Help Please...Looking at 125G aquarium purchase

[shuguley]

Ok, I really started something. I live in Alabama, my mom visited last week from Louisiana and she reall liked my little 55 gallon reef aquarium that I just started. She was here about a week and we talked and went to several LFS and now..... she is hooked and wants to do a reef aquarium as well. Since she has a lot of space available in her house, I convinced her she should get at least a 6 ft tank. She is now looking at getting a 125 gallon 6 ft aquarium.

She hasn't bought anything yet, but she was looking at glasscages.com and is asking my opinion, and I am reluctant. She priced a reef ready 125 (2 glass wall overflows and bulkheads) with starphire glass, oak stand, oak canopy, 38 gallon sump. She came up with a final price of $1611.

Is $1611 a competitive price for a setup like this?

Does anybody have any experience with glasscages.com? Are they any good?

It's seems hard to find a LFS that carries aquariums that size, does anybody know of any other reputable online sites that sell aquariums. I know, I know.. craigslist, local reef club, etc.... but she is looking for new.

 

[crvz]

glasscages has a very spotty customer service record. While that price may be decent (with all that equipment), I'd shop around for some of the more common brands. Check with the LFS.

 

[Davidd2324]

I'd look on craigslist.

 

[EllieSuz]

Mom should join Reef Central and do a lot of research before she purchases anything. I'd be so much better off if I had discovered RC sooner than later.

 

[cbusreefer]

bought the same tank/stand from Jacks brandnew for $750. I'd look around....

 

[cbusreefer]

that was without starfire, sump, and canopy. Starfire is not necessary, sump can be made by you out of silicone and plexi, and canopy not really necessary at first.

 

[bsagecko]

I think it is a waste of money

for $1600 you could get like a fully loaded, fully stocked aquarium from someone who is leaving the hobby

 

[pillpusher]

I have a 135 with starfire from glass cages and love it. I did go a little over board and did a closed loop circulation system, Lg Fuge w/ skimmer and a calcium reactor. All is controlled a neptune contoller. I have had no problems with the tank and love it. The only issue I had was that they postponed the delivery by 2 weeks.