should I buy this setup?

bored4long

bored4long

New member
OK, got a hold of the guy selling a 100 gallon fish only system here.

here is the pic he provided:
01010901020801040320070622621cd35f62e331334400d1ee.jpg


I have first dibs on his setup. Please let me know if I am making a mistake by getting this. Keep in mind I'm a total newb.

Here is the information I have so far.

  • 100 gallon, 5' long, acrylic tank
    custom built by a company in fairfield
    1/2 " acrylic
    currently set up as FOWLR (very little rock in tank)
    center overflow
    3" hole drilled in bottom of tank (in overflow) for drain
    drain plumbed directly to sump
    ~25 gallon sump with LR as filter media
    no protein skimmer
    Rio 3100 used as return to two 1" return pipes to top
    One more Rio used in tank as powerhead
    Existing lighting is weak, just one 48" flourescent and two 24" PC
    Custom built stand and canopy (stand is 31" tall)
    14" Snowflake Moray Eel
    Large Dogface Puffer
    Medium Niger Trigger
    Medium Humu Humu Trigger
    some? Damsels
    system has been running for 2 years

How practical is it to keep it as a FOWLR and slowly build it up as a Reef tank as I acquire parts. Would this cause the system to re-cycle and harm the fish?

I'm going to go look at it tomorrow afternoon. If anyone wants to join me, I'd appreciate your expertise.

- Mark
 
Yes, good price if you want a FOWLR system.

However, it is not easy to convert from FOWLR to reef with corals, softies, etc unless you want to basically get rid of all the coral-eating fish.

You might want to ask:

- how stratched up is the tank, any cracks
- has the owner ever used Copper to treat his tank (toxic to corals and some report that Cu is adsorbed by live rock/sand and can we released back into solution later).
- what is the dim of the tank? I think that tank is very shallow (front to back) which is a bit hard to aquascape.

But, picky,picky for $200 it is a good deal.

Scott
 
It's a great deal for that tank. If you want to convert it to a reef tank, you will need to get rid of some of the fish. Triggers and puffers are usually not compatible with reef tanks. You might be able to trade the fish in for some store credits. You will also need stronger lights and more live rocks. I don't know what type of substrates you have - but if it's crush coral, you may need to change it our for some sand.

It's a great deal for what you are getting.
 
it will cost a lot to upgrade and it is a shallow tank... very hard to aquascape a shallow tank. Get a 90 gallon... 10 gallons less but it is deep
 
I think it's a great deal and tank to start with. My new (3/8")acrylic 50g cost more than that whole setup, and I got a good deal!

As is, the canopy could sport some VHO, or some T5(individual reflectors mandatory, no flat panels!) for a great softy or mixed tank. Otherwise a modification or new canopy would be necessary to support metal halides.

I think you would feel much more confident with your purchase if you got to look at it first though. But at the same time who wants to be the one kicking themselves in the arse for letting a good deal slip by.."Not I said the fly!" :D

-Justin
 
Ideally, I'd find a 120g 4', cause those are 24" deep. Jay, the owner, said this tank is 18" deep. That is the same depth as a 90g, right?

I looked up the fish and came to the same conclusion that they are not reef friendly. How difficult would it be to trade or sell the fish if I want to add corals?

I go to look at the setup tomorrow afternoon. I'd like to make a decision then.

Thanks for the tips, Plankton. I'll be sure to ask.
 
NO! DO NOT BUY THIS TANK!!!!! But I think you should pm me his number so can tell him what an awful deal this is.....:)
 
LOL. My greatest fear, actually, is that my wife doesn't want the black stand in our family room. I'm trying to convince her its the first step to black leather couches, but she isn't buying it...

OK, I'll post my decision here, but my guess is he already has a list of ppl interested. I think he gave me first dibs because I sounded the most excited/desperate.
 
If you strip away what cannot be used, you're left with the following:

-100 gallon, 5' long, acrylic tank
-very little rock in tank (basically, your base rock)
-25 gallon sump with LR as filter media (convert to a refugium)
-Rio 3100 used as return to two 1" return pipes to top
-One more Rio used in tank as powerhead
-two 24" PC (this will light your refugium)
-48" flourescent (actinic supplementation)

The above is still a real good deal for $200.

Most have gotten over the '1lb of live rock for every gallon rule', so you may not need to add that much more. Others would suggest to ditch the Rios, and go with a more reputable pump.

The stuff below is what you can't use for a reef. You'll be able to trade these in to a LFS for stuff that you can use, or try and sell them on your own.

-14" Snowflake Moray Eel
-Large Dogface Puffer
-Medium Niger Trigger
-Medium Humu Humu Trigger
-some? Damsels
 
It'll be hard to say. You can expect anywhere from 25-50% in store credit. Larger fish are sometimes hard to move, so stores are hesitant to take them in.

You'll more than likely get a better trade if it's livestock for livestock, since the mark up is higher;)
 
Take them to a store that sells those type of fish. I would do a trade for more LR. This will help in your initial costs.
 
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