300 gallon tank

Jsn · 11/17/2009, 10:44 AM

Hey guys, over the weekend I found someone who is selling his 300 gallon tank. The tank is still running and it is a saltwater fish only tank. My question is, for $500 is it worth getting?

DetroitCrow · 11/17/2009, 10:49 AM

I would question why its so cheap...

Jsn · 11/17/2009, 10:58 AM

He's going to be a daddy soon. They need room. The tank is fine, stand, canopy and lights just needs a lil TLC.

Beaun · 11/17/2009, 11:11 AM

It may not work as a reef tank. I would ask if he/she has ever used any medications for it. Copper especially can absorb into the silicone and slowly release over time. But for a fish only, it would be fine.

mdntrdr · 11/17/2009, 11:14 AM

It's a steal!

patsfan1130 · 11/17/2009, 11:21 AM

If it is structurally sound and does not leak, it is a great price. buy it

Jsn · 11/17/2009, 11:25 AM

No copper. The tank is fish only for 5yrs. If i do get it, it will be fish only also. I don't think i can afford to make it a reef tank.

Jsn · 11/17/2009, 11:33 AM

Yah, the price is a steal but my other questions are, How much of a difference is it maintaining a 300gl as to 180gl? Is it worth getting if I'm going to keep it as a fish only tank? I really want to get it becuase of the price but I know if I get it it wiil sit in my garage for awhile, 3-4yrs untill i move.

DetroitCrow · 11/17/2009, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jsn

Yah, the price is a steal but my other questions are, How much of a difference is it maintaining a 300gl as to 180gl? Is it worth getting if I'm going to keep it as a fish only tank? I really want to get it becuase of the price but I know if I get it it wiil sit in my garage for awhile, 3-4yrs untill i move.

Now I've heard that a tank thats been setup once as a saltwater tank, then sits for a long time empty the seals become brittle and weaker.

as for the maintenance, you'll need to do double the amount of work you would on a 180..

lordofthereef · 11/17/2009, 02:29 PM

If it holds water I am sure it is fine. I just got a 150g acrylic for 200 simply because the owner had to sell it due to having upgraded to something bigger. Nothing wrong with it at all. In all honesty, large tanks don't sell for nearly as much as they were purchased for. Plenty of people in the sell forums sell tanks for less than 20% what they paid.

der_wille_zur_macht · 11/17/2009, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lordofthereef

In all honesty, large tanks don't sell for nearly as much as they were purchased for.

Similarly, look how cheap you can get a V-12 Mercedes from the mid-90's for. In both cases, IMHO, it's a sign of the level of commitment you need to care for the beast you're getting.

A 300 gallon tank is a lot of work, in the same areas as a smaller tank - water changes, cleaning, maintenance, expenses. However, IMHO, once you get in to that size range, you need to think VERY carefully about the impact to your entire home environment. A 300 gallon tank might evaporate 4 or 5 gallons of water a day. That's a LOT of humidity. It'll also contribute quite a bit of heat to the space it's in, if you keep your home cool. That's a lot of load on your AC in the summer. And so on.

Plus, a 300 gallon tank is going to be around a ton and a half of weight. I would not be comfortable putting that in just any old spot in your home without consulting a structural engineer.

der_wille_zur_macht · 11/17/2009, 02:57 PM

PS - I don't mean this to discourage anyone from a large tank. I'm in the very early stages of building a ~360 gallon system myself, but I've been thinking/planning for years.

Jsn · 11/17/2009, 03:16 PM

I think I'm going to get it so that in the future i can maybe set it up. I just can't pass up the price now he's desperate I just got off the phone and the price just dropped to $450 if I pick it up by Thursday. Even if i decide not to set it up I can always sell it and get what I paid for it. Hopefully!!! Right now i don't feel comfortable setting it up in my house because my house is built above ground and not on a concrete slab. Another ? how many fishes can i put in it?

der_wille_zur_macht · 11/17/2009, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jsn

Another ? how many fishes can i put in it?

As with any tank, it really depends on the species and how you're mixing things up.

Do you have ideas for what you'd like to stock it with?

k.tran · 11/17/2009, 03:24 PM

i think i know what your talking about the dimensions are horrid for a coral tank 8x2x6 but still a good price

Jsn · 11/17/2009, 03:30 PM

if it's just a rocks and fish, i'll get all community type fishes ranging from Tangs, Wrasses, Gobys to Angels. Nothing agressive. Can for get Shrimps.

powderhound · 11/17/2009, 05:58 PM

that sounds like hes giving the tank away at that price. good luck

11/17/2009, 10:44 AM	#1
Jsn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 169	300 gallon tank Hey guys, over the weekend I found someone who is selling his 300 gallon tank. The tank is still running and it is a saltwater fish only tank. My question is, for $500 is it worth getting?

