Why do you think it wouldn't fit? Is your stairwell much tighter or turny than Canadian Man's?
Worst case scenario, knock out a wall and build it back afterwards ... (hey as long as we're talking theory/future here, you can do whatever you want!
) If you're building walls and whatnot anyways, it's not that much marginally more work for yourself.
When I had sort of talked out my dream tank with Mitch this week .. he was like ... you should have told me this months ago so I could have had it ready before they started framing your house ... we could have just boomed it into the basement and left it there while they frame around it. I'm like ... yeah ... good point .... too bad the house is already framed. D'oh!!! Oh well it's not like I would have been able to afford it anyways but that's a
totally different issue altogether.
BUT, hey, if mojoreef/powerreef could have maneuvered HIS tank into the house (that 8' x 8' "L") then I think it shows that a little creativity/elbow grease can go a long way.
Boy would a 12' tank be one spectacular sight to behold. I can't imagine what kind of glass thickness you would need though ...