go big or go home?

ionredline0260 · 03/11/2007, 09:49 AM

I just found a 65 gallon bow front tank used locally for $100. No scratches, good shape. Currently I have a 29 gallon fully set up with a spotted hawkfish a pair of clarkii clowns and a dragon goby. I can aford to buy the tank but I'm not sure that I can really afords to set it up. Thats another 40lbs of Live rock, new lighting, more power heads, sand...it all adds up really quick. Do you think a 65 gallon bowfront for $100 is a good enough deal to jump on and buy then gradually set up or just forget about it?

Shagsbeard · 03/11/2007, 09:52 AM

A tank is about 10% of the total cost of setting up your system. Dropping $100 on a tank without another grand behind it isn't going to be pleasant. I'd say a 60gal bow front for $100 comes around every month or so on Craiglist. Tanks are cheap. Never plan your aquarium around a deal you get on the tank.

syrinx · 03/11/2007, 10:12 AM

I hate to say it but I agree with shag (nothing agaist him, I just love buying tanks). What would 100 bucks do for your current reef? If it seems too good to pass on, and you have the ability to store it for the future, then go for it. But I agree that it isn`t a good idea overall- and that doesn`t seem to be a have to have it price.

kurt72 · 03/11/2007, 10:19 AM

i ALSO agree.

i see deals all the time on tanks. my friends ooh and aahh at my 60 gallon reef(barely, but i am working on that). i tell them yeah, getting a tank is easy and not that expensive. then i tell how much sand they are gonna need, then 1.5 to2 lbs. per gallon of live rock. THEN i tell them the average price of live rock. pretty much, they let ME spend the money and just come over and check out my tank.

if you can find a deal with the tank and a lot of the other stuff you need, or at least most of it, i would say go for it.

ionredline0260 · 03/11/2007, 12:05 PM

Just seems hard to pass up when all I've been seeing are 75 gallons tanks with stand for $250-$300.

Fishdisease · 03/11/2007, 12:14 PM

I just saw a 75gal plus stand and canopy for $150 on craigslist.

I passed it up for the same reasons, I could just afford the tank, but considering I've just dropped a grand on a 33gal I couldnt afford to set it up.

its good for the soul to pass up a good deal like that...at least I tell myself that repeated when I have to turn off the computer and walk away!

ionredline0260 · 03/11/2007, 12:30 PM

I just missed a 45G for $20 yesterday and couldn't believe it. I think I may take the plunge and go ahead with this 65. it can be a continued project through out the summer?

Shagsbeard · 03/11/2007, 01:06 PM

I see 40's for $20 all the time around here. A 75gal with stand is typically $100 or $150. If you haven't checked out craigslist yet... do so. Lots of good deals come up there. But I'd tuck away the $100 somewhere and save it up. It's a lot easier to move $100 than it is to move the tank.

syrinx · 03/11/2007, 01:26 PM

New 75s are on sale at the pet shop for 75 bucks- and this happens all the time- regular retail is often 100.

ionredline0260 · 03/11/2007, 08:26 PM

Ok this doesn't make sense at all. I can't find a single 65G bow front, only 46 and 72. He says it's 4 feet long but it just doesn't look that long in the picture..any ideas?

scrmbld33 · 03/11/2007, 08:34 PM

id say get it if you have a place to store it until you can get the money to back it up, or there is always credit cards to bury you in more debt

ionredline0260 · 03/11/2007, 08:37 PM

I plan to put it right next to the tank I have running. Next paycheck might be able to get half my LR and get it cycling.

Zestay · 03/12/2007, 07:14 PM

some people dont know thier tank sizes either. a guy at the fish store tried to sell me a tank he said was a 40 breeder long and in reality it was a 20 long. guy had no clue...

go look at the tank. bring a tape measure. than say " i dont like paying more than 75cents - a dollar a gallon for used tanks..

03/11/2007, 09:49 AM	#1
ionredline0260 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Box Around the Corner Posts: 747	go big or go home? I just found a 65 gallon bow front tank used locally for $100. No scratches, good shape. Currently I have a 29 gallon fully set up with a spotted hawkfish a pair of clarkii clowns and a dragon goby. I can aford to buy the tank but I'm not sure that I can really afords to set it up. Thats another 40lbs of Live rock, new lighting, more power heads, sand...it all adds up really quick. Do you think a 65 gallon bowfront for $100 is a good enough deal to jump on and buy then gradually set up or just forget about it?