11/17/2009, 11:11 AM	#4
Beaun It's pronounced Bone Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: East Hampton, NY Posts: 1,967	It may not work as a reef tank. I would ask if he/she has ever used any medications for it. Copper especially can absorb into the silicone and slowly release over time. But for a fish only, it would be fine. __________________ -Tyler "The only legitimate use of a computer is to play games." -Eugene Jarvis Current Tank Info: None

11/17/2009, 11:14 AM	#5
mdntrdr Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 550	It's a steal! __________________ Midnight Rider Current Tank Info: 220G. AGA ~ RR ~ SSB mixed reef ~ 40G. DSB sump/fuge ~ GFO and GAC reactors ~ 72" Aqualight Pro ~ MRC-MR2 Skimmer ~ THAT'S HOW I RIDE!!!!

11/17/2009, 11:21 AM	#6
patsfan1130 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Woburn, Ma Posts: 2,010	If it is structurally sound and does not leak, it is a great price. buy it __________________ My cat's breath smells like cat food Member of the Boston Reefers Society Current Tank Info: 75g lps, 90g sps, 120g mixed, 180 nem tank, 300g reef, 600g up & coming reef

11/17/2009, 02:29 PM	#10
lordofthereef One reef to rule them all Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Leominster, MA Posts: 5,299	If it holds water I am sure it is fine. I just got a 150g acrylic for 200 simply because the owner had to sell it due to having upgraded to something bigger. Nothing wrong with it at all. In all honesty, large tanks don't sell for nearly as much as they were purchased for. Plenty of people in the sell forums sell tanks for less than 20% what they paid. __________________ "A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself" ~ Josh Billings Visit My Home page for current build thread (click my user name and select "Visit LordoftheReef's Homepage" in the drop down menu!

11/17/2009, 10:49 AM	#2
DetroitCrow Moved On Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 206	I would question why its so cheap...

11/17/2009, 10:58 AM	#3
Jsn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 169	He's going to be a daddy soon. They need room. The tank is fine, stand, canopy and lights just needs a lil TLC.

11/17/2009, 11:25 AM	#7
Jsn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 169	No copper. The tank is fish only for 5yrs. If i do get it, it will be fish only also. I don't think i can afford to make it a reef tank.

11/17/2009, 11:33 AM	#8
Jsn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 169	Yah, the price is a steal but my other questions are, How much of a difference is it maintaining a 300gl as to 180gl? Is it worth getting if I'm going to keep it as a fish only tank? I really want to get it becuase of the price but I know if I get it it wiil sit in my garage for awhile, 3-4yrs untill i move.

11/17/2009, 02:57 PM	#12
der_wille_zur_macht Team RC Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NY Posts: 17,749	PS - I don't mean this to discourage anyone from a large tank. I'm in the very early stages of building a ~360 gallon system myself, but I've been thinking/planning for years. __________________ Inconveniencing marine life since 1992 "It is my personal belief that reef aquaria should be thriving communities of biodiversity, representative of their wild counterparts, and not merely collections of pretty specimens growing on tidy clean rock shelves covered in purple coralline algae." (Eric Borneman)

11/17/2009, 03:16 PM	#13
Jsn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 169	I think I'm going to get it so that in the future i can maybe set it up. I just can't pass up the price now he's desperate I just got off the phone and the price just dropped to $450 if I pick it up by Thursday. Even if i decide not to set it up I can always sell it and get what I paid for it. Hopefully!!! Right now i don't feel comfortable setting it up in my house because my house is built above ground and not on a concrete slab. Another ? how many fishes can i put in it?

11/17/2009, 03:24 PM	#15
k.tran Un-Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Yorba Linda, CA Posts: 1,227	i think i know what your talking about the dimensions are horrid for a coral tank 8x2x6 but still a good price __________________ - Kelvin

11/17/2009, 03:30 PM	#16
Jsn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 169	if it's just a rocks and fish, i'll get all community type fishes ranging from Tangs, Wrasses, Gobys to Angels. Nothing agressive. Can for get Shrimps.

11/17/2009, 05:58 PM	#17
powderhound Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Lake Tahoe, CA Posts: 552	that sounds like hes giving the tank away at that price. good luck