Help me decide if this tank setup is worth it?

[pola0502ds]

Below I will post a link to a craigslist posting of a tank. I personally went and saw it yesterday and everything is very nice and he claims that all the equipment is top of the line and only 6 months old. My experience with tanks is that I had a 29 gallon Biocube for a few years and got out of the hobby. I am ready to get back into the hobby and since this is such a large system and there are a lot of components, I can't tell what is good quality and if the price is worth it. When you get a nano tank everything is included so I never researched all the components.

He claims to have $4100 into it. I am committed to making the purchase but I just want to confirm that it was a smart move.

Here are the specs:

75 Gallon tank and Stand.
• 1 Hippo Tang 4"+
• 1 Yellow Tang 3"
A Handful of Coral
120lbs of live rock includes lots of Tongue Branches.

Other equipment on this setup include

• Aquatic Life lighting system(on tank now)
• Aquatic Life lighting system(new in box)
• CPR Overflow and Accessories
• Berlin Sump 3 Compartment
• Reef Octopus 120 Protein Skimmer
• Bulk Reef Supply GFO Reactor
• Rio 2500 Return Pump
• Emeim 1000 Return Pump
• 2 24watt Green Machine UV Sterilizers
• Wavemaker Pro Advanced Unit
• 3 Power Jets

Other items are:
• Reef API Test kit
• Saltwater API test kit
• Red Sea Magnesium Test Kit( 2 total)
• Cloroform Water Test Kit
• Red Sea Coral Pro Salt
• Seachem Products to include:
1. Reef Fusion 1
2. Reef Fusion 2
3. Reef Carbonate
4. Reef Complete
5. Reef Zooplankton
6. Reef Plus
• 8 Filter Socks
• Aquatic Overflow Pump
• Portable Refractometer

 

[scooter31707]

IMO, I wouldn't purchase that for $4100. Plus, that Hippo Tang is already too big for that tank, so you would have to get rid of it. Keep searching. You can almost get a bigger and better tank for that price.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

He didn't say it was going to cost him $4100 but the owner has that into it.

I would rehome both tangs as the 75 is way too small for either of them. The Hippo tang will get over a foot long. Tangs need lots of swimming room and preferably 8' tank. If you want a tang there are a couple that you can get. Do your research on what fish you wish to get on Live Aquaria website and before you purchase anything come back here to ask. We won't lead you the wrong way but your local LFS might because they are there to make a buck... we aren't. I'm not saying that all LFS are bad but for the most part...

 

[scooter31707]

Oh, I was assuming the owner was asking $4100. lol.

 

[C.Eymann]

I wouldn't pay more than $800 for it IMO.

Hippo definitely needs to be rehomed ASAP. The yellow tang is debatable as long as it will be the only tang in the system.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

If everything is truly 6 mos old I would say as much as $1500 would be a good deal. $2000 would be OK. But I wouldn't go over $2000

So inquiring minds want to know HOW MUCH?

 

[pola0502ds]

$1100 is what I am paying. I am picking it up either the 13th or the 21st of this month.

After I looked at the tanks I called a local aquarium and fish store and has a great reputation and they said it was a great set up and top of the line equipment. From what I am hearing, you guys don't agree?

Regarding the fish, it is what it is at the moment because they are coming with the tank. I will do the right thing and get them out of there.

Also, from you had seen, does it really cost $4100 to build this system?

 

[C.Eymann]

$1100 is what I am paying. I am picking it up either the 13th or the 21st of this month.

After I looked at the tanks I called a local aquarium and fish store and has a great reputation and they said it was a great set up and top of the line equipment. From what I am hearing, you guys don't agree?

Regarding the fish, it is what it is at the moment because they are coming with the tank. I will do the right thing and get them out of there.

Also, from you had seen, does it really cost $4100 to build this system?

I wouldn't say "top of the line" but its decent stuff.

 

[pola0502ds]

I guess stuff like this is only worth what you are willing to pay for it and $1100 for this setup is worth it to me...

Is there really $4100 into it? The live rock and sand is worth a handful. The light system he put on it was $529 and at the time he said they had a special where you buy 1 get one half off so the tank comes with 2. Right there I would be getting my moneys worth.

 

[C.Eymann]

I guess stuff like this is only worth what you are willing to pay for it and $1100 for this setup is worth it to me...

Is there really $4100 into it? The live rock and sand is worth a handful. The light system he put on it was $529 and at the time he said they had a special where you buy 1 get one half off so the tank comes with 2. Right there I would be getting my moneys worth.

is it aquatic life's T5 only or does it have halides too? the description of the wavemaker is vague, and "power jets" do you know what brands this stuff actually is??

 

[sde1500]

I don't think that price is bad. Though 4100 sounds like a bit much. Seems there are some extra pieces of equipment that you are getting which isn't bad. Don't think you'd need dual return and UV hooked up to that tank, maybe I'm wrong.

I bought a 65 gallon tank empty used, then new equipment for it and im at about 1700 myself

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Your LFS will probably swap out or give you store credit for those tangs.

I think you got a great deal for $1100

 

[chimmike]

already committed to the purchase?

I don't know what the aquatic life lighting is worth, but most of that stuff is standard-grade equipment.

Meh, if you're happy at that price, I guess that's all that matters, right?

 

[vhuang168]

For $1100 it's not a bad deal. It's a fair price for both parties. But there are definitely deals to be had if you are patient and know what you are buying.

 

[Reef Frog]

If the corals are desirable it might make things look all the better. What are you getting?

One way to evaluate the price you're paying is to add up the selling prices of the major equipment from the major on-line companies and the tank & stand from the LFS. Then figure between 30%-50% of that number is a fair & typical price to pay. Add in market prices for coral, nothing for fish or inverts, and nothing for the tests, bottles & knick knaks. Add maybe ~$5 per pound for live rock.

 

[pola0502ds]

is it aquatic life's T5 only or does it have halides too? the description of the wavemaker is vague, and "power jets" do you know what brands this stuff actually is??

It has the halides as well with a timer on it. As far as the jets, i am not too sure.

 

[pola0502ds]

If the corals are desirable it might make things look all the better. What are you getting?

One way to evaluate the price you're paying is to add up the selling prices of the major equipment from the major on-line companies and the tank & stand from the LFS. Then figure between 30%-50% of that number is a fair & typical price to pay. Add in market prices for coral, nothing for fish or inverts, and nothing for the tests, bottles & knick knaks. Add maybe ~$5 per pound for live rock.

I'm not sure what what I am getting, I have been removed from the game for 7 years since I had my last salt tank and I never had corals. I just knew some of them are big and beautiful and the other ones are smaller.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[atraperegrinus]

sometimes, esp in this case, a picture is worth a thousand words. you could likely have posted a cell picture of the bulk of the setup and gotten an answer quite quickly. it sounds like a pretty good deal though. nothing mind blowing but not a bad deal at all.

is he including ro/di or do you already have a filter setup?

 

[pola0502ds]

sometimes, esp in this case, a picture is worth a thousand words. you could likely have posted a cell picture of the bulk of the setup and gotten an answer quite quickly. it sounds like a pretty good deal though. nothing mind blowing but not a bad deal at all.

is he including ro/di or do you already have a filter setup?

You are right, I could have posted a picture. Not very good with computers so I didn't bother but I will spend the time to post what I can find.

As far as the RO/DI, he is waiting to hear back from the company that installed his system if I can just take all his equipment and then just pay for install.

 

[A1t2o]

Looks like a 72 gallon bow front tank. Those can be worth a little more than a standard 75 gallon tank. Why can't you just take the RO/DI and hook it up yourself?