Buying a 180 gallon tank and need some expert advise!!!

jcard71 · 12/22/2007, 01:01 PM

Hi,

I have an opportunity to buy an 180 gallon tank pictured below. It was setup as a saltwater tank and it's supposedly in great shape, but just needs to be cleaned. It has the overflows, but I plan on buying a Black arrowana to house in it..etc.

Haven't really made up my mind if I want it to be salt or fresh with the arowana?

Paying $750.00 for it...

Anything I should be concerened with since it has overflows and it was a saltwater tank?

Blown 346 · 12/22/2007, 01:22 PM

You got a great deal. The only thing I wiould look at is the silicon seals, chips in the glass and on corners. If the silicon is soft, and there are no tears, cuts you will be fine. To clean the tank I filled it up with hose water and vinegar. The coralline cam right off as the rest of the algae.

I would fill it to make sure it holds water.

jcard71 · 12/22/2007, 01:26 PM

I appreciate your help!

I will definitley fill it before I buy it.

Do you really think 750 for this tank is a good deal?

It's an oceanic.

Blown 346 · 12/22/2007, 01:29 PM

Is it just the tank or the stand etc? If so the tank is a great price.

jcard71 · 12/22/2007, 01:41 PM

It's everything you see in the picture. Tank,stand canopy lights...etc.

My only issue now is getting the tank moved into my house, any ideas? Should I hire a moving company, if so how much they usually charge?

Tank Predator · 12/22/2007, 01:52 PM

just the stand and canopy alone is worth more then that i have that same set up and i paid 1,400 few years back

kenwendyb · 12/22/2007, 03:33 PM

NICE DEAL!!! Payed more for my 75 set. Actually not as heavy as you think. 2 people needed and pickup truck. My husband and I moved our 65 and 75 1\4 full. hurt a little afterwards. Good luck!!

Blown 346 · 12/22/2007, 03:44 PM

I agree, you stole that. Also you and 3 buddys can move the tank yourself. I and another buddy moved my 125. The tank wont be that heavy, it will wont be light but you and another guy can do this easily. Just make sure you have a firm grip on the tank at both ends and you'll be fine.

The tank will fit ina standard truck bed, you will have to leave the tailgate down but straps will hold it in. Let us know progress when you get it home and started.

Sk8r · 12/22/2007, 04:15 PM

Run 2 gallons of ordinary white vinegar through the system for 24 hours and it will sparkle with just a little hand-wiping.

One thing I would do for my own peace of mind---before you add sand or rock to this tank, get some polyfilter and run just a snippet of the medium in the water column. If it turns blue or bluish there's been copper in the tank and you'll need to run polyfilter for however long it takes to get the copper out. It's a good precaution with any used tank.

jcard71 · 12/22/2007, 05:30 PM

Great, I appreciate everyone's help!

Any suggestions on what I should put in it if I don't go with the arrowana?

I was thinking of buying a Fluval FX 5 for this tank?

Blown 346 · 12/22/2007, 05:53 PM

Gar are pretty cool as well as a red tail catfish

Sk8r · 12/22/2007, 06:00 PM

If you go marine, just skip the filter and go with a nice big skimmer, sump, live rock and sand...could make a great marine tank...good, thick glass. If it's drilled for a downflow and sump, you're golden...except the lights, and a couple of T5s would set you up as a softie tank that could be real nice looking, couple of reef safe fish to wander up and down, lots of color and motion, etc.

Zestay · 12/22/2007, 06:16 PM

you said its comming with lights. lets see a pic of those so we can tell you how much better of a deal you got and wha tyour power bills going to look like

navychief · 12/22/2007, 08:04 PM

Dude. That looks like a dream tank. It looks as if you got a steal.

Whisperer · 12/22/2007, 08:45 PM

Before you cut the check, look closely to make sure there aren't a lot of scratches on the glass (I hate those).

Also, I would do reef on that baby. Place the arowana in a glass bowl instead.

j/k

poppin_fresh · 12/22/2007, 09:59 PM

two really strong people can move a 180, but its much safer to use 4...trust me I've moved mine several times.

12/22/2007, 01:01 PM	#1
jcard71 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 23	Buying a 180 gallon tank and need some expert advise!!! Hi, I have an opportunity to buy an 180 gallon tank pictured below. It was setup as a saltwater tank and it's supposedly in great shape, but just needs to be cleaned. It has the overflows, but I plan on buying a Black arrowana to house in it..etc. Haven't really made up my mind if I want it to be salt or fresh with the arowana? Paying $750.00 for it... Anything I should be concerened with since it has overflows and it was a saltwater tank? Last edited by jcard71; 12/22/2007 at 01:27 PM.

