it.

I am a woman and not very strong but reasonably strong. My son was supposed to help me but he will be away this week and my new 75 gallons is coming so I need to make room for it. I want the guys who will deliver it to put it in its spot right away so I can start working on it without having to wait for someone to come by to help.

Should it try to do it ? This will be a huge effort for me so I don’t want to empty the tank (I’m keeping the water and putting it back in) and have to refill it after. Is it realistic to try ?

Thank you !

 

[Dennis57]

Does not sound like a good idea.

Why don't you go pick up a tote from home depot, lowe's or any store that sells them, Put it near the tank then empty water into the tote.

Put a filter in there, a heater then move all the fish in there. They will be able top stay in there at least 5-7 days without a problem.
Set up the new tank, how you like it, you can add some of the water form the tote, then add clean water to finish it off.

This would be the safest bet.

 

[Dechi]

Does not sound like a good idea.

Why don't you go pick up a tote from home depot, lowe's or any store that sells them, Put it near the tank then empty water into the tote.

Put a filter in there, a heater then move all the fish in there. They will be able top stay in there at least 5-7 days without a problem.
Set up the new tank, how you like it, you can add some of the water form the tote, then add clean water to finish it off.

This would be the safest bet.

Ok about the fish, but this doesn’t solve my problem.

Maybe I didn’t explain clearly enough. When the delivery guys arrive with the new tank, they need to put it right where my actual tank is. Which is why I need to move it before my new tank gets here. These guys aren’t going to wait a whole hour while I empty the tank and move the fish. They’ll want to drop the stand and tank and be on their way.

Thus my question : do you think I am strong enough to move this tank by myself it I empty it 75% ?

 

[GlennO]

It will likely still be too heavy. Why not put your fish in a bucket and empty the tank almost completely before moving it and refilling it?

 

[Dechi]

It will likely still be too heavy. Why not put your fish in a bucket and empty the tank almost completely before moving it and refilling it?

That’s a good idea, I don’t know why I was making such complicated scenarios and didn’t think of that before !

All I have to do is put the fish in a bin with their water, a heater and a filter, remove the rocks from the tank and completely empty it. And then move it.

I still wish the fish could remain in their tank while I’m setting up their new tank but it’s a compromise I’ll have to do.

Dennis57 that’s probably what you were trying to say too !

Thank you !

 

[Dennis57]

Ok about the fish, but this doesn’t solve my problem.

Maybe I didn’t explain clearly enough. When the delivery guys arrive with the new tank, they need to put it right where my actual tank is. Which is why I need to move it before my new tank gets here. These guys aren’t going to wait a whole hour while I empty the tank and move the fish. They’ll want to drop the stand and tank and be on their way.

Thus my question : do you think I am strong enough to move this tank by myself it I empty it 75% ?

I do understand what you said.
Why cant you have the old tank moved out of the way?
You can move all the fish into a tote and they can stay in there for 5-7 days until the new tank is set up.
Is your new tank coming first thing in the morning? Even if it is, let them bring the new tank into the house close to where it will be going, then you can take your time moving the old tank.

 

[GlennO]

I still wish the fish could remain in their tank while I’m setting up their new tank but it’s a compromise I’ll have to do.

You could empty it, move it, refill it and put the fish back in it until you set up the new tank if you don't want to leave the fish in the bucket.

 

[seem]

If you don't put polystyrene padding under the aquarium and it still has 25% water in the bottom, the bottom glass will crack when you move it to the floor. Empty all the water.

 

[Dechi]

You could empty it, move it, refill it and put the fish back in it until you set up the new tank if you don't want to leave the fish in the bucket.

GlennO I wonder what is more stressful to fish ? Staying in a plastic bin for a few days or being moved twice in the same day in a net and then having your tank emptied of its rocks and substrate while living in it ?

 

[GlennO]

GlennO I wonder what is more stressful to fish ? Staying in a plastic bin for a few days or being moved twice in the same day in a net and then having your tank emptied of its rocks and substrate while living in it ?

If the new tank is coming in a few days I'd put the fish in a bucket and move the existing tank now (if you can do that with only the substrate in it), refill it and put the fish back in it. When the new tank arrives the fish can go back in a bucket for a couple of hours while you drain the old tank, move the substrate and rocks into the new tank and fill it then put the fish in it. You can put them in a bin for a few days but I don't see the point when you can use the existing tank.

 

[Dechi]

If you don't put polystyrene padding under the aquarium and it still has 25% water in the bottom, the bottom glass will crack when you move it to the floor. Empty all the water.

I would be moving the tank while still on the stand. So I would be pushing against the stand and not even lifting the tank.

Why cant you have the old tank moved out of the way?

That’s what I’m trying to do, but as I said I am alone to move it.

Is your new tank coming first thing in the morning? Even if it is, let them bring the new tank into the house close to where it will be going, then you can take your time moving the old tank.

No I’m expecting it next week-end, if all goes well. Mew tank is going straight where the existing one is at the moment. Which is why the existing one has to get out of the way. I won’t be able to move the 75g by myself, so I need everything to be ready for when it gets here.

I’m probably making it more complicated than it is. That’s my nature. I like to be ready in advance and my son not being able to help has thrown me off and left me stressing about how to do it all by myself.

 

[Bunkerchunk]

As others have said, take the livestock out the day before & drain the tank water as much as you can.
when the delivery guys come with the new tank pay them a couple of bucks to move the old tank. Even empty a 40+ gallon tank & stand with rocks & substrate may be a bit much for one person...

 

[Skrabbitskrabbit]

Water weighs 8lb per gallon. I don’t think it will be easy alone. I would get it ready with 25-30% water and ask the men delivering to help slide it at the same time they bring the new one. If you can’t.