Opinion on possible purchase?

C

cynicalcriminal

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Mar 17, 2004
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Hey folks. I'm about ready to jump in and purchase a larger, used tank. This one is located a couple hours from me (and a state away) but if it is worth it I'll take a day off, grab a buddy, and truck down there and pick it up.

Opinions please? ... what would this be worth? He wants a "reasonable offer" (but I'm not a reasonable person lol)


USED 155 Gallon Bow Front Glass Aquarium, w/ black wooden stand. (No hood (it broke) & tank is not drilled - no leaks - not used in the past couple years)


INCLUDED:

1 Protein Skimmer
2 UV sterilizer
1 Fluval 404 canister filter
1 extra large Eheim Canister filter
1 Ocean clear Canister Filter (Red Sea)
1 Wet/Dry filter/Sump with overflow box
1 Fluidizer Bed filter (rainbow)
3 Lights w/ 3 extra light bulbs (When I asked about the lighting I was told it is a "Very good lighting system", Thanks that helps)
Two- 5 gallon buckets of live sand (Stored in the basement so its probably no longer "live" is it?)
10 LBS. Sea salt


Seller says he spent $8k on his setup over the years (Wouldn't doubt it, this is an expensive hobby). I'd figure a 155 Bow front would be a nice solid tank that I could use for a long while, nice showpiece, right?

Thanks for the help ... I'm all mind-racing over this.
 
Here's 0.02:

If I were to set that tank up as a reef, there are only a few things on the list I would even use:
-protein skimmer (assuming it's decent)
-FB filter (if you want to use it as a phosban reactor)
-maybe the sump, if you can take out the bioballs and convert it into a refugium.
-maybe the lights, if they are intense enough (halides? PC?)
-salt (although 10 lbs isn't much)

I don't like canisters, wet/drys and UVs on reef tanks. If you are doing a fish only setup, then they might have a use, but I prefer using live rock, a good skimmer, a refugium and a lot of circulation to do the work for me.

I expect that the sand is just food for an algae bloom at this point.

Can you get the tank drilled? It will make your life better.

I hope the $8K included livestock, otherwise he was hosed, even if he only kept half the stuff.

Summary: I would not call this a dream setup, so drive a hard bargain.
 
Last edited:
reefking said:
Hey Dave why don't you like canister filters, thats what I am running on my tank plus my skimmer, and two powerheads?
Click to expand...
Because I am lazy. If they're not cleaned regularly, they trap debris and generate food for algae. The idea of having to open a canister filter every week and clean out the media is too much for me to think about.

The reason I said "I don't like them," rather than "don't ever use them" or "they're nitrate factories" is because I know people can make them work. Just not my cup of tea. Just like UV. Will UV cause problems? Probably not noticeably. The idea of changing expensive bulbs every 6 months, the extra plumbing, and the potential for added heat all make me feel like the benefit is outweighed by the hassles.
 
mogurnda said:
Here's 0.02:

If I were to set that tank up as a reef, there are only a few things on the list I would even use:
-protein skimmer (assuming it's decent)
-FB filter (if you want to use it as a phosban reactor)
-maybe the sump, if you can take out the bioballs and convert it into a refugium.
-maybe the lights, if they are intense enough (halides? PC?)
-salt (although 10 lbs isn't much)

I don't like canisters, wet/drys and UVs on reef tanks. If you are doing a fish only setup, then they might have a use, but I prefer using live rock, a good skimmer, a refugium and a lot of circulation to do the work for me.

I expect that the sand is just food for an algae bloom at this point.

Can you get the tank drilled? It will make your life better.

I hope the $8K included livestock, otherwise he was hosed, even if he only kept half the stuff.

Summary: I would not call this a dream setup, so drive a hard bargain.
Click to expand...


Thanks Dave :)

I figured most of the setup was a big "if" ... "if" it is decent, "if" the lights are solid, ect. Sadly he didn't give me too much to work on about the lighting other than "it is a very good lighting system".

He claims he spent $2k on the "initial tank and setup" and then dropped the $8k over the course of the hobby. Figures like that are subjective though when someone is selling you something.

I've looked at cars to purchase with supposed "$2k in recent paintwork" and it looked like someone slapped some housepaint on with an old dirty roller. Its all a sales pitch in the end to justify their high asking price.



He was asking $700-1000 for the system before I inquired about it I just learned ... not sure if that is anywhere decent price-wise ... I see 55g and 75g setups locally going for $500+ for some reason, so a 155 bow front for a couple hundred more sounded like a no brainer. ... but, I'm .. uhm .. thrifty (cheap) so everything always seems like alot to me ... its part of why I come here ... to learn what others paid and learn from other's experience.



Oh, and I know what you mean about being lazy .. I have my 29g FW tank with a Fluval on it and although it isn't the end of the world, having to dismantle that thing and rinse it out can definetly make a normally happy tank maintanance afternoon turn into a "%&*@ing thing" "%&#* it, it pinched my finger again" with some spilled water here and there.



Anyone else have an idea if I should just let this one go and keep my eye out for something better? .. or jump on this and not look back?



Oh .. and as for getting the tank drilled? .. No clue. Haven't looked into it honestly. Something tells me that isn't an easy thing to accomplish, is it?
 
Alright, he doesn't know the manufacturer of the tank, so I don't know if it'd be Tempered Glass or not. Should I worry about that? Can't drill if its Tempered ... and I wouldn't be able to tell would I, if it was?

I don't know a whole lot about how I'd get the tank drilled ... but I could make some phonecalls to places and see about finding someone to drill for me. I'd have to do some research to find what size holes, and optimal placement, ect ect ect. Gah .. stress.

Maybe I should just let this setup go, and keep an eye out for something cheaper (or already drilled with equipment I'd use?).
 
Hard to say. If you don't know whether it's tempered, then drilling is probably a bad idea. If it's not drilled, you may be cursing yourself every time you fiddle with the overflows. If it is close to the tank you want, and a great deal, then maybe it's worth going for.

To be honest, the amount of time, money and stress the tank will cost you to get it right doesn't sound worth it. People get out of the hobby all the time, so there will be other opportunities.
 
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