Random: Can I Pull Aquarium Stand Out With Full 55 Gallon (To Put Black Background On)?

JSkeleton · Aug 16, 2022

Random question but is there any risk if done carefully, to pulling my Aquarium stand out from the wall with a full 55 Gallon that has 28lbs of rock and about 42lbs of arragonite?

I didn't think of doing it prior to filling it, partially because I figured I'd just get a stick on background but I can't find any good black background that's the right size (or that can be cut to the right size), so I was going to try to just paint it black with Acrylic (unless anyone has a better suggestion)?

Jedi1199 · Aug 16, 2022

JSkeleton said:
Random question but is there any risk if done carefully, to pulling my Aquarium stand out from the wall with a full 55 Gallon that has 28lbs of rock and about 42lbs of arragonite?

I didn't think of doing it prior to filling it, partially because I figured I'd just get a stick on background but I can't find any good black background that's the right size (or that can be cut to the right size), so I was going to try to just paint it black with Acrylic (unless anyone has a better suggestion)?

Probably not. Even if you could handle the weight, I wouldn't move a full tank that way. Keep checking out your LFS, surely one will have the plastic solid color stuff that you can use without moving the tank.

JSkeleton · Aug 16, 2022

Jedi1199 said:
Probably not. Even if you could handle the weight, I wouldn't move a full tank that way. Keep checking out your LFS, surely one will have the plastic solid color stuff that you can use without moving the tank.

What if I empty 25-50% of the water after my cycle (currently cycling, or trying to if the bacteria would start working on the ammonia lol)?

Cell · Aug 16, 2022

I would empty most of it first, then move and refill. I've had to move my 55 several times in this manner.

doubleshot00 · Aug 16, 2022

Whats the tank sitting on? Carpet? Vinyl? Tile?

Yes it can be done. I moved my 90gal from my wall 1.5”. Just take out water until it’s light enough you can slide it.

This will not work on carpet.

Cell · Aug 16, 2022

Carpet sliders tho

Jedi1199 · Aug 16, 2022

JSkeleton said:
What if I empty 25-50% of the water after my cycle (currently cycling, or trying to if the bacteria would start working on the ammonia lol)?

If you don't have any fish in there yet, why not just drain most of the water into a brute can? A 32g should hold almost all of it. Then you could more easily move the tank away from the wall to paint it.

Cover the tank so you do not get any overspray of accidental paint into the display.

Place a wave maker of some kind into the brute can to keep it circulating.

Once the background is done, push it back into place, double check that you are still level, adjust if needed and refill. Its a pain, but better done now than if you wait till it is stocked.

JSkeleton · Aug 16, 2022

doubleshot00 said:
Whats the tank sitting on? Carpet? Vinyl? Tile?

Yes it can be done. I moved my 90gal from my wall 1.5”. Just take out water until it’s light enough you can slide it.

This will not work on carpet.

Wood floor (like those *fake?* wood panels or whatever)

Thunder_reef · Aug 16, 2022

I wouldn’t try it…55 gal tanks are narrow..I could see it tipping very easily, just my 2cents

Jedi1199 · Aug 16, 2022

JSkeleton said:
Wood floor (like those *fake?* wood panels or whatever)

Pergo.

Make sure that you keep a couple towels on hand EVERY time to do any work on the tank involving water.

Pergo flooring does NOT react well to being wet. Clean every spill immediately!!

Cell · Aug 16, 2022

Get furniture sliders. Hard plastic disc for carpet, soft pad for hard floors.

doubleshot00 · Aug 16, 2022

JSkeleton said:
Wood floor (like those *fake?* wood panels or whatever)

Yes thats easy. I only drain about 30 gallons from mine and slid it. It took some force but it worked. Go slow.

bblumberg · Aug 16, 2022

I have moved my 90 gallon tank in this way by emptying most of the water leaving just enough to cover the fish. Then lift one end and have someone push a furniture pad underneath the stand. Do the same with the other end so that most of the stand bottom is covered by the furniture pads. Then slide the tank to where you want it. This worked MUCH better for me than furniture sliders. I moved this tank several times this way without damaging our wood floors when they were being redone (due to a slab leak flood).

JSkeleton · Aug 16, 2022

Cell said:
Get furniture sliders. Hard plastic disc for carpet, soft pad for hard floors.

But don’t you have to put that on prior to setting up everything?

Jedi1199 · Aug 16, 2022

Cell said:
Get furniture sliders. Hard plastic disc for carpet, soft pad for hard floors.

doubleshot00 said:
Yes thats easy. I only drain about 30 gallons from mine and slid it. It took some force but it worked. Go slow.

The furniture sliders are great, but they have to be placed below the unit before it can be moved. Since the tank is full now, it would need to be drained enough to lift up and get the sliders under it anyway. At that point, why bother? Plus, if left under the stand, they will cause issues with leveling, or need to be removed prior to refilling. Seems a lot of extra effort for what needs to be done here.

JSkeleton · Aug 16, 2022

bblumberg said:
I have moved my 90 gallon tank in this way by emptying most of the water leaving just enough to cover the fish. Then lift one end and have someone push a furniture pad underneath the stand. Do the same with the other end so that most of the stand bottom is covered by the furniture pads. Then slide the tank to where you want it. This worked MUCH better for me than furniture sliders. I moved this tank several times this way without damaging our wood floors when they were being redone (due to a slab leak flood).

Interesting! I don’t need to move it too far just maybe a foot to slide behind it.