Excited Newbie-needs suggestions

[SaltyNovice]

Ok - I'll try to make this short and sweet (good luck - I'm a teacher by trade).

I'm a ten year guy on freshwater. I've wanted to dip into saltwater/reef keeping for sometime now. I can't afford to go the way I want to. So I've found a tank for sale by a disgruntled beginner.

It's a 125 gallon startup with:

14 pounds of live rock
about 2" of sand or crushed coral?
3 yellow tailed Damsels
one moroon / gold bar clown
4 misc hermit crabs
multiple snails (3 large and bunce of babies)
Rena XP-3 filter
not sure on the lights - flo's with white and blue
bunch of gaudy decorations
that's it - I think

First - they want 500.00 bucks - I believe that's a fantastic deal for me?

Second - Any suggestions on how to move such a large tank.

Third - What do I need to do now? I think it may be in danger of "crashing" - It looks dirty to me and there is no movement in the water (what so ever) & the water level is about 6 to 8 inches from the top of the tank. Fish seem to be healthy - Remember I'm a teacher so money is a limited resource - especially with child in college and one about to start.

Anyway this is my first post - just found you guys during some research for my dreams for a reef aquarium. I look forward to many helpful posts from you guys. Thanks for your help in advance - I'll let you know how it all goes - if your interested? :rolleyes:

SaltyNovice

[DansMarineTank]

I'll comment on the price

the fish are all relativly cheap to buy we get damsels and clowns for around $10 each over here and i think they are cheaper in the US.

The live rock is worth around $70 - $80 over here
Tank probably pick one up for around $200
Lights dont sound the best

I think you could do a simple set up (like this one) for less the $500 but i can only talk from a Uk point of view

also this means you could choose your fish yourself those listed are aggressive fish

[OrionGirl]

I agree--you'd be inheriting some serious problems. Moving the setup wouldn't be bad, but I don't think you'll want to keep the fish, and you will have to upgrade lights for a reef. Used, I wouldn't want to pay $500 for a 125 that will require more work than a new setup that doesn't come with problems. I'd keep shopping.

[reefrash]

I agree with the previous posters, and would like to chime in saying, "my that is a large tank to stock on a limited budget". You don't want your aquarium to look like a ghosttown.

[Mahlhavoc]

What the above posters said and my 2 cents are..

If they have ever put copper in this fish only *sounding* system and you ever decided to go reef, you might be in trouble. Medications like to stick to rocks and substrates.