WhiskeyCoffee
New member
Stumbled upon this Craigslist ad and am wondering if you guys think it's a good deal. Here's the description:
Is this a good deal? (Craigslist find)
- Thread starter WhiskeyCoffee
- Start date
looks like the same size of my tank. I am also a newbie but can give you a sense of what I have so far as I am setting up.
I bought the tank and stand used and paid 80$. it had a single hole overflow already set up, not sure if you have that on the tank you posted. I had to buy additional equipment seperately, some used some new (homemade sump for $50, used skimmer for 100, new wavemaker and wifi controller for 100, rock for over 100.....) I think you get the idea.
I will end with this; the guy I bought the tank from gave me a piece of advice as I was leaving, based on something he does. he will shop for used equipment, mainly full setups online, and just breakdown the tank for what he wants and re-sell the rest. he mentioned that he usually makes his money back doing that, while still getting the equipment he was looking for. looks like there are quite a few powerheads in that tank. you just need to have a bit of extra upfront cash.
given there is no livestock included, you could potentially do the same.
I bought the tank and stand used and paid 80$. it had a single hole overflow already set up, not sure if you have that on the tank you posted. I had to buy additional equipment seperately, some used some new (homemade sump for $50, used skimmer for 100, new wavemaker and wifi controller for 100, rock for over 100.....) I think you get the idea.
I will end with this; the guy I bought the tank from gave me a piece of advice as I was leaving, based on something he does. he will shop for used equipment, mainly full setups online, and just breakdown the tank for what he wants and re-sell the rest. he mentioned that he usually makes his money back doing that, while still getting the equipment he was looking for. looks like there are quite a few powerheads in that tank. you just need to have a bit of extra upfront cash.
given there is no livestock included, you could potentially do the same.
tanksfishtank
Premium Member
I would say not a "good" deal because of no specifics on equipment...Could be a $500 skimmer of $20 skimmer? Any sump with return pump? Power heads are cheap by the looks in pic. Light is cheap, but would work for some soft corals. The few fish and corals that he has in there are not very expensive. I think by the looks of the tank he is stretching to get $400. He probably spent more than that if he bought it all brand new, but this hobby rarely do you get even 1/2 your $ back unless it is top of the line equipment. Which his does not appear to be. BUT, if you want a turn key setup, I have seen much worse deals!
farfromsea
Active member
I don't like bow fronts but I definitely wouldn't necessarily want to pay $400 for all of that if I did! Ask him what brand the skimmer is as mentioned above. The light is definitely a cheap light, I have one haha
If I were you I would offer $250 if you are keen on it and see what he says
If I were you I would offer $250 if you are keen on it and see what he says
SeaCucumberFan
New member
In Indonesia a 25 gal is $750 so this would be a very good deal for Indonesia. Although in America it wouldn'tbe a good deal. I would offer him $300 max
CStrickland
New member
From the pic it looks like a hang on protien skimmer. So if you bought it you'll probably want to drill the tank so you can add a sump. To do that you'd need to confirm that the glass isn't tempered on the back, drain it, drill the holes and redo the plumbing. The animals and rocks will be fine in a big Tupperware bin for a couple days. You'd buy another small tank that fits underneath (might be a challenge with the bowfront dimensions) and have your equipment down there. Then you can get a better skimmer too.
It's not that bad of a project, but it's a hassle. I wouldn't think of the tank as plug and play, since I wouldn't run a tank bigger than like 10g without a sump. You'd probs pay more than $400 to buy it new.
PS the 2 powerheads on the right are sunsuns, they're $10 a piece new. The one on the left might be a jebao, hard to see it. If so they're like $60 new. The light is a Chinese black box. If it's full spectrum it's about $80 new, if it's an older model that's just white and blue it's not worth much. The new ones are great, people grow all kinds of coral with them. The tank is deep though, most lights won't penetrate more than 24" so you'll put demanding coral up higher on the rocks.
It's not that bad of a project, but it's a hassle. I wouldn't think of the tank as plug and play, since I wouldn't run a tank bigger than like 10g without a sump. You'd probs pay more than $400 to buy it new.
PS the 2 powerheads on the right are sunsuns, they're $10 a piece new. The one on the left might be a jebao, hard to see it. If so they're like $60 new. The light is a Chinese black box. If it's full spectrum it's about $80 new, if it's an older model that's just white and blue it's not worth much. The new ones are great, people grow all kinds of coral with them. The tank is deep though, most lights won't penetrate more than 24" so you'll put demanding coral up higher on the rocks.