12/22/2007, 03:33 PM	#7
kenwendyb Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: B'ham, AL Posts: 211	NICE DEAL!!! Payed more for my 75 set. Actually not as heavy as you think. 2 people needed and pickup truck. My husband and I moved our 65 and 75 1\4 full. hurt a little afterwards. Good luck!! __________________ ................................... Thanks, Ken and Wendy (Usually Wendy typing Ken nearby) Avitar is pic of very first tank all those years ago. Current Tank Info: 95-Marroon Clown, Flame Hawk, Coral Beauty, Tomini Bristletooth Tang, Dwarf Lion, Bird Wrasse pair. 65-Black Sailfin Blenny, Pair of Maroon Clowns, Convict Blenny, Snails Snails Snails! 56 gal for sale!!!!

12/22/2007, 04:15 PM	#9
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Run 2 gallons of ordinary white vinegar through the system for 24 hours and it will sparkle with just a little hand-wiping. One thing I would do for my own peace of mind---before you add sand or rock to this tank, get some polyfilter and run just a snippet of the medium in the water column. If it turns blue or bluish there's been copper in the tank and you'll need to run polyfilter for however long it takes to get the copper out. It's a good precaution with any used tank. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

12/22/2007, 05:30 PM	#10
jcard71 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 23	Great, I appreciate everyone's help! Any suggestions on what I should put in it if I don't go with the arrowana? I was thinking of buying a Fluval FX 5 for this tank? Last edited by jcard71; 12/22/2007 at 05:36 PM.

12/22/2007, 06:00 PM	#12
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	If you go marine, just skip the filter and go with a nice big skimmer, sump, live rock and sand...could make a great marine tank...good, thick glass. If it's drilled for a downflow and sump, you're golden...except the lights, and a couple of T5s would set you up as a softie tank that could be real nice looking, couple of reef safe fish to wander up and down, lots of color and motion, etc. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

12/22/2007, 01:22 PM	#2
Blown 346 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rockford, Illinois Posts: 6,596	You got a great deal. The only thing I wiould look at is the silicon seals, chips in the glass and on corners. If the silicon is soft, and there are no tears, cuts you will be fine. To clean the tank I filled it up with hose water and vinegar. The coralline cam right off as the rest of the algae. I would fill it to make sure it holds water.

12/22/2007, 01:26 PM	#3
jcard71 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 23	I appreciate your help! I will definitley fill it before I buy it. Do you really think 750 for this tank is a good deal? It's an oceanic.

12/22/2007, 01:29 PM	#4
Blown 346 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rockford, Illinois Posts: 6,596	Is it just the tank or the stand etc? If so the tank is a great price.

12/22/2007, 01:41 PM	#5
jcard71 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 23	It's everything you see in the picture. Tank,stand canopy lights...etc. My only issue now is getting the tank moved into my house, any ideas? Should I hire a moving company, if so how much they usually charge?

12/22/2007, 01:52 PM	#6
Tank Predator Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: HELLAWARE Posts: 438	just the stand and canopy alone is worth more then that i have that same set up and i paid 1,400 few years back

12/22/2007, 03:44 PM	#8
Blown 346 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rockford, Illinois Posts: 6,596	I agree, you stole that. Also you and 3 buddys can move the tank yourself. I and another buddy moved my 125. The tank wont be that heavy, it will wont be light but you and another guy can do this easily. Just make sure you have a firm grip on the tank at both ends and you'll be fine. The tank will fit ina standard truck bed, you will have to leave the tailgate down but straps will hold it in. Let us know progress when you get it home and started.

12/22/2007, 05:53 PM	#11
Blown 346 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rockford, Illinois Posts: 6,596	Gar are pretty cool as well as a red tail catfish

12/22/2007, 06:16 PM	#13
Zestay Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: gainesville, FL Posts: 1,622	you said its comming with lights. lets see a pic of those so we can tell you how much better of a deal you got and wha tyour power bills going to look like

12/22/2007, 08:04 PM	#14
navychief "Shellback" Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Maryland Posts: 541	Dude. That looks like a dream tank. It looks as if you got a steal. __________________ CadLights 70G, Radion XR30W Pro, 2 MP 10, Apexs, .25 HP chiller, 3 TLF reactors w/ Carbon/Bioballs, PM Kalk reactor, 24" Giesemann w/4 Actinic T5s/250W 15000K HQI, PM R30 Fuge, Cone-S Skimmer, RS Salt Current Tank Info: 1 Paracanthurus; 2 False Percula; 1 Monacanthidae; 1 Blue Chrysiptera cyanea; 1 Lysmata debelius; 1 Eucidaris

12/22/2007, 08:45 PM	#15
Whisperer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Punta Gorda, FL Posts: 4,020	Before you cut the check, look closely to make sure there aren't a lot of scratches on the glass (I hate those). Also, I would do reef on that baby. Place the arowana in a glass bowl instead. j/k __________________ The bitterness of poor quality lingers long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten. --------- No one is born with intellect and age guarantees wisdom to no one. Current Tank Info: 120G reef, 30G sump, 10G QT tank

12/22/2007, 09:59 PM	#16
poppin_fresh Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Vermont Posts: 1,982	two really strong people can move a 180, but its much safer to use 4...trust me I've moved mine several times. __________________ PBITAWA! Current Tank Info: None now. Past- 180g w/ 100g basement sump and 20g 'fuge. H & S skimmer, T'5s & Tunze