Getting Started

[sage_commander]

Hey All,

I bought a used 50g acrylic tank. It seemed like a good deal, but now I'm having buyer's remorse, since that's really all I got. I'm thinking that I would be better off getting an aquarium kit. For instance there's this <a href="http://www.petco.com/Shop/Product.aspx?R=9110&PC=productlist&Nav=217&N=24%20115&cp=2&Nao=12&sku=897884&familyID=11540&">40 gallon Seaclear system II.</a> Would this be good way to go? I'm planning on FOWLR for now, but want to be able to go with a reef in the future once I get a little experience. Please let me know what you think, or if there's a better deal out there for a complete setup. Thanks.

 

[sir_dudeguy]

how much did you pay for your tank? i would say that you could get by MUCH cheaper than the seaclear system, as i've done it already!

I just waited a little bit and found some people selling equipment locally. Go to craigslist.com. Its a classifieds site, and click on your area (on the right) then go to the pets section and do a search for what equipment you're lookin for...a lot of times people will have live rock too. be sure to check the "general" section on there too, as that sometimes has stuff too.

does yours have a stand or anything else besides the tank itself?

 

[sage_commander]

Dudeguy,

Well the tank was $50. I thought it was a good deal so I jumped on it. But there are some drawbacks: It was used with FW, and a long time ago. I took the pressure washer to it, but there's still some hangers-on. Also it has a couple of scratches. I thought I could buff some of those out though. It came with a hood, but it's rather ug - not something I want in my living room.

But check this out - I just got back from Wal-Mart where there was a 46g bowfront all-glass aquarium with a stand and flouro hood for $200. That seems like a good deal, though it doesn't look reef-ready and has no other stuff with it. It looks good though, something I could have in my living room and not feel like I'm on Sanford and Son. What do you think?

 

[sage_commander]

bump

 

[CarmieJo]

If you are patient you can find used stuff at a good price. I don't think that I would buy a new tank that wasn't drilled... While you are waiting here is a link http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/showthread.php?t=938 to a podcast about cycling your tank. If you don't have an iPod or other MP3 player you can download iTunes and listen from your computer. Both iTunes and the podcast are free.