Some Advice ,Please

[dreamreef]

I have the oppertunity to purchase a 220 gallon (my dream tank) that is used and I am trying to deside if I should go for it or wait until I can purchase a new one.

It is a 220 with a sump, an Aqua C skimmer, 150lbs of rocks (all of which are dead), an oak stand and canopy, ect., everything but lights. There was some issue with the lights and they are not included with the sale. I can get everything for $600. Of coarse I will not be able to afford to do anything besides dream about getting going right now. I am sure that lights for that giant are pretty exspensive. I think I paid like 4 or 5 hundred for the ones on my 75 gallon.

Anyways, my concern is that the tank is not up and running and hasn't been in a couple of months (that is why the rocks are dead). Is that too much to pay if I get it set up and nothing but the sump and tank are usable??? Are there any other concerns I should have? It may be a little hard to find a wall for a tank that size in my house, but I could always throw the TV out and put it there:), my husband my not be thrilled with that plan, but he would get over it when he seen how much joy the tank would bring me!!!

[Blossom112]

Personally ............look at it this way the person who is getting rid of it see's it as an eyesore and a pain in the butt cause it takes up so much space .
i say tell them i cant afford that much and go 400 lol ,if their are issues with the tank itself they are pretty cheap and you dont know because its empty ,but you could reseal it b4 you fill it.
i say go cheap my guess they will accept it after some groveling.
Because your buying someone else's dream ,not yours be cautious.
if they dont lower then wait ,their are many who start this hobby then realize the work is hard and trash it .
good luck , just my opinion

[Reefscape]

For $600, which is about £300 UK pounds, i would say its worth it....Buy it, store it, start buying parts needed to get a reef up and running over time.....

[tamableanimal]

I would go for it. Look it over good before buying looking for any signs of cracks. If the silicon seal is starting to peel then scrape it off and reseal it. Both of my tanks were used and both are in great shape. My 1st 150 has been running now for 5 years. Once you get the tank then start looking for what you need as far as hardware, lighting,pumps ect. Good luck and Happy Reefing.
Rich

[mandy21]

A new 240g long tank is $625 (which is what I'm buying new) without shipping, just the tank, no stand, no canopy, no sump, just the tank. I'd go for it provided that there aren't leaks/damage to the tank, the stand at least is usable. The price you are given is a steal if you consider how much it cost them. Depending on the stand and the canopy that would cost me $700ish between the 2 (again, without shipping) if I went through the same company as the tank.

Just to give you some comparison. I agree that you could store it in a very safe spot and slowly buy the other things as the money comes along.

[Catpicklesdog]

Sounds like a bargain to me. I'd start off with a lower price and work your way up! Like the others have said, you can store it and buy a piece of equipment each week/month!

With regard to the TV/husband issue - just move the tv and inch every day til you have it (and husband) in the garden, he'll never notice if you do it bit by bit, plenty of space then:lipssealedsmilie:

[Reefscape]

Sounds like a bargain to me. I'd start off with a lower price and work your way up! Like the others have said, you can store it and buy a piece of equipment each week/month!

With regard to the TV/husband issue - just move the tv and inch every day til you have it (and husband) in the garden, he'll never notice if you do it bit by bit, plenty of space then :lipssealedsmilie:


Hater :banher:

[alpha123]

A steal. Steal it.

But need to get the husband on board first since he most likely will be doing the heavy work. It takes 4 men to lift that thing.

[marinemad]

i bought the same kinda thing! 220g with sump, skimmer, rock and varies other stuff with stand and hood, its some move i warn you! the tank when we got it was a mess hair algae over filled mess! we paid £1000 for ours we then realised the skimmer not big enough so spent£500 on skimmer. the lights also not good these cost us£450 we also bought lots new of live rock ! so we have spent a lot on it but i love it worth every penny!! it sounds like a bargin to me!http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg289/clairewill4/newtank001.jpg
nowhttp://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg289/clairewill4/fish123010.jpg

[7faces]

yeah, id agree... buy it before someone else does..its a deal.
I have $300 just in my 225plywood tank, not including stands, plumbing, weirs ,overflows, etc... you cant go wrong

[journey0820]

Also, don't think of the rock as "dead"...think of it as "cured". Does that help? You can put good rock on top to seed it. Buy it!

[dreamreef]

OK, you guys talked me into it!!! I knew it sounded like a really good deal. The lady that has it also has a 100 gal that she has turned into a fw, I think she is just burnt out. I used the stand and top as leverage with my husband because both are really pretty. The day I bought my 75gal I paid $1300 that day, a few weeks later another $200 for the skimmer and I would just assume nobody who isn't in this hobby finds out about how much I have in 90lbs of live rock at $6.00 a pound. So, I agree, 6 is a good price, but I will make an offer. (It was advertised at $600 OBO)

Thanks for everyones advice, I really appreciate it!!

[journey0820]

Keep us posted!