Moving big tanks

[Jade.Crusader]

My MIL just told us we can have one of her 125 gallon tanks that have been sitting empty for many years. At least... I think they're 125... Maybe it was 225... They are easily over 6ft long, so maybe someone else can guess? Anyway, how would someone move that? We have a trailer to put it in, but can two adults lift it? I plan on putting my own gravel in, so her old gravel can come out, which will lighten it immensely, but it's an older tank, like 90's, and those are HEAVY. Does anyone have any experience in this? I have one friend I can ask to help my husband and I, but I know he will give me the stink eye over it (he's a bachelor and sees no merit in things like this), so I'd like to avoid that if possible, LOL! And if necessary my SIL can also help, though she's a small 18-year-old...

 

[Rbishop]

Get the exact measurements of the tank and use the tank calculator to find the size. If a 125, two adult men can move it. It is bulky more so than heavy. DO NOT try to move it with anything in it. Only use one person, IF THEY HAVE A JOB AT MOVING TANKS THIS SIZE!!!!

In either case, it will take two to lift it on a stand.

Sitting empty for how long and where? It would be in your best interest to reseal it before use.

 

[Jade.Crusader]

One of them is in their garage and the other is in their daylight basement's living area. The one in the garage I have never seen full and I have been in the family for 13 years. The one in the basement had water and goldfish in it in 2007 or so, then they let the gold fish die because the pump stopped working and they were just like "meh", buried the dead fish, and then they just let the water evaporate out of it. I'm not even kidding. All 100+ gallons evaporated over the course of about a year or so, and it has just been sitting since. Poor fish too. I loved those guys. They were three HUGE (nearly a foot long) fancy tail goldfish. I was pretty much a kid or I would have figured out how to fix the filter (my FIL kept saying "I'll get to it"), but I just stirred and swirled the water every time I went by to give them air, but I think they suffocated anyway . That aside, resealing sounds daunting.. Is it a challenge?

 

[Rbishop]

Many threads on here and You Tube covering it. Silicone tends to dry out and fail after long periods of exposure to dryness. Especially when in a garage with possible high heat. You don't want to go to the work of setting one up then have a leak a few weeks or months later.

 

[Jade.Crusader]

Yeah, that would be terrifying to have something that large start falling apart full of water and fish, yikes! I'll research what signs to look for that indicate that I should reseal it and then decide from there if it's even worth messing with. My parents want to give us their 55 gallon, but it comes with nothing, not even a stand, but if I have to reseal the larger one, the 55 might be worth it. It sounds awful, LOL! Maybe not though, I'll look up some videos. Thanks!

 

[Tifftastic]

Resealing a tank isn't actually that bad or that much work to be honest. It is a little time consuming, but not overly hard. Just make sure you have plenty of air flow in the area you're working in, kind of like when painting the fumes aren't fun. If it were me, those big tanks are so nice to have I wouldn't even bat an eyelash at the task of resealing and would take it in a heart beat.

 

[Jade.Crusader]

Thanks for the perspective . We're having an ongoing discussion about what is best. We'll see what the husband and I can agree upon. I definitely want the bigger tank, so we'll see.

 

[Jade.Crusader]

Wait... Wait wait wait... Is this right???

You don't have to separate the panes of glass and re-silicone between them??? That is what was freaking me out; having to fumble with those giant panes of glass without breaking them. I could have sworn I was told at some point awhile back that you have to dismantle the whole thing.

Tell me this video is correct and I will be a happy camper because that is very doable!

 

[Jade.Crusader]

Bump

 

[GraphicGr8s]

You just need to remove the silicone from the corners without separating the glass. I've got 41 tanks running. Some of them are my original tanks from 1980. Some I bought a fews years ago from a farm that went out of business. They're 22 breeders that are since 1980 also. Made by AGA. Out of all those tanks I've only had to reseal one because of silicone. The 8 gallon angel breeder tanks I have need to have two resealed but they were stored outside in Florida heat by a swimming pool full of chlorine.

Personally I'd set the tank up outside for a while (or in the garage) and check it before I went and resealed it. If you do reseal it you need to make sure you get all the silicone off the glass. It leaves a film and the new stuff won't stick to it.