eiginh

I found an eclipse used 12 g tank and the owner is selling it for $50. She's had it for a couple of years, it comes with rocks along with the eclipse package(filter, lighting, and top). I have not seen it physical yet so there might be some cracks or faults. Does this seem like a good deal?

Attached Images

3k53m93odZZZZZZZZZ959d824cc0f9d88133f.jpg (5.6 KB, 90 views)

agabr123

from the picture it's a little hard to tell, but it looks like a good deal to me. it holds water, so that's good. i'm pretty sure that kit usually goes for almost $200, maybe a little more or less, i can't remember exactly. but like i said, IMO it's a good deal are you taking the fish as well?

serissime

If it has what you want in it (filter, heater, fish), sounds like a great deal. As long as everything is in good shape when you go to see it. There is nothing wrong with refusing a sale if you are unsatisfied once you see it.

Ricardo_NY1

That kit is worth between $80-120'ish dollars depending on where you buy. If everything is working, I'd say it's a fair deal.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=3635551

namehater

seems high to me. i know that the Eclipse systems are pricey, but im looking at it as a 12g. in my area i can buy 29g tanks that are fully fuctional for about $75 and under.

agabr123

i should have looked at wal mart first i did a google search and came up with $180-$220 from a couple places.

eiginh

These are the contents in the post:

"Complete Eclipse fish tank system - tank, filter, lighting, heater, rocks.

Fish not included.

From manufacturer:
* The filtration and lighting for our Marineland Eclipse System 12 Aquarium Kit is under the hood
* Kit includes a 12 gallon curved-front acrylic aquarium, three-stage filtration, and compact fluorescent lighted hood with feeding port"

It's a little confusing b/c at top it's stated it comes w/ a heater, but what she stated from the manufacturer it doesn't come w/ a heater...

I don't mind not coming with fish as I plan on moving my 3 cory's from a 40 g to that tank. (after the cycle)


Thanks for all your help, I plan on checking it out on Tuesday.

penance

I wouldn't recommend this tank I bought one off craigslist last month and I found it to be a nuisance ... the lid was the major problem, it has a small opening and you can barely get your hand in so to rearrange and make changes in the tank you need to take the whole lid off and the lid doesn't rest back so you'll have to set it down somewhere.

The filter system is a nice one, very quiet and it did a great job but it took up one whole side of the tank so again no much room to maneuver.

Another reason for skipping this tank is when you have to net the fish they love to swim to the side of the filter and the way it's shaped you basically have to dismantle the filter and take off the top filter to get to them lol

As for the heater, it doesn't come in the packaging if you bought it new, I think she's tossing in the one she bought herself.

I would skip this tank and buy a 12 gallon nano cube It has a false back with a built in filter and light system and you can find them for cheap on craigslist as well, I bought mine for $65

Lucy

For $50.00 you can find yourself a much better deal than a 12g, unless you really want a 12g eclipse.

I bought my 30g w/ hood, filter, extra media filter, wrought iron stand stand, gravel, plants, 2 heaters, air stone w/pump for $40-45 (I forget which)

Angela_96

I have had great expreience from craigslist. MY 29g tank with wooden built canopy and stand for 200 that I love for one, and my 58g oceanic that I paid 180 for and it was worth 800 new.
I have also sold mbuna through craigslist.

eiginh

My plans were to put a small tank in my bedroom, thinking about 10-15 maybe 20 but it seems too big. I thought this is a good tank b/c when making a tank, it requires a hood w/ light, heater,filter, and gravel. Which ultimately cost over $50 if it's new.(Unless you guys have any thoughts or considerations to make an inexpensive 10-15g tank) The thing about craigslists is that, deals come and go often and I'm not sure when will I find another good deal around my area. The seller and I talked and she's only available after 7 which means I have to push the date further onto Th/F...Though I'm waiting for her to respond on where can I pick it up(hopefully I won't be kidnapped ...)

Thank you!!!

agabr123

trust me, a 20 gallon doesn't look very big when you're looking at 55s, 75s, 120s, and more at your LFS i'd go with the 20

Amanda

Haha, I agree with Alex. My 20 is tiny compared to my 55 gal ($30 on craigslist) and my 114 gal (free!).

eiginh

yes, it is not big compared to the ones quoted above but my room is not big!! I don't have enough space for a 20 gallon or more...

