aquarium prices

[reds_21]

what is a pretty good average price i'd be expected to pay for a 150-200 gallon glass aquarium? i have priced a couple but that was only at the LFS where im sure they mark there prices up a bit but wasn't sure. any ideas? now, im talking just a tank and stand and canopy. no equipment yet................................ (this is gonna hurt i know!!!!)

 

[michaeldaly]

Depends, are you looking for an LFS built tank, stand or canopy or a fancy branded aquarium.

 

[reds_21]

id like to be able to weigh the options of both LFS and decked out stands. never thought about that part of it though. are there pros/cons one over the other?

 

[Eclectic Taste]

Craigs list and the local classifieds are great places to get tanks & stands, especially if you're a little patient and can deal with slightly less than perfect stuff.

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

Personally, I try not to pay more than $2/gallon for any used aquariums. If it's a new one, I just shop around. I would look around locally and see if you can find a tank/stand/canopy for no more than $750.

 

[reds_21]

thanks,,,,,,travis, $750??? i have been seeing sets for roughly $1100 at the LFS. i was hoping they'd get a lot cheaper than that, thats why i came here asking!!!

 

[Shagsbeard]

Realize too that your $1100 investment in the tank is a small portion of the money you are going to spend. I'd put another $1000 into rock alone... about that much in sand, and a couple hundred into water. That's just to fill it. Equipment would be another couple grand... so you're looking in the ballpark of $5000 to set up a tank like that from a LFS.

You could probably do it for about $1500 going with used equipment and DIY.

 

[Lacy]

aquarium prices??

aquarium prices??

Hi,
We recently bought a used 180 gal tank for $350.00. It included the glass tank, oak stand, canopy with 6 power compact lights, wet/dry system, protein skimmer, pump and a few other things. The stand and hood was made by the owner who is a carpenter by trade. It was a really good deal. I found it in the local paper, but I was also checking craigslist. Keep looking and it will pay off.
Renee

 

[FOREIGNER]

try petsmart! i just went by there today and they have a nice 125 gall all glass along w/ pine stand for about $745.00 and it is brand new

 

[reds_21]

thank you everyone. my eyes are definately peeled!! :eek1:

 

[jmack]

I bought an AllGlass from PetSmart and I'm really happy with it so far...I just wish I had drilled it before I set it up!

 

[kelligrl37]

petsmart has the best deals on tanks I was looking at a 125 gal this weekend and it was on sale for 475.00 with a wooden stand nice one.

 

[reds_21]

as for the ones at petsmart.....i have looked at them as well. i hear a lot about tanks being pre-drilled and i hear that may be the best way to go (just so you don't have equipment hanging off the side of the tank). are pre-drilled tanks more expensive than non-drilled? i realize that you probably have to go to a Specialized store to get the pre-drilled but what is the price difference? iv'e seen the 125 gallon tanks at petsmart but i also have it in my head that i want a 150-200 gallon,,,,,,,,,are those hard to find?? iv'e seen a 150 gallon tank and stand at jacks pets and aquarium for roughly $1100-1200. like i mentioned before. i am definately keeping my eyes open to price but im a little bit off from buying a tank right now,,,just wanna know what im in store for!!!

confusing?

 

[Laakmann]

I drill my own tanks and I have drilled holes for 1in bulkheads in tanks as small as an allglass 29 gallon. I am sure someone in your area can drill tanks or maybe even petsmart but I doubt it.

I recently paid $800 for a 90 gallon 36x36x18 cube but that was custom from a top of the line acrylic tank fabricator.

 

[woodman24]

I just bought a 125 gallon perfecto (with cornerflos) and prestige solid wood stand and canopy at a local pet store for $975. It was cheeper than a 120 AGA (with megaflows) with modern canopy and stand at another store which was about $1000. I did notice drilled tanks with overflows are more expensive but worth it in my opion.

 

[reds_21]

ok,,,today i made a trip to a local fish store and for sale they had a 90 gallon aquarium, glass canopy, stand, generic lighting - $499. now if i wanted to have it pre-drilled for a reef setup and an over flow package included it would then bump the price up to roughly $700.

is $700 good for this setup or is that an average price?

 

[Zestay]

you can create your own over flow box for roughly 20 dollars of acrlyic and have plenty left over. . the cash saved from the 200 dollar diffrence you can buy .. a wavemaker. pumps. your salt? plenty of options

 

[sjj80]

I would definitely put a LOT of thought into the tank you want. Will this tank accomodate any setup your heart may desire? Is it too big or too smal from what you REALLY want? Can you afford all the equipment required for that size tank? Do you know what kind of equipment you will use? If you buy this size now, will you wish you had gotten something bigger within a year or two? Will this tank fit in your home? The reason I say this is that I turned my 46g bowfront from fresh to SW with no intention of doing reef. Had HOB equipment, LR and Live sand with flourescent lighting used on FW setup. This was Oct. '05. Then I decided I would do soft corals, bought CF lights in Dec.'05. Tank still empty. Then I decided my tank was too small for the fish I wanted and in May '06 bought new 90g AGA W/ overflow, UV sterilizer, 2 Aquaclear powerheads, sump tank, new pump, 50lbs LR, 40Lbs live sand. Tank still empty. Then I decided that I wish I had bought the 120 starfire glass I wanted in the first place because now I want to have SPS dominant reef and fish that are too big for 90g. Bought new LED light, skimmer, auto top-off, built sump/fuge, and I still ned to upgrade/improve my powerhead situation.I added a few crabs & snails.As of today that's all I have in my tank and will be ordering fish monday. Moral of the story, do TONS of research and study up on everything(fish,coral,EQUIPMENT!) before purchasing!!! Know exactly what you want first, I wish I had 'cause it would have saved a lot of time, $, and disappointment.

Good Luck!

 

[reds_21]

thank you for the input sjj80 and zestay

here are my thoughts. i really have my eyes set on a 150 gallon aquarium which in my opinion would be beg enough for FOWLR or reef. like a lot of people out there my only concern is $$budget$$, if i do go with 150 gallon i realize that the cost of equipment and everything else goes up as well. it could take a long time for me to be able to afford all the equiment need for a larger size tank.

so, with that i am down scaling the size a bit to maybe a 90-100 gallon tank. i honestly don't wanna buy a tank and constantly keep upgrading (i say that now, i know) to bigger and better cause the budget isn't there to keep doing that. if i get a tank whether its reef or FO then thats it. the size is the size period. i just wanna get a salt water tank.

i hear a lot of people talk about going to craigs list to look for equipment. for some reason im very weary about that only for the fact that it is used. sure they could say tank doesn't leak and everything is fine, but if all looks good and i get it home and.....................whats that, a leak? i am now out of a tank and "x" amount of money i put into it. the only awesome thing that i could see being the benefit is the cost over "new". new is outrageous!!!! i'd love to do new only for the fact that the items are covered under some warranty. i was looking on craigs list last night and i did see a 125 gallon tank with a bunch of equipment for $500 (freshwater tank). i thought that was a great deal but im concerned about it being used. so the price was awesome but the question that popped into my mind is, how much more on top of that would be required. id love to get a setup from someone that included everything (if possible) then i would add or modify as i go.

i know the number one rule to have in this hobby is "patience" but im just not sure the best route to go. of course cheaper but is it really that much more of a benefit to go new over used?

sorry for long winded story but really tossed.!!

 

[crossi92]

I just but a 90g Reef Ready Perfecto, stand, and canopy for $650