Is this a fair price for a 180g glass tank?

poormonkey · 01/03/2011, 09:23 PM

I am looking to make the change over from fresh to a reef setup. I found this tank, and was wondering if this is a fair or good price for it?

- 180g glass tank with stand and hood
- tank is 3 years old, the guy is moving and needs to get rid of the tank
-Oak stand (about 27 inches tall)
-Motor
- Mega Flow - Model 4 (up to 210 gallons) Wet Dry Bio-Filter
-Turbo Twist 6x UV sterilizer
-2 - 300 watt Visi Therm heaters
-2 lights that fit across the top of the tank
-Turbo pump fan
-Plants & accessories....some not currently in tank
-PLUS all of these....bottle of stability, algeafix, prime, vitachem, test kit, buffer, aquarium glass cleaner, and prazipro.

I am thinking additionally I will need to get some live rock and a protein skimmer and some new lights...

The guy is saying I can have his system for $1100 Is this a fair or a good price? Or should I hold off and keep looking?

FearTheTerps · 01/03/2011, 09:37 PM

I think the guy is off his rocker, probably half that would be a good offer.

Any more info on the lights? Im guessing PCs

poormonkey · 01/03/2011, 09:42 PM

I asked him about the lights and this was his response, "The lights were provided by the Sea Escapes when I bought the tank and were recommended"

Sea Escapes is a high end local store, so I am guessing he bought the entire package from them and had them set it up and maintain it.

Saltwatercoral2 · 01/03/2011, 09:42 PM

I wouldnt pay that much for it, like the person above said. Maybe about 400-500 is what i would offer.

Frogmanx82 · 01/03/2011, 09:44 PM

2 lights that fit across the top sound like something that would need an upgrade for a nice reef set up and you could spend that much on lights alone. Plants? accessories? Motor? I'm not sure what any of that would be.

This might have been a salt tank, but it doesn't sound like it was a reef tank. If you want a reef tank, you might be better off to keep looking. You'd also be better off with a bigger sump. The biofilter isn't really what you're looking for. This is just missing some of the stuff that you really want a steal on. Good lights, good skimmer, good pump, big sump and lots of rock. Consider rock can easily run $4 to $8 per pound and you'll likely want close to 200 pounds.

There's a thread on here for what's the worst investment you've made. Turns out its a reef tank, you get 20 cents on the dollar if you're lucky. The smartest thing you can do is buy used. In buying a tank, besides holding water, the next most important thing is very few scratches in the glass. You've got to look at it really close. You can get such a good deal on all the other equipment, but the actual tank is something that still might be best purchased new.

B-Willz · 01/03/2011, 09:48 PM

Looking at the picture, it looks like the lights are just standard flourecents. They are fine for a fish only but not corals. You still have alot of money to spend on sand and rocks and new lights if you want corals. I would agree 400-500

tangelo_ · 01/03/2011, 09:52 PM

I've been looking for one also. $1100 is waay to much, especially with those lights.

scapes · 01/03/2011, 09:56 PM

I bought a brand new 180g w/ tank, stand and canopy for $1400. heck no on $1100. no way in this world. and all the "added" stuff I would never use personally so it would be just wasted.

Uncle Salty 05 · 01/04/2011, 09:35 AM

$600-$700 tops.
That stand is not oak, it is pine.

scapes · 01/04/2011, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Salty 05

$600-$700 tops.
That stand is not oak, it is pine.

yeah, and pine is even cheaper then oak.....i didn't even look at the pics on my prior post. i paid $1400 brand new WITH canopy. this one in pic just included some glass with some fluorescent bulbs and no canopy.

i hope we have helped you in this decision. I'd probably offer $400

bamf25 · 01/04/2011, 11:48 AM

I was told that a good used tank should cost about $1 to maybe $1.25 per gallon. Now if it was an oak stand and canopy that would add to the price. That pine stand new is about $300, where an oak stand will run 2 to 3 times that new.

Also remeber you can make a decent sump for around $125 for that tank, and a new pump will run $100 to $200 depending on band and exact gph you need to get the desired flow and clear your head hight.

poormonkey · 01/04/2011, 12:09 PM

Thanks for all the feedback. Yeah, that helped my decision out a lot, I told the guy what I would pay for it, and he was offended by my offer. So, I will keep looking...

JCCBURT · 01/04/2011, 12:29 PM

dont worry in a few weeks he will call you back to see if you'd still give him your original offer... lol

I bought my 125g WITH NOT A SCRATCH ON IT w/stand and lame lil fluval 404 canister filter and the lights that tank has for $180...

craigslist is your friend... be patient, the deal will show up... might take a month, but its worth it... take the extra time to read these boards while you wait ;-) you will read why you do or don't want certain things thereby saving you more money and making your reef that much nicer...