Amanda

Oh, there's ALWAYS room to be made. Who needs a bed anyway?

serissime

If your eclipse filter breaks..... you have to replace the hood.... which is FAR more expensive than the price of the original tank! ouch

I'm too scared of that to buy one

prairielilly

I have an eclipse 3g, and I don't know if the guts of it are similar to the 12g or not, but having had this one for 6 months I would NOT buy it again.

In the 3g the filter is a separate piece from the main hood but fits inside it. So the place to feed the fish was about 1/4" wide beside the cartridge, meaning I often dropped fish food on the cartridge. Then there was an issue with the filter apparatus not sitting level and water ran down to where the cords were...and down the cords toward the outlet! Eventually I yanked out the whole filter apparatus, biowheel and all and trashed it and now use a corner box filter - much better. However that's about the only other option so far as filters (IF yours comes out) as the hood won't allow for a HOB unless you take a saw to it.

The lighting is built into the hood and so the cords run over the water and are often wet. Ask MissMTS about a 2nd-hand eclipse with a shorted-out light!

This was my first acrylic tank, and I'm not thrilled with the looks of it - light reflects off it funny (sorry not all that descriptive) and sometimes things look warped. I've also scratched it up pretty good (but I could have been more careful ).

I think you'd be better off with a standard glass tank like a 20g, look at Walmart, their 20g AquaTech kits even come with a filter, or keep checking Craiglist. It will measure about 12 x 18" - what I do is set a construction tape measure for that length and wander around the room to see where it will fit

penance

True, craigslist ads come and go but since you're in So Cal the chances of you finding another great deal is high Two days ago, I found a 12 gallon nano cube in West LA for $60, he lowered it from $100 and it got snatched up right away, unfortunately not by me

Pass on the 12g eclipse, you won't regret it and good luck finding a new tank, remember to try all the keys words

eiginh

I will certainly pass on the that 12g eclipse. There are so many cons about the filter top.

Thank you all!

eiginh

I went to Petco and they have an aqueon basic starter kit for $40 flat plus tax and it includes air line tubing, canopy, gravel, net, water conditioner, air pump, decor, handbook, power head, air stone, filter, heater, stand, background, fish food, light hood, thermometer. The filter is an aqueon 10g, I'm not sure how many watts are in the hood but I believe it's one of the cheapo ones. The heater is 50 watts and completely submersible. I compared this to a $50 dollar starter kit at a LCF and that had a heater which wasn't submersible and had to be turned off once the water reaches the right temp and an underground filter, no where comparable to Petco's. I think the Petco's is a good buy compared to craigslist's items. I'll rather spend a few extra bucks for a clean new one than save $10 bux for a cheaper. Is this agreeable?

serissime

$40 for all that? If you are satisfied with the quality of the products inside, by all means go for it.

prairielilly

Oyyy...around here I'm really lucky to pay that for just the heater....

penance

I think the price is fair and would agree with buying it - one problem with craigslist tank is that a fair amount of them are pretty dirty and some are really hard to clean, spending a little extra money you can buy a new and sparkling tank and at least you know the equipment isn't second hand when you buy a kit

eiginh

I lied!!, the info. is false. The petco store just put a price tag for the basic kit aquarium on top of another kit item list. So what basically comes with the kit is the tank, incandescent hood, care guide, power filter, fish food, and water conditioner. So much for my hopes up man...

serissime

ew incandescent.... gross.

good luck on cl! haha check freecycle too

prairielilly

You could put compact fluorescent bulbs in the incandescent hood....

eiginh

Please don't laugh as for my uncertain decisions but I finally made one. I decided to buy a fresh 10g for $13. My plans are to buy a penguin bio wheel 100 maybe a 150(not sure if water flow would be too strong for a 10g).

serissime

do whatever you want it's your tank. Retrospectively, I would have bought aquaclears instead of penguins. I haven't had good luck with them and their prices are pretty similar. But lots of people do like penguins. The 150 may be strong but it will probably be fine except for pushing your substrate, unless you want particularly sensitive fish I guess

prairielilly

No one's going to laugh, we're happy for you! congratulations on the new tank!

eiginh

Thank you

I just filled the tank and I do not have a filter yet(ordering the Penguin 150 tonight). I talked to a buddy at work and explained dropping a algae wafer and replacing it with a new one every 2 days will start off the cycle. I cannot wait! Though I should of put substrate first...(will be ordering that tonight as well). I'll start a new thread in the "Member's Tanks" section w/ pics, perhaps a before and after.

Thank you for all of your wonderful help!