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If you want it show up with 200$ in cash and wave it around a bit. If he's hard up for cash witch he most likely is since he's selling a tank then he will bite. Just make sure to mention that he needs the money but you don't need a fish tank and your willing to walk. If you REALLY want to low ball him have a friend come and offer like 100 to 150. If hes says he can't go any lower then X amount of dollars ask a friend (who has some your money) to "borrow" some to get closer to his amount but not his actual number. Be specific with your words and amounts.
I hang with a few hardcore hagglers I've seen some stuff.
I hang with a few hardcore hagglers I've seen some stuff.
WhiskeyCoffee
New member
I'm going to resell the tank, light, and most of the rock. I already have an established 29g with 10g sump. I'll just take the fish, coral, and skimmer. Sell the rest.
Grimreaperz
New member
I have a 36g Bowfront. I got it for 90 with a stand (i ended up building my own)
I am starting with this. But definitely wish I bought a Rectangle Tank!
Making Lids is easier for them
I also wish I drilled it before setting it up and putting Live stock in it.
I have a similar light yes cheap light probably cost 150 max on amazon
skimmer probably anywhere from 90-150
I would say no for 400
maybe 250-300.
You would be better off holding out for something rectangle and bigger.
I started in may and if it wasn't for my wife would be getting a much much bigger tank!
So i am starting with this one but will definitely be upgrading in the future. Maybe ask yourself what type of Fish and Corals you want to keep that will help you decide what size tank you will need.
I wish i did that fisrt!
I am starting with this. But definitely wish I bought a Rectangle Tank!
Making Lids is easier for them
I also wish I drilled it before setting it up and putting Live stock in it.
I have a similar light yes cheap light probably cost 150 max on amazon
skimmer probably anywhere from 90-150
I would say no for 400
maybe 250-300.
You would be better off holding out for something rectangle and bigger.
I started in may and if it wasn't for my wife would be getting a much much bigger tank!
So i am starting with this one but will definitely be upgrading in the future. Maybe ask yourself what type of Fish and Corals you want to keep that will help you decide what size tank you will need.
I wish i did that fisrt!
Same boat here, but bought the tank predrilled by previous owner (only thing that had me move on it)
reef thief
New member
They totaled up the expense of everything they've bought and knocked $50 off. That's their problem to resolve. IMO aquariums lose their value quicker than cars. I would never buy a used tank (in great condition) unless it was selling for 40% less than the new value. I've never bought used but wouldn't put myself above it. A deal is a deal. This one is the seller's resentment.
That New Guy
New member
I'd skip this. You'll never get your money back on resale.
WhiskeyCoffee
New member
I spoke to the guy and found out some info. He has one offer at $325. The wavemaker is a Jebao RW-8 and the skimmer is a Macro Aqua M-50. His corals are a green BTA, 2x frogspawn, and two others whose names I can't remember lol. The light is the generic eBay 165w LED.
Anyone know anything about the wavemaker or skimmer?
Anyone know anything about the wavemaker or skimmer?
lockdown52
New member
I'll say this...There are better deals out there for $400!
farfromsea
Active member
I don't know about those brands but just calculating it you're at for those brands
wavemaker: $80 (new)
skimmer $60 (new)
ebay light $100 (new/average new price)
36 gallon tank & stand not drilled ($250 for random petsmart set new)
live rock ($36-$50 definitely not fancy rock in there)
sand I'm terrible at estimating how much is in the tank!
Anyways so for equipment alone you're up to approximately $540-value of new equipment.
I think everything should depreciate at about 50%. So I think the craigslist price of it should be still be about $250.
I still wouldn't do it not having a sump sounds like a pain. If it was an all-in-one small tank I wouldn't mind but I like having a sump. I think HOB skimmers are somewhat unattractive. If you have to run GFO I don't know where you put it if the tank has no sump but for me it is easy I just toss a bag in the sump... I think a better deal would come around and I would just let this one go.
I bought mine on CL as well and it had an ebay light and it wasn't even dimmable and I regret that I was too naive to ask details my coral definitely hates the light and the algae loves the light so if you are keen on this find then check with him if it is a dimmable light or not. I had stupidly presumed no one would buy a garbage light when cheap LEDs are so easily attainable now, but I was wrong
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