Should I buy this used tank and equipment???

BelleAmour · 04/02/2007, 04:58 PM

Hi all! I am brand new to keeping saltwater/reef, having been keeping freshwater as long as I can remember! I am looking to buy my tank and equipment used to save some money. The one I am interested in is a 55 gallon tank, stand, and equipment for $275, which seems like a good deal to me. I asked some questions about it, and didn't quite like the answers.

Q: How old is the tank and equipment?
A: Tank is 8 years old, equipment is 5 years old.

Q: Was there a sudden die off in the tank?
A: I had a die off due to a yellow tang I think. It happened so quickly there was no time to react.One day they looked OK, the next day was a disaster. All water parameters are good, the tank is still up & running with a purple tip anemone still going strong.

Q: Was there any use of copper in the tank?
A: I did use a copper based medication more than a year ago just one time.

The fact that there was a die off, and copper use, I'm a bit leery about buying it. But it's a really good price I think! I do not plan on keeping invertebrates, which I hear is what the copper kills. I plan on mostly doing a FOWLR tank with maybe a few corals. I certainly appreciate his honesty at least! But, should I or shouldn't I buy it? Also, are there any other questions I should be asking when buying a used tank, besides "Does it hold water

?"

joekr · 04/02/2007, 05:03 PM

I believe if there is rock in the tank and it was dosed with copper, you would not want that system. It would kill off all the corals and inverts... I would not buy it.

I'm sure others will respond as well...just my 2 cents! Good lucK!

HBtank · 04/02/2007, 05:06 PM

No, not a good deal IMO.

55's are cheap to buy new, and their stands are as well. No canopy makes me think it is a basic 55 setup, basically found at any petsmart. After 8/5 years of use I would not pay very much at all. Not to mention the other issues with copper etc..

I'm guessing most of the equipment (if you post a list it would help) will be replaced by you very quickly if you really get into this. Most of the time these are ill concieved LFS setups to begin with..... The fact they had poor success might reinforce that fact.

Anyways, if you are going the used route, there are much better deals that will come buy IMO.

Joshua1023 · 04/02/2007, 05:09 PM

$275 could be an awesome deal depending on what it comes w/.
Equipment is one of the funnest parts of the hobby for me.
Can you describe what it comes w/ as far as lighting and filtration?
If its stuff that will need to be replaced, you shouldn't buy it. A 55gl tank and stand are super cheap alone. You can usually find them new for about $200.

Joshua1023 · 04/02/2007, 05:10 PM

HBTank is a faster typist than me.

BelleAmour · 04/02/2007, 05:13 PM

Thanks for the replies! I don't know much about equipment, so I'm going to just copy and paste what he wrote.
It includes:
48" compact flouresant light,Bak-Pak 2 protein skimmer, wet/ dry sump/pump,Fluval 404 canister filter (old style) 250 w heater,8w UV sterilizer

smacdone · 04/02/2007, 05:17 PM

Keep looking, browse the forums on here for locals in your area looking to sell i think you can find something better

fareforce · 04/02/2007, 05:23 PM

I would say no for the following reasons:

1) Copper meds have been used in it. It is very hard to get it back out.

2) Age of tank. Also, if it has been used for saltwater, and has been sitting dry for awhile chances are the silicon is dried out and bad.

3) IMO a 55gal tank is the worst design ever for salt water. The 13" front to back depth will cause you nothing but grief when trying to aquascape. I hated my 55 so much I tore it down, and started over.

BelleAmour · 04/02/2007, 05:48 PM

Alright, thanks everybody! I guess it's back to scouring all the ads again.

04/02/2007, 04:58 PM	#1
BelleAmour Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 3	Should I buy this used tank and equipment??? Hi all! I am brand new to keeping saltwater/reef, having been keeping freshwater as long as I can remember! I am looking to buy my tank and equipment used to save some money. The one I am interested in is a 55 gallon tank, stand, and equipment for $275, which seems like a good deal to me. I asked some questions about it, and didn't quite like the answers. Q: How old is the tank and equipment? A: Tank is 8 years old, equipment is 5 years old. Q: Was there a sudden die off in the tank? A: I had a die off due to a yellow tang I think. It happened so quickly there was no time to react.One day they looked OK, the next day was a disaster. All water parameters are good, the tank is still up & running with a purple tip anemone still going strong. Q: Was there any use of copper in the tank? A: I did use a copper based medication more than a year ago just one time. The fact that there was a die off, and copper use, I'm a bit leery about buying it. But it's a really good price I think! I do not plan on keeping invertebrates, which I hear is what the copper kills. I plan on mostly doing a FOWLR tank with maybe a few corals. I certainly appreciate his honesty at least! But, should I or shouldn't I buy it? Also, are there any other questions I should be asking when buying a used tank, besides "Does it hold water ?"

