Quick Help: Can I put an Oceanic 110 on its side?

[Banff]

We just bought an Oceanic 110 without much pre-planning because it was a great deal on Craigslist. It is bottom drilled with massive bulkheads, so we can't place it upright anywhere but on the stand which we need to refinish.

We have people coming over tonight to help us get it out of our van. Is there a safe way we can place the thing on its back or something?

[TWallace]

That's a good question, and I'd love to see a response. I may be moving my 120 at some point and would be in a similar situation. I suppose I could just remove the bulkheads, but they'd be a hassle to remove and reinstall.

[FlyinggFish]

I think as long as you have it on a stand or something, to get the pressure off the glass when it's on it's side, you should be fine. I put my 65 on its side to clean it out. Get a second opinion though I would feel horrible if something happened.

If not being able to put it on the stand for now is your problem just get 4 + wooden blocks. Make sure they are high enough so that the bulk heads are off the ground. Simply place the blocks on all four corners (some in the middle for added support) underneath the tank on the ground. If having to place your tank somewhere is the problem do this. Don't place it sideways, just get the wooden blocks (or something similar) underneath the corners of the tank.

[Gary Majchrzak]

place it on blocks or lay it on a side- it should be okay either way.

[vikubz]

Won't the water run out?

Seriously though, I have laid a 75 AGA on its side without a problem.

[FlyinggFish]

Why would there be water in the tank?

[trb]

Originally Posted by FlyinggFish

Why would there be water in the tank?

They are just being funny.

Laying a tank on it's side should not be a problem, but make sure the top and bottom frame are what is supporting the tank, NOT the glass. But putting it upright on the ground with a few blocks on the corners would be best and there is much less chance of dropping it. I had to turn my 60 gal on the side to drill the tank, and I was afraid we would loose our grip while flipping it over.

I would just get a few 4x4 scraps or nail a couple of 2x4 scraps together to make a ~ 4x4 and put them diagonally under each corner. Or you could even use some bricks or something similar.

Good luck!

[billdogg]

my 150 sat on end for ~5 years in my garge while I was busy with other projects. It was fine - as yours will be.

[mdb_talon]

Originally Posted by vikubz

Won't the water run out?

Seriously though, I have laid a 75 AGA on its side without a problem.

Beat me to that response !!

Personally I would do as others have said and put it on blocks rather than laying it on its side.

[Banff]

Thanks everyone, got it safely into the garage and onto blocks. Appreciate the advice.

Now could you all come over and help us figure it all out?

We've had a reef tank running for 6 years, but it's just a sissy little 46 bow with a hang-on skimmer. Giant bulkheads and PVC pipes and skimmers the size of our children are things we gave only read about on the internets!

[cabezon2469]

lolz. before I knew better, I laid a 75 on its front face to clean it. kapow, there went my 75.

[evsalty]

Just a though for the future or for others reading this in the future...but why didn't you just remove the bulkheads if you were that worried about it. I would never leave the bulkheads on during a move as it is but that is just me.

Aslo how did you have it situated in the van? Sounds like you probably already had it on it's side in the van and if not on it's side then you had it some way other then on it's bottom.

[evsalty]

BTW you could even put it upside down.

[Gawain1974]

When I worked in a LFS, tanks would be delivered to us, and they were usually transported on their sides. We never had issues or a tank returned because of leaks.

[Banff]

We actually transported it upright. We had brought a lot of padding material with us including several large "therapy mats" which we have as a side-effect of having a disabled child.

The mats are high density foam, about 8 inches thick and covered in something resembling thick waterproof tarp. The tank travelled upright with the mats (6 feet long) acting as blocks under the tank and holding the bulkheads well off the van floor.

As to why we didn't take the bulkheads off, we didn't actually have any clue how to and neither did the guy who sold it to us. The tank had been set up and maintained by his reef fanatic son who lives in another city (with 360G tank of his own).

Like I said, we'd never dealt with anything but our sissy 46.

Our current tank has run without a problem for 6 years and is still running fine. We don't have any overstock issues to pressure us into rushing the transfer, so we're going to take a good long time to mess around with the new tank and plumbing and equipment before we actually drop anything living into it . We only picked up this tank because it was such a great deal and it's the size we have been musing about upgrading to.

Thanks for the input and interest, I am indebted to RC for all the advice I have gleaned over the years.

[evsalty]

Originally Posted by Banff

Like I said, we'd never dealt with anything but our sissy 46.

LOL. I actually miss my 46 bow but I couldn't have what I have now with my 125.

Since you have the time and eagerness to learn the plumbing side of a sump system then I suggest you take the bulkheads out and clean them up and put them back in. You can get new rubber gaskets from Ace hardware if the old ones appear to be cracking or harder then normal. You may need some channel locks to get the nuts to break loose due to how long they have been on the tank. But when you put them back in be sure to only tighten them by hand. Then test them for leaks.