Too Good to be true?

[Hornchen]

Hello Everyone,

Not quite an introduction ( going to post one soon lol ) but hopefully one quick question. When I was in high school I had a 55 gal with African Cichlids and loved them but had to get rid of everything when I joined the Corps - now I'm 27 ( old man right haha ) and the wife has agreed that I can finally get back into the hobby - well, it was this or a new rifle so I figured I'd play my cards on this one!!

Long story short - I found a 75 Gallon 'kit' - wood stand, heater, filter, media, hoods, lights everything for 430 bucks. It was originally 500 but I was chatting with the guy and since its a mom and pop shop I dropped the 'does cash made a difference' question and sure enough. Is this too good to be true?

Filter is over the back rated for 100 gallon tank - I was going to try to 'swap out/upgrade' for a canister in the 360gph range ( not sure on name brands of any, but I know they are not Eheim ) and better lights, better heater ETC - is 500 dollars a good price for the 'full setup' or should I save up for some higher quality items? Oh yeah, its also delivered and put into the house by the company.

Thank you in advance everyone,
Hornchen
Semper Fi

 

[reefdiver]

First off thanks for serving! I would suggest craiglist first for the tank. There is allways good deals onthere. I have a 75 with a fluval fx5 filter ($225). Depending on what your looking for set up wise you will allways upgrade. So it's best do it from the start.

 

[ocean]

Craiglist is a good place to look, depending where you live. No good deals on tanks in my area! So I would probably get the 75 gal kit and go from there and upgrade later. The heater and filter can always be used on another tank!

 

[Hornchen]

Good call - I have seen a few things on craigslist but they are in the 250 to 350 range for the 75 gal tank/stand alone and I also would have to haul it myself ( 4 door car ). I can call in a favor from a buddy to help though - so I will keep checking craigslist!

My main thing is as Reefdiver said, I would rather save a bit longer and get the upgrades from the start. A friend of mine started a 90 gallon a month or so ago and he dropped around a grand getting it going - the $400 price tag just seemed 'too good to be true' but it sounds like my buddy might have overpaid.

EDIT: Forgot to say my setup haha! I used to have a planted setup with about 18-20 cichlids, 2 pleco, syno cat, bamboo shrimp ( they didn't last long ) and a crawfish who surprisingly lived for a long time, got just under the size of my fist. I know I had waaay too many fish ( they didn't fight too much, but waste was a big issue ) and I will never do plants with cichlids again ( constantly were digging them up or ate them to the roots within a week ). I still have about 60 lbs of rocks ( lava rock, doughnut type <hole in the middle>, flat slate type and round river rocks ) and would like to run with the rocks in the back, lots of caves/ledges/hiding spots and what not. I also had driftwood in the old tank, but I think since it has been in the shed for almost 10 years, I might just toss it haha.

I know I will be putting in a decent amount of fish, so filtration is a large point on my radar. I have read 8x's an hour is ideal, but that puts me into the 600gph range - do I really need to go that high or would 5x's an hour ( 375 gph ) be sufficient?

Thanks again,
Hornchen
Semper Fi

Edit the edit - HA!
Found a picture of my old tank

 

[Hornchen]

I think I messed up on the last edit - please delete if dupe! Thanks!!

Good idea on the craigslist! I have checked a few out, but they are in the 250 to 350 range for a 75 gallon tank with stand and I would have to haul it myself ( 4 door car ) but I do have a buddy who owes me a favor, so I might have to check on craigslist more!

As Reefdiver said, I would rather save a little longer and get the upgrades from the start rather than 'getting by' until I can get those upgrades. I am planning on putting in a decent amount of fish and have heard that 8x's ( 600 gph ) is ideal, but would 5x's ( 375 gph ) be sufficient or should I just stick with the 8x + per hour?

As far as my 'ideal' setup, I used to have a planted tank with 18-20 fish, cichlids, silver dollars, 2 pleco, syno cat, bamboo shrimp ( they didn't last long ) and a crawfish who surprisingly lasted a long time, was just smaller than my fist at the end. I will never do a planted tank with cichlids again, they either dug them up or ate them down to the roots. I also had some drift wood in the old tank but since it has been sitting in the shed for almost 10 years, I think I'll toss it haha.

Here is a pic of my old tank

Thanks again,
Hornchen
Semper Fi

 

[reefdiver]

I knw I've seen some 120 GL tanks at petsmart for $330 and u can build a stand. I think I paid like $220 for my 75. Built a 2x4 stand for it. But it's not finished and I only spent like $25. Filtration is allways best to go higher, but u can manage with a 5x as long as you keep up with your water changes.

 

[PC1]

$400+ is high IMO for a 75 unless the stand and canopy are super nice.

 

[Hornchen]

Good gosh - craigslist is not the place for a deal!!

Looking through the St. Louis for sale items under fish tanks or aquariums brought up a lot of options, but people asking 700 for a 75, 900 for a 90, one 60 gal bow front with no stand they wanted to sell for 250 bucks!! sigh.

Saw a couple places online that do the acrylic tanks - they will ship to the house and I can always build a stand but I'm debating if it is worth just buying and having them put it in haha.

So - I am off to the gun show in a couple hours, if nothing is priced right I am going to head over to the mom and pop store - how much do you think I should offer?

75 gallon tank, stand, hood, lights, heater and upgrading to the Rena xP 3 - shoot him a price of 400 and see what he says or try even lower?

Thanks again everyone and sorry for the newbie questions!
Hornchen
Semper Fi