04/02/2007, 05:03 PM	#2
joekr Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 661	I believe if there is rock in the tank and it was dosed with copper, you would not want that system. It would kill off all the corals and inverts... I would not buy it. I'm sure others will respond as well...just my 2 cents! Good lucK! __________________ Joe Current Tank Info: 90 gallon reef

04/02/2007, 05:06 PM	#3
HBtank Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Huntington Beach, CA Posts: 2,957	No, not a good deal IMO. 55's are cheap to buy new, and their stands are as well. No canopy makes me think it is a basic 55 setup, basically found at any petsmart. After 8/5 years of use I would not pay very much at all. Not to mention the other issues with copper etc.. I'm guessing most of the equipment (if you post a list it would help) will be replaced by you very quickly if you really get into this. Most of the time these are ill concieved LFS setups to begin with..... The fact they had poor success might reinforce that fact. Anyways, if you are going the used route, there are much better deals that will come buy IMO. __________________ 80g Aiptasia dominated reef tank.. with fish and now a bunch of berghia! Current Tank Info: 80g tank, re-starting a reef after a zoanthid nudibranch plauge, followed by months of steady and unstoppable STN/RTN, crashed; stayed FOWLR for a couple years, currently an aiptasia dominated reef tank with fishies and BERGHIA Last edited by HBtank; 04/02/2007 at 05:12 PM.

04/02/2007, 05:09 PM	#4
Joshua1023 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Reading PA Posts: 1,526	$275 could be an awesome deal depending on what it comes w/. Equipment is one of the funnest parts of the hobby for me. Can you describe what it comes w/ as far as lighting and filtration? If its stuff that will need to be replaced, you shouldn't buy it. A 55gl tank and stand are super cheap alone. You can usually find them new for about $200. __________________ Only bad things happen fast. Only bad thing happen fast. Only bad things happen fast. Man,I'm friggen hard-headed!!! Current Tank Info: 90 gl tank,Coralife 14K MH lights,2 Current dual daylight/actinic 40 watt fixtures, tidepool sump,Coralife SS 220 protein skimmer,six inch sand bed w/ plenum, Current Prime Tower 1/3 hp Chiller,RedSea ozonizer w/ orp

04/02/2007, 05:10 PM	#5
Joshua1023 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Reading PA Posts: 1,526	HBTank is a faster typist than me. __________________ Only bad things happen fast. Only bad thing happen fast. Only bad things happen fast. Man,I'm friggen hard-headed!!! Current Tank Info: 90 gl tank,Coralife 14K MH lights,2 Current dual daylight/actinic 40 watt fixtures, tidepool sump,Coralife SS 220 protein skimmer,six inch sand bed w/ plenum, Current Prime Tower 1/3 hp Chiller,RedSea ozonizer w/ orp

04/02/2007, 05:13 PM	#6
BelleAmour Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 3	Thanks for the replies! I don't know much about equipment, so I'm going to just copy and paste what he wrote. It includes: 48" compact flouresant light,Bak-Pak 2 protein skimmer, wet/ dry sump/pump,Fluval 404 canister filter (old style) 250 w heater,8w UV sterilizer

04/02/2007, 05:17 PM	#7
smacdone Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Santa Barbara Posts: 129	Keep looking, browse the forums on here for locals in your area looking to sell i think you can find something better

04/02/2007, 05:23 PM	#8
fareforce Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Anchorage, AK (Alaska) Home of the frozen weasel Posts: 1,811	I would say no for the following reasons: 1) Copper meds have been used in it. It is very hard to get it back out. 2) Age of tank. Also, if it has been used for saltwater, and has been sitting dry for awhile chances are the silicon is dried out and bad. 3) IMO a 55gal tank is the worst design ever for salt water. The 13" front to back depth will cause you nothing but grief when trying to aquascape. I hated my 55 so much I tore it down, and started over. __________________ It's not my fault!!! It was an I.D.ten.T. thing.. Gosh!!!! (ID10T) --------------------------------------------- Click the red house to see my current build thread! Current Tank Info: Current Project. 110 gallon starphire.

04/02/2007, 05:48 PM	#9
BelleAmour Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 3	Alright, thanks everybody! I guess it's back to scouring all the ads again.