Help!!! Advice on buying a used acrylic tank!

dinger28 · 08/15/2014, 11:56 AM

Hello all. I have the opportunity to purchase a 300 gallon acrylic tank on Craigslist for $725. The guy said he won't fill it up and take it or leave it. It has had water before. What are your thought? I need to get it tomorrow if I decide to do so. Should I buy or no??

Matt

starionesir · 08/15/2014, 11:59 AM

Why won't he fill it so you can see it hold water? For that amount of money I would want to see it hold water before I bought it. I'm sure you can have it repaired if it leaks but I wouldn't want to spend that kind of money and then have to have it repaired. All my tanks I've bought used the owners never had a problem showing they held water.

Cymonous · 08/15/2014, 12:28 PM

I wouldn't buy it unless you see it hold water. You may end up spending $725 for a tank you can't use.

thegrun · 08/15/2014, 01:00 PM

On the plus side acrylic tanks are easy to repair, any chance of him holding a check until you make sure it doesn't leak (or pay viv PayPal)?

snorvich · 08/15/2014, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thegrun

On the plus side acrylic tanks are easy to repair, any chance of him holding a check until you make sure it doesn't leak (or pay viv PayPal)?

I agree. Does not sound like a "friendly" seller however. Check the acrylic width, make sure it is adequate. Look at the seams, if there is shoddy workmanship, it will show up there.

rocsec1 · 08/15/2014, 01:14 PM

If he won't fill I wouldn't buy. This hobby is too expensive to take a risk like that. Maybe it can be repaired but at what cost. If you spend a couple of hundred to get it fixed it is a bargain anymore

digger4rc · 08/15/2014, 02:43 PM

Would he fill it if you gave him some cash for the water? 300g of water from a hose for $20? If he absolutely refuses there's probably a reason.

dinger28 · 08/15/2014, 03:02 PM

He said since it's an amazing price he shouldn't have to fill it. Told him I'd give him an extra 50 bucks and he hasn't replied. Looks fine in the picture, but it is a little puzzling on why he won't fill it with water.

TangingOut · 08/15/2014, 03:18 PM

If it holds water and you do end up buying it, buff out any scratches before using it. It's my biggest regret so far in this hobby and I have lots of tiny scratches to remind me.

dinger28 · 08/15/2014, 03:55 PM

Thanks for all the replies. He just said he sold it to someone else. Not sure if he's telling the truth, but I will start the search once more for my dream tank.

mcgyvr · 08/15/2014, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dinger28

He said since it's an amazing price he shouldn't have to fill it. Told him I'd give him an extra 50 bucks and he hasn't replied. Looks fine in the picture, but it is a little puzzling on why he won't fill it with water.

yeah thats what a guy with a leaking tank would say

08/15/2014, 11:56 AM	#1
dinger28 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Indian Land, SC Posts: 385	Help!!! Advice on buying a used acrylic tank! Hello all. I have the opportunity to purchase a 300 gallon acrylic tank on Craigslist for $725. The guy said he won't fill it up and take it or leave it. It has had water before. What are your thought? I need to get it tomorrow if I decide to do so. Should I buy or no?? Matt

08/15/2014, 12:28 PM	#3
Cymonous My Clown Attacks Me Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Akron, OH Posts: 2,105	I wouldn't buy it unless you see it hold water. You may end up spending $725 for a tank you can't use. __________________ 100 Gallon Long with 20L sump 10 Gallon Office Tank Current Tank Info: 2 False Percula Clowns, One Spot Foxface, Diamond Watchman Goby, Yellow Tail Damsel, Engineer Goby

08/15/2014, 11:59 AM	#2
starionesir Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Bel Air Maryland Posts: 402	Why won't he fill it so you can see it hold water? For that amount of money I would want to see it hold water before I bought it. I'm sure you can have it repaired if it leaks but I wouldn't want to spend that kind of money and then have to have it repaired. All my tanks I've bought used the owners never had a problem showing they held water.

08/15/2014, 01:00 PM	#4
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	On the plus side acrylic tanks are easy to repair, any chance of him holding a check until you make sure it doesn't leak (or pay viv PayPal)?

08/15/2014, 01:14 PM	#6
rocsec1 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Medina oh Posts: 1,782	If he won't fill I wouldn't buy. This hobby is too expensive to take a risk like that. Maybe it can be repaired but at what cost. If you spend a couple of hundred to get it fixed it is a bargain anymore

08/15/2014, 02:43 PM	#7
digger4rc Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: N.KY Posts: 102	Would he fill it if you gave him some cash for the water? 300g of water from a hose for $20? If he absolutely refuses there's probably a reason.

08/15/2014, 03:02 PM	#8
dinger28 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Indian Land, SC Posts: 385	He said since it's an amazing price he shouldn't have to fill it. Told him I'd give him an extra 50 bucks and he hasn't replied. Looks fine in the picture, but it is a little puzzling on why he won't fill it with water.

08/15/2014, 03:18 PM	#9
TangingOut Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 1,511	If it holds water and you do end up buying it, buff out any scratches before using it. It's my biggest regret so far in this hobby and I have lots of tiny scratches to remind me.

08/15/2014, 03:55 PM	#10
dinger28 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Indian Land, SC Posts: 385	Thanks for all the replies. He just said he sold it to someone else. Not sure if he's telling the truth, but I will start the search once more for my dream tank.