Lifting 6Ft X 2Ft X 2 Ft Tank

[nick1200]

Ok so its my birthday coming up and my partner has bought me a 6 x 2 x 2 fish tank. The problem is that a courier is bringing it on Saturday and have been told me and the courier need to lift it on our own into my house.Im just wondering if the tank would be that heavy empty ?I recently moved home to a bigger home and had to move a 4ft x 1.5 x 15 from old house to new house and that seemed heavy but like a dead weight heavy. The courier has told me he will be willing to help me lift it to were i want it but will we need more than just me and him ? I don't want it turning up and not being able to move it of the van. What do your guys think ?
 
I have been looking around google and have found this which says my tank is 24 stone when the tank is empty.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

I'd expect a 6x2x2 to weigh something in the ballpark of ~100Kg, having four able bodies will help, especially if this tank has to be carried upstairs.
 
With the help of another able body, I got a ~48x18x20 and a ~60x18x18 into my first floor flat last year, I was "dead" after both!
 
Surprised the courier is offering to help get it in at all, many would run a mile after getting it to your doorstep.

 

[nick1200]

I have been told the shop has 4 people lifting it onto the van and then me and the courier have to lift it off our self when it gets to my end.I have looked around google and have been told that the tank will be 24 stone. But then another site says 16 stone. I have emailed the shop to see what the thickness of the the glass is. I think that  16 stone should be ok with two people but 24 would be a no go for two people. I have used this site and have set the thickness of glass has 10mm and says it 12.5978 does that sound about right ??

 

[attibones]

If you can get more people to assist, you ought to. It's not just going to be the weight that you'll need to consider, but the length. You should have two people on either end of the tank (or two on each long side) to help evenly distribute the weight. This will make the length of it more manageable. Actually, now that I'm thinking, if you have two people on way long side, then you'll not have to worry too much about the weight in the middle. Or, if you can get a platform on wheels, it will make the job much easier.

 

[nick1200]

Well now i have been told the glass is 12mm thick and i have used the website posted above and came back with 20.7864 stone. And i am guessing it will not work out has 10 stone each end ?

Because has soon has the one person trys to lift it off the van the 20 stone will be on him.

 

[attibones]

The weight will not fall on one individual if four of you go in the van and each lift. I'd try to find a rolling something or other. That would make things simpler I would think. Do you know how the tank is getting on the van?

 

[nick1200]

4 people are lifting it on the van and then the driver is driving to my house 110 miles away from the shop and then me and him are supposed to be lifting it into the house. My house is in the middle of no were and i do not know anyone. Also there are steps going up to my front door so the rolling would not work there...

 

[attibones]

Have you asked your partner if they have any ideas for extra help? Could the partner also help? If you can't roll it, you can lift it up the steps, set it on an old blanket (something like a slick sheet, a tarp, or something), and then you'll be able to sort of drag it. At least, that's how the guys from the appliance store set up my oven and fridge. Maybe the same would work for a tank?

 

[snazy]

It depends how it's packed too. If it's with the hood and lights, it will be heavy. I wouldn't even attempt if it's just two people.
My 4f was heavier than my bare 5f tank because of that.
The worse that could happen, is park the tank in front of your house if too heavy to lift up the stairs 

 

[attibones]

My sister and I tried carrying her four foot tank up the three stairs to our living room, and we dropped it on her foot. We had to go to the emergency room. You'll want to be very careful if it is going to just be the two of you.

 

[nick1200]

well the tank is just a plain tank so no lid or anything just the glass with a sump ( another small tank ). I have just worked out my 4ft fish tank weighs 4.25177 stone so if this new tank is 20 stone then i don;t think i have a chance to lift it.

 

[attibones]

I'd be calling anyone in a forty mile radius. Offer to cook them dinner in exchange for help?

 

[Wills]

Big tanks are an absolute night mare to move
 
I have a 135 gallon tank and when it was delivered I was fortunate at the time to have a very strong friend at the time who could take one end by him self then the other end had me and the delivery guy on who were both reasonably well built guys. But it was sort of an okay weight.
 
I have just moved house with the same tank and this time I paid a delivery company to move it entirely as I had seriously damaged my knee and they were under instruction that I was not touching it lol. It took 2 delivery guys to get it on the van and then four guys to get it into the new house as it was a trickier route in.
 
Anyway my point is - what about ringing a delivery company and explaining the situation and seeing if you could pay some of their guys to help you get it in the house.
 
I know people here are saying about if it drops on you it will injure you but I would go so far as saying if this fell on you it could kill you!!
 
Wills

 

[TwoTankAmin]

6x2x2 tank is a 180 gal and should weight empty 282 lbs. (128 kg). That will take two very strong persons to lift. 4 people is more like it.

 

[nick1200]

Just a update the courier i was gonna use told me that i would have to help out. But i have had a look around and found a cheaper courier who have said that he will be able to lift the tank by him self and that i do not need to worry about lifting it. I told him that he does know that it is 20 stone and then he replied saying oh i might need your help. And yes i thought it would be around 282 lbs which is around 20 stone.The seller is giving us some foam sheets so that we can put it on the ground and then put the tank on top of the foam sheet and the drag the foam sheet making the tank move with it. But i think  dragging 20 stone will not work.I have 3 steps and then a strait bit going to my house and then a lot of high pitch steps. So i thought if we lifted it off the van over the 3 steps onto the foam then drag it the strait bit then we will only have to worry about the high pitch steps up to the house. I think ill ring the courier and see if he has any tools to help. Because i know with fridges and stuff they have things to help lift it. I have also need to think about building a stand seen has the fish tank is just the glass and the sump no stand so need to work out how to build a stand that can hold 70 stone