Value of a used system

I saw an ad for a 30 gallon tank with a stand for $150. Both were bought about 4 years ago. I was told the stand was bought for $275 (seems high to me).

Gravel, heater, pump, and a few fish are included (nothing fancy).

Does this seem to be a fair price, or too much?


To much. You can buy brand new, wood cabinet stand , complete set up minus the gravel for like 175..

Blue
 
I saw an ad for a 30 gallon tank with a stand for $150. Both were bought about 4 years ago. I was told the stand was bought for $275 (seems high to me).

Gravel, heater, pump, and a few fish are included (nothing fancy).

Does this seem to be a fair price, or too much?

I agree with Blueiz above. I just got my tank just over a week ago. I only bought the tank as I plan to build my base and hood. But, back to your question, while I was at the LFS, they had 30g kits that included everything but fish for $199. They even had more than one style for the same price.

Now, if the fella selling that tank for $150 has a high end heater and filter, then maybe it's worth it. But, if they are the norm, leave it go. IMO.
 
I figure the heater, filter, etc. are the norm. Personally, I figured $50 for a 4 year old tank and stand was a fair price...just wanted a second opinion
 
I have an opportunity to buy a 100 gallon acrylic tank with metal halide lights, a wet dry filter and a protien skimmer. It's a complete set-up with matching stand and hood. I am struggling with what a set-up like this is worth. The aquairum does have some scratches on the inside.

The price we have discussed is $650, and the seller will deliver to my house. Any opinions on if that price is fair or silly high for a used system?

Thanks!


not a great price but it is a good price.

the MH lights are spendy..the wet/dry with skimmer and pumps add more value. good pumps for wet/dry are $100-$150 the skimmer usually needs a small pump to run that.

so delivered it is a good price if the equiptment is in good shape.




if you were to purchase this new it would cost considerably more.
 
That seems a bit high to me. However...I would think quality of the tank and stand would play into the price as well. I wouldn't pay the same price for a cheaper kind of aquarium as I would pay for something like an Oceanic. Example being, I payed $60 for a 30 gallon Oceanic tank and stand. That seemed a good deal to me.
 
$1 a gal around here works for me in big tanks also.

100 gal... $80
85 gal.... $50
100 gal ... $100

all these tanks came with stands.

Yeah, but you're in Cali, which is far from an average market for anything. With the insane market size you have relatively easy access too, it's not hard to imagine finding stuff on the cheap.
 
Yeah, but you're in Cali, which is far from an average market for anything. With the insane market size you have relatively easy access too, it's not hard to imagine finding stuff on the cheap.

Seeing as how NinjaPirate is from MN too...I think we more have to base used value off what it is new. Most times, that's your only other option. You can't just respond to another used tank ad if you don't like the price of the one you're looking at. There's not 15 different ads for a 55 gallon tank out there....I don't know if NinjaPirate agrees with me or not, that's just my experience.

Or even in my case....I'd have to most likely travel at least 2 hours one way to pick the darn thing up. The nearest LFS is 1 hour one way anyway....
 
Lots of people have tanks they are not using. They are taking up space in garages and basements. Let your friends, co-workers and family know you are looking for a tank. Put an ad the paper that you are looking to buy. eBay and craigslist is also a good source.

I have been given several tanks (10 gal to 40 gal) and have given several away. Lots of people that have them stored just want someone to use them.
 
Lots of people have tanks they are not using. They are taking up space in garages and basements. Let your friends, co-workers and family know you are looking for a tank. Put an ad the paper that you are looking to buy. eBay and craigslist is also a good source.

I have been given several tanks (10 gal to 40 gal) and have given several away. Lots of people that have them stored just want someone to use them.

actually this is a good idea..I did it as well as my wife..who had a friend that had 2- 29's stand, ight bio-wheel filters, heater etc..etc..she knew they had some value but also didn't want them. I offered $25
thinking she may sell me one 29 with stand..she gave me the whole deal.
 
Seeing as how NinjaPirate is from MN too...I think we more have to base used value off what it is new. Most times, that's your only other option. You can't just respond to another used tank ad if you don't like the price of the one you're looking at. There's not 15 different ads for a 55 gallon tank out there....I don't know if NinjaPirate agrees with me or not, that's just my experience.

Or even in my case....I'd have to most likely travel at least 2 hours one way to pick the darn thing up. The nearest LFS is 1 hour one way anyway....

Oh, deffinantly. I can still find decent deals on tanks and such if I want to drive 3 hours one way, but even then it's not as low as I know they can be had. I ended up paying $200 for my fully setup 55 (w/canister) when you could probably get the same system for closer to $100 in a larger city. But that was because the guy selling it was 20 minutes from me and it was going to be almost as cheap as travelling at $60 in gas.

As for smaller tanks, Yes you can get all kinds of 10-20's at garage sales and such. But it's rare to find a big tank, and extremely rare to find one larger than 55 the smaller your population base goes. larger than a 55G out here means restaurant or serious enthusiast only, generally speaking, because 75g setups go for almost $500 brand new. (No major pet store chains within 100 miles of me, only 1 mom'n'pop joint within 60)
 
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