TP123 · 01/04/2011, 01:34 PM

I sold an unused AGA 180 gal reef ready (dual overflows) with oak stand for $625 recently. It never had water in it. I bought it, found out a kid was on the way, and decided it was better to not set it up. It sold in under a week.

So I'd say that's fairly high.

01/03/2011, 09:44 PM	#5
Frogmanx82 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,515	2 lights that fit across the top sound like something that would need an upgrade for a nice reef set up and you could spend that much on lights alone. Plants? accessories? Motor? I'm not sure what any of that would be. This might have been a salt tank, but it doesn't sound like it was a reef tank. If you want a reef tank, you might be better off to keep looking. You'd also be better off with a bigger sump. The biofilter isn't really what you're looking for. This is just missing some of the stuff that you really want a steal on. Good lights, good skimmer, good pump, big sump and lots of rock. Consider rock can easily run $4 to $8 per pound and you'll likely want close to 200 pounds. There's a thread on here for what's the worst investment you've made. Turns out its a reef tank, you get 20 cents on the dollar if you're lucky. The smartest thing you can do is buy used. In buying a tank, besides holding water, the next most important thing is very few scratches in the glass. You've got to look at it really close. You can get such a good deal on all the other equipment, but the actual tank is something that still might be best purchased new. __________________ Exodus 8:2 Check my homepage for tank pics and details. Current Tank Info: 90 gallon, 2x maxspect R420R LED, 4 Ocellaris Clowns, Yellow Eye Kole Tang, Flame Angel, Foxface Rabbitfish, Banggai Cardinals, Azure Damsel, rock flower anemone, cleaner shrimp, serpent star Last edited by Frogmanx82; 01/03/2011 at 10:15 PM.

01/04/2011, 09:35 AM	#9
Uncle Salty 05 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 3,799	$600-$700 tops. That stand is not oak, it is pine. __________________ In all that I endure, of one thing I am sure. Knowledge and reason, change like the season. A jester's promenade. - Kerry Livgren Current Tank Info: 180 gal reef tank with dual attached refugiums 20 long and 10 gallon. Plus 55 gallon True Percula breeding tank.

01/03/2011, 09:37 PM	#2
FearTheTerps Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Hagerstown, Maryland Posts: 87	I think the guy is off his rocker, probably half that would be a good offer. Any more info on the lights? Im guessing PCs

01/03/2011, 09:42 PM	#3
poormonkey Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 8	I asked him about the lights and this was his response, "The lights were provided by the Sea Escapes when I bought the tank and were recommended" Sea Escapes is a high end local store, so I am guessing he bought the entire package from them and had them set it up and maintain it.

01/03/2011, 09:42 PM	#4
Saltwatercoral2 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 1,617	I wouldnt pay that much for it, like the person above said. Maybe about 400-500 is what i would offer.

01/03/2011, 09:48 PM	#6
B-Willz Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Aurora Co Posts: 420	Looking at the picture, it looks like the lights are just standard flourecents. They are fine for a fish only but not corals. You still have alot of money to spend on sand and rocks and new lights if you want corals. I would agree 400-500

01/03/2011, 09:52 PM	#7
tangelo_ Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Austin, Colorado Posts: 51	I've been looking for one also. $1100 is waay to much, especially with those lights.

01/03/2011, 09:56 PM	#8
scapes Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Millbrook, AL Posts: 2,520	I bought a brand new 180g w/ tank, stand and canopy for $1400. heck no on $1100. no way in this world. and all the "added" stuff I would never use personally so it would be just wasted.

01/04/2011, 11:48 AM	#11
bamf25 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Central NJ Posts: 1,419	I was told that a good used tank should cost about $1 to maybe $1.25 per gallon. Now if it was an oak stand and canopy that would add to the price. That pine stand new is about $300, where an oak stand will run 2 to 3 times that new. Also remeber you can make a decent sump for around $125 for that tank, and a new pump will run $100 to $200 depending on band and exact gph you need to get the desired flow and clear your head hight.

01/04/2011, 12:09 PM	#12
poormonkey Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 8	Thanks for all the feedback. Yeah, that helped my decision out a lot, I told the guy what I would pay for it, and he was offended by my offer. So, I will keep looking...

01/04/2011, 12:29 PM	#13
JCCBURT Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 56	dont worry in a few weeks he will call you back to see if you'd still give him your original offer... lol I bought my 125g WITH NOT A SCRATCH ON IT w/stand and lame lil fluval 404 canister filter and the lights that tank has for $180... craigslist is your friend... be patient, the deal will show up... might take a month, but its worth it... take the extra time to read these boards while you wait ;-) you will read why you do or don't want certain things thereby saving you more money and making your reef that much nicer...

01/04/2011, 01:34 PM	#14
TP123 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 205	I sold an unused AGA 180 gal reef ready (dual overflows) with oak stand for $625 recently. It never had water in it. I bought it, found out a kid was on the way, and decided it was better to not set it up. It sold in under a week. So I'd say that's fairly high.