a good deal? - Aquarium Advice

paulmorphine · 03-03-2005, 10:35 PM

Hello all,

I've been a lurker here for a few months now, and I appreciate all the wonderful advice y'all have provided me as a 2-month newb to this rewarding hobby.

I've been setting up a new freshwater tank ever couple of weeks it seems like, and now I'm itching to graduate to saltwater.

There's an ad in the classifieds for a 280 gallon walk-around acrylic aquarium (60 x 30 x 36) with a reef system and live rock for $3,000

Strangely enough, the guy didn't seem to remember his brand names but sounded honest...it included a protein skimmer, metal halide lights, an RODI system, a calcium reactor, and all the other accessories he's accumulated in the last 2 years.

He has a red + rose anemone I think he says as well as a few damsels. I'm not really sure about prices and brands, so I wanted to throw it out to y'all to see if you thought it was worth it. Oh yes, I should probably invest in a few good books + READ before I shell out the cash, is that true?

[acronym:658d8b9572="Thanks in Advance"]TIA[/acronym:658d8b9572] for any advice.

loganj · 03-03-2005, 10:56 PM

It's probably worth what he's asking, but I'd think hard about it. Acrylic scratches easily. If I read your post correctly, this is a 36" deep tank? That depth is going to present some maintenance problems. I would get a complete list of everything that comes with it including brands and model #'s. We can tell you, on most things, if it's good equipment or junk.

paulmorphine · 03-03-2005, 11:25 PM

Thanks 4 the advice...I guess I'm just impatient to start with advanced cool-looking reef systems, and I'd rather get a lot of advanced 2ndhand stuff than buy basic equipment brand new. Perhaps I should wait + build up from [acronym:38802261f2="Fish only"]FO[/acronym:38802261f2]...those anemones will probably die on me anyways with my inexperience with saltwater. Thanks for bringing me back down to earth =)

**lando** · 03-04-2005, 09:03 AM

Sounds like a good deal, but as logan said, be leary. hte tank may already contain a lot of scratches. Dod hesay why he was going to sell the tank? If you really want it, offer $2000, I would not go above $2500. What type of filtration? Any [acronym:44b5e564f9="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:44b5e564f9]? What type of substrate?
Welcome to AquariumAdvice.com!!!

03-03-2005, 10:35 PM	#1
paulmorphine Aquarium Advice Newbie Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 5	a good deal? Hello all, I've been a lurker here for a few months now, and I appreciate all the wonderful advice y'all have provided me as a 2-month newb to this rewarding hobby. I've been setting up a new freshwater tank ever couple of weeks it seems like, and now I'm itching to graduate to saltwater. There's an ad in the classifieds for a 280 gallon walk-around acrylic aquarium (60 x 30 x 36) with a reef system and live rock for $3,000 Strangely enough, the guy didn't seem to remember his brand names but sounded honest...it included a protein skimmer, metal halide lights, an RODI system, a calcium reactor, and all the other accessories he's accumulated in the last 2 years. He has a red + rose anemone I think he says as well as a few damsels. I'm not really sure about prices and brands, so I wanted to throw it out to y'all to see if you thought it was worth it. Oh yes, I should probably invest in a few good books + READ before I shell out the cash, is that true? [acronym:658d8b9572="Thanks in Advance"]TIA[/acronym:658d8b9572] for any advice. __________________ 10 gallon [acronym:5bb2cab3ac="Freshwater"]FW[/acronym:5bb2cab3ac] - 1 black moor 10 gallon [acronym:5bb2cab3ac="Freshwater"]FW[/acronym:5bb2cab3ac] - 3 feeder goldies 10 gallon [acronym:5bb2cab3ac="Freshwater"]FW[/acronym:5bb2cab3ac] - 6 guppies, 2 ADFrogs, ghost shrimp 20 gallon [acronym:5bb2cab3ac="Freshwater"]FW[/acronym:5bb2cab3ac] - 4 yoyo loaches, 3 clown loaches, 2 tadpoles 29 gallon Planted w/ Anacharis, Hornwort, some kinda grass 4 zebra danios, 4 emerald cory cats, 3 white clouds, 1 otocinclus, 1 gold apple snail, ghost shrimp 55 gallon - 5 tiger barbs, 3 silver tetras, 2 serpae tetras, 1 bala shark (needs a friend!), 1 red-tailed shark, 1 Kribensis Filters: 10-15 Whispers, Aquaclears (Mini, 30, 70), Eheim 2217 Heaters: Visitherm, Hagen, Tronic, 3 Ebo-Jagers

03-03-2005, 10:56 PM	#2
loganj Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Chatsworth, GA Posts: 4,008	It's probably worth what he's asking, but I'd think hard about it. Acrylic scratches easily. If I read your post correctly, this is a 36" deep tank? That depth is going to present some maintenance problems. I would get a complete list of everything that comes with it including brands and model #'s. We can tell you, on most things, if it's good equipment or junk. __________________ Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. Logan J www.captiveraisedcorals.com

03-03-2005, 11:25 PM	#3
paulmorphine Aquarium Advice Newbie Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 5	Thanks 4 the advice...I guess I'm just impatient to start with advanced cool-looking reef systems, and I'd rather get a lot of advanced 2ndhand stuff than buy basic equipment brand new. Perhaps I should wait + build up from [acronym:38802261f2="Fish only"]FO[/acronym:38802261f2]...those anemones will probably die on me anyways with my inexperience with saltwater. Thanks for bringing me back down to earth =) __________________ 10 gallon [acronym:5bb2cab3ac="Freshwater"]FW[/acronym:5bb2cab3ac] - 1 black moor 10 gallon [acronym:5bb2cab3ac="Freshwater"]FW[/acronym:5bb2cab3ac] - 3 feeder goldies 10 gallon [acronym:5bb2cab3ac="Freshwater"]FW[/acronym:5bb2cab3ac] - 6 guppies, 2 ADFrogs, ghost shrimp 20 gallon [acronym:5bb2cab3ac="Freshwater"]FW[/acronym:5bb2cab3ac] - 4 yoyo loaches, 3 clown loaches, 2 tadpoles 29 gallon Planted w/ Anacharis, Hornwort, some kinda grass 4 zebra danios, 4 emerald cory cats, 3 white clouds, 1 otocinclus, 1 gold apple snail, ghost shrimp 55 gallon - 5 tiger barbs, 3 silver tetras, 2 serpae tetras, 1 bala shark (needs a friend!), 1 red-tailed shark, 1 Kribensis Filters: 10-15 Whispers, Aquaclears (Mini, 30, 70), Eheim 2217 Heaters: Visitherm, Hagen, Tronic, 3 Ebo-Jagers

03-04-2005, 09:03 AM	#4
lando Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Savage, MN Posts: 7,654 Images: 46	Sounds like a good deal, but as logan said, be leary. hte tank may already contain a lot of scratches. Dod hesay why he was going to sell the tank? If you really want it, offer $2000, I would not go above $2500. What type of filtration? Any [acronym:44b5e564f9="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:44b5e564f9]? What type of substrate? Welcome to AquariumAdvice.com!!! __________________ Some people are like slinkies...they serve no real purpose yet can still bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs! Have a great day! Brian

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