03/11/2007, 10:12 AM	#3
syrinx Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: champaign Posts: 3,160	I hate to say it but I agree with shag (nothing agaist him, I just love buying tanks). What would 100 bucks do for your current reef? If it seems too good to pass on, and you have the ability to store it for the future, then go for it. But I agree that it isn`t a good idea overall- and that doesn`t seem to be a have to have it price. __________________ My views are based on 49years as an aquarist, 25 years as a pro reef consultant, 10 years of owning a LFS, and the results of thousands of customers tanks. But I am always learning.

03/11/2007, 12:14 PM	#6
Fishdisease Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Halifax, NS, Canada Posts: 311	I just saw a 75gal plus stand and canopy for $150 on craigslist. I passed it up for the same reasons, I could just afford the tank, but considering I've just dropped a grand on a 33gal I couldnt afford to set it up. its good for the soul to pass up a good deal like that...at least I tell myself that repeated when I have to turn off the computer and walk away! __________________ Dave Current Tank Info: I've got an empty 180 in my basement...and the build has begun! Check out my thread.

03/11/2007, 01:26 PM	#9
syrinx Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: champaign Posts: 3,160	New 75s are on sale at the pet shop for 75 bucks- and this happens all the time- regular retail is often 100. __________________ My views are based on 49years as an aquarist, 25 years as a pro reef consultant, 10 years of owning a LFS, and the results of thousands of customers tanks. But I am always learning.

03/11/2007, 08:34 PM	#11
scrmbld33 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: south jersey 08050 Posts: 2,394	id say get it if you have a place to store it until you can get the money to back it up, or there is always credit cards to bury you in more debt __________________ a left over shrimp shedding is not "a sicilian message meaning luca brasi sleeps with the fishes" fish are friends, not food Current Tank Info: 90gal salt, 2 250mh 14k hamiltons 2 110 actinic, 127lbs LR,50lbs tonga 70lbs indonesia 7lbs tonga branch asm g3

03/11/2007, 09:52 AM	#2
Shagsbeard Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Morro Bay, CA Posts: 2,143	A tank is about 10% of the total cost of setting up your system. Dropping $100 on a tank without another grand behind it isn't going to be pleasant. I'd say a 60gal bow front for $100 comes around every month or so on Craiglist. Tanks are cheap. Never plan your aquarium around a deal you get on the tank.

03/11/2007, 10:19 AM	#4
kurt72 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Bumfuqd Egypt Posts: 181	i ALSO agree. i see deals all the time on tanks. my friends ooh and aahh at my 60 gallon reef(barely, but i am working on that). i tell them yeah, getting a tank is easy and not that expensive. then i tell how much sand they are gonna need, then 1.5 to2 lbs. per gallon of live rock. THEN i tell them the average price of live rock. pretty much, they let ME spend the money and just come over and check out my tank. if you can find a deal with the tank and a lot of the other stuff you need, or at least most of it, i would say go for it.

03/11/2007, 12:05 PM	#5
ionredline0260 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Box Around the Corner Posts: 747	Just seems hard to pass up when all I've been seeing are 75 gallons tanks with stand for $250-$300.

03/11/2007, 12:30 PM	#7
ionredline0260 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Box Around the Corner Posts: 747	I just missed a 45G for $20 yesterday and couldn't believe it. I think I may take the plunge and go ahead with this 65. it can be a continued project through out the summer?

03/11/2007, 01:06 PM	#8
Shagsbeard Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Morro Bay, CA Posts: 2,143	I see 40's for $20 all the time around here. A 75gal with stand is typically $100 or $150. If you haven't checked out craigslist yet... do so. Lots of good deals come up there. But I'd tuck away the $100 somewhere and save it up. It's a lot easier to move $100 than it is to move the tank.

03/11/2007, 08:26 PM	#10
ionredline0260 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Box Around the Corner Posts: 747	Ok this doesn't make sense at all. I can't find a single 65G bow front, only 46 and 72. He says it's 4 feet long but it just doesn't look that long in the picture..any ideas?

03/11/2007, 08:37 PM	#12
ionredline0260 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Box Around the Corner Posts: 747	I plan to put it right next to the tank I have running. Next paycheck might be able to get half my LR and get it cycling.

03/12/2007, 07:14 PM	#13
Zestay Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: gainesville, FL Posts: 1,622	some people dont know thier tank sizes either. a guy at the fish store tried to sell me a tank he said was a 40 breeder long and in reality it was a 20 long. guy had no clue... go look at the tank. bring a tape measure. than say " i dont like paying more than 75cents - a dollar a gallon for used tanks..