$200 for a 55 gallon... good deal?

often dignified

often dignified

AC Members
Nov 11, 2003
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Conneaut Lake, PA
it comes w/ a stand, and canopy/lights. Granted the lights are only 40w total, but those can always be upgraded.

Yay or nay? I think it's a pretty good price.

The store is also offering an All-Glass kit w/ a Tetra filter (like the Emporer 400 style w/ 2 spillways), canopy, lights, heater, etc... and it is also $200, but no stand.
 
Guess it depends on how much you like the stand. I can spend $75 on the tank (brand new), another $150 on lights, and then $40 on a DIY stand and canopy that I like. Yeah, comes in a little higher, but it's custom, and no upgrading leftovers. If you like the stand and canopy, then it will work for you.
 
Too bad you are in PA, I could cut you a good deal on an 80 gallon - tank, oak stand, lights...
 
Its not a great deal, but its not bad...I got my 55 for $100 that came with a Whisper 60 Power filter, thermometer, lights, and a heater, and some other junk. It was on clearance at petco(usually there 150-200). I spent 50 bucks for materials and made my own canopy and stand which im proud to say came out WAY better than i planned. I spent 15 bucks for better lights...i went to home depot and bought a 2-40 watt shop light and they had GE aquaray bulbs for 16 cents each(still not sure if they were missmarked??) so i bought all they had. And i put in a powerhead(free from old tank), gravel(5 bucks at lowes), rock(10 bucks from local stone yard), and plants(about 20 dollars worth from LFS) and a DIY CO2 system(like 5 bucks for everything) and my Mbuna which i got for pretty much free from the LFS(store credit). The total on everything was just a little over 200 bucks, but i now have a tank that im VERY proud to display in my home and always seems to be the center of attention in my house from guests! Shop around, im sure you can do better than thay, but if you really like it and its what your looking for, then snag it!
 
Well I was always a great woodworker in high school, and a stand would be super simple. But I really like the look and style of this one. It would also be hard for me to get access to the needed power tools, and plus I would have a tough time making a nicer looking one. :p

I know Petsmart offers the Top Fin kit for $160, but how does a Top Fin compare to All Glass? Are they essentially from the same assembly line with a different name?

I'm not worried about top of the line lighting and filtration, but I have a hefty student loan refund coming and I think a kit would be my best investment. Right now I'm eyeing up the All Glass kit... although I'm still stuck without a stand. Ugh. :(
 
Either the TopFin or All-glass are fine.

You may want to consider a slightly larger used tank for the same money. Say a 75 gallon.... You will get much more mileage out of this tank. It is the same 48" length and 20" height, but an 18" width instead of the 55's 12.5.

Check your local paper, Ebay, aquabid.com, etc.
 
In most respects, your not going to notice a difference between Top Fin or All Glass...i have an All Glass 30 gallon and other than size and a few other really small details i dont seem much difference between that and my 55.
 
and half of the stuff in that walmart 55 kit I would only use in an emergency. heaters are one thing you do not want to skimp on... just don't trust the cheap ones to be reliable
 
55 gallon for full 20 gal

I got a full 20 gal setup with a little over 100 invested i could trade for a bare 55 gal should i
 
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