Help to ID potential purchase

[tcermd]

I have found a tank I may want to purchase as my first SW tank. I have been in FW for awhile. I found this on craig's list and went and looked at it and looks in great condition. He is the original owner of 8 years, purchased in New York. He doesn't know the make, but states its 120gal. He has not changed the water in 1 year and he is not even sure on the types coral. He has one very large, original yellow tang. I don't want the expense of a new one, and think this may be a deal. Initially priced at $2000, I have him down to $1000. It has enormous amount of live rock, maybe too much. I would appreciate any input on this.

 

[MondoBongo]

what kind of lights are on it? does it come with everything, return pumps, skimmer?

i can't tell what's in it from that picture, looks like mostly soft corals, but i can't pick out anything specific beyond that.

 

[rt67ghy]

The image needs to be rotated.

 

[tcermd]

The lights are the original halogens and actinic, and chillers and sump and everything seen is included. I have not figured how to download more pic's. It would only allow one pic, for some reason.

 

[tcermd]

Id

Id

here is a better one

 

[MondoBongo]

i think that's the same picture.

no worries.

if it comes with EVERYTHING $1000 doesn't seem to be a bad deal. heck you could probably get back some of the selling the chiller, and also what i believe to be a canister filter in the background?

i'd check out the lights a little more closely. if you're planning on sticking with soft corals then those will probably do just fine, but if you plan on doing clams or more light demanding corals like SPS it's worth considering the potential upgrade cost, depending on what precisely is hiding under that canopy.

 

[lpsouth1978]

i think that's the same picture.

no worries.

if it comes with EVERYTHING $1000 doesn't seem to be a bad deal. heck you could probably get back some of the selling the chiller, and also what i believe to be a canister filter in the background?

i'd check out the lights a little more closely. if you're planning on sticking with soft corals then those will probably do just fine, but if you plan on doing clams or more light demanding corals like SPS it's worth considering the potential upgrade cost, depending on what precisely is hiding under that canopy.

While I agree that this does not seem like a bad deal, if everything is in good condition, I do not agree with being able to get money back from selling the chiller and canister. The chiller is in use for a reason. With, what I assume is a MH (not halogen), that tank probably gets pretty warm. As for the canister, it looks that it is being used as the pump for the chiller. I would certainly get rid of it and just get a good pump/powerhead to do that job, but it is not worth much to anyone else. The OP might get $20 out of it.

If you get it and a light upgrade occurs then you can re-evaluate the need for the chiller, but unless LED's are used, I would keep it.

Also, it looks like there are primarily softies in that tank, maybe some LPS, but I cannot make out any SPS or clams. If it is a MH, keep the light and just replace the bulbs. With new bulbs you can probably keep light loving SPS and Clams as well. From there the options are endless, ie - rescape, move things around, sell/trade corals, purchase new corals, add/remove rock, etc.

Welcome and good luck with the new endeavor.

 

[tcermd]

thank you so much for your input. My research almost made me think it was an Aquavim tank. The coral looked like polyps, nephthea and candy cane. I was looking for a steal, if not, I would buy new.

 

[lpsouth1978]

thank you so much for your input. My research almost made me think it was an Aquavim tank. The coral looked like polyps, nephthea and candy cane. I was looking for a steal, if not, I would buy new.

I was also thinking Aquavim. We were looking into their systems a while back, but there is nowhere to het them near me. We tried to get a LFS to order them in but they would not do it. This seems like a pretty good price to me. The tank, stand, and chiller alone, could cost almost $2000 new. Add all of the other equipment and lights and you are even higher.

 

[ericarenee]

If that tank is as nice looking up close i would say its a great deal.... we have one that is kinda similar that is a 72 gal.. Its black acrylic stand top and seamless acrylic tank... This one we got used on craigs list as well and paid 100.00 for. But only because someone idiot cut the structure off the top back to install hang on equipment..

Anyway .Check to see how much bow it has...

great find in my opinion...

 

[lpsouth1978]

If that tank is as nice looking up close i would say its a great deal.... we have one that is kinda similar that is a 72 gal.. Its black acrylic stand top and seamless acrylic tank... This one we got used on craigs list as well and paid 100.00 for. But only because someone idiot cut the structure off the top back to install hang on equipment..

Anyway .Check to see how much bow it has...

great find in my opinion...

If it is an Aquavim tank, it is curved glass, not acrylic. I do really like the look of the white stand and canopy. I would probably get it if I was in the OP's shoes.

 

[ericarenee]

If it is an Aquavim tank, it is curved glass, not acrylic. I do really like the look of the white stand and canopy. I would probably get it if I was in the OP's shoes.

Sorry i must have missed the Glass part.. Wow that would be kewl..


Ours Is acrylic....

 

[tcermd]

can anyone ID the corals? He obviously let the coral go crazy, but I would like to know how much debriding of coral I will have to do with a move of this aquarium. What coral would I keep and how much to keep.

 

[ericarenee]

Hard to tell by the images on some of them.
But for sure
Some Colt or Kenyan coral TOP LEFT

Looks like anthelia (spelling wrong likely) Waving hand Coral on the top right i think
The big one in the middle toward the right is some kind of Leather .Which one i cant tell.
Most of them are easily Fraged and very hardy Common corals..
Some of the smaller ones at bottom i would be afraid to try guessing...

above is only a guess . most look like in the leather family liveaquaria.com you can find comparison corals. since you seen the tank in person..