Used Aquarium Equipment Questions

Guys, don't forget, I'm also looking at the tank. So, tank, stand, and glass tops, all for a 120. Not just the stand and tops.

Dave75g, can you please share pics or the link for the info on your stand?

I'm on the app. I still don't know how to post a link with it lol. But here it is.

 

So, Dave are you saying $500 including the tank or just stand and tops for the 120 setup?

Your stand looks beautiful! How old is it? What are you asking for it?

 

So, Dave are you saying $500 including the tank or just stand and tops for the 120 setup?

Your stand looks beautiful! How old is it? What are you asking for it?

If you can get a 120 tank, stand and tops for 400-500 bucks its a good deal. Personally I'd pay 500 for a quality stand by itself. My stand is only 6 months old and I'm selling it for 250. It will work for a 75 or 90 gallon tank.

 

Thanks for the info, Dave! I assume the doors open and a canister filter can be placed inside?

 

Thanks for the info, Dave! I assume the doors open and a canister filter can be placed inside?

Yep its 32 inches high so there's plenty of room for a canister.

 

Great, thanks! I'm brand new to wooden cabinets, and canister filters, so bear with me!

Man, I wish you hadn't sold the tank!

 

I was selling the 75 tank,stand and tops for 300. Its been in the BSTF section for about a month now.

 

Check out the B/S/T forum here and keep your eye on it. I believe Dave had his tank and stand both offered on that forum before last Friday.

EDIT: Dave ninja'd me!

 

Gotcha, I'll start checking that area out. I thought there was nobody from my area on here, so I wasn't checking it out. A 75 wouldn't work for me, anyway. I'm looking at a 90 or larger.

 

Gotcha, I'll start checking that area out. I thought there was nobody from my area on here, so I wasn't checking it out. A 75 wouldn't work for me, anyway. I'm looking at a 90 or larger.

I was thinking the same. I didn't know anyone from my area was here either.

 

Yeah, nobody I've encountered on here seemed to be anywhere close!

 

Keep in mind, if it's the typical pine stand, I wouldn't call that quality. Functional but not quality

 

Why not, tyguy7760? Mind you, a guy who's not handy and who's not into nature is asking you this question. What's the difference between pine and oak?

 

Oh my! Oak is a much more dense wood, termed hard wood. Much more expensive as it grows slower. Just google a lumber yard and check the prices of 2x6 pine and 2x6 oak. It will knock your socks off. Or check the prices of kitchen tables... You must be a city boy.

 

Indeed I am! But, what's all this translate into from a functionality/aesthetic standpoint?

 

Nicer wood used to build stand = higher quality stand. Pine is cheap. I can't excuse paying $500 for a pine stand.

Shouldn't affect functionality though.

 

Function = something that simply works. Aesthetic = something that looks nice, will withstand hard use, more expensive and considered high quality.
Pine trees grow really fast. That's what electric poles are made from. Pine will yellow over time and often has many small or large knots in the wood. Oak trees grow slowly, thus the pores in the wood are very small. Most oak wood will never be painted. It will be stained and sealed. It is pleasing to the eye. In my redneck small town girl opinion.

 

Gotcha. See, I like sleeker in look. I'm a city boy, and definitely prefer modern to country looking, if that makes sense. Is the oak likely to wear better and last longer, or is it just that it's a more authentic wood look?

 

Oak will wear better, last longer, is not considered "country looking" and will look good 100 years from now. If you want sleek, why not buy a metal stand with frosted glass doors? There are no hard-set rules for a stand. I was kind of shocked that you did not know there are differences in wood. Now you know a little bit and have a new subject to learn about. I love learning. Best of luck in your new tank seeking adventure.

 

Thanks! I knew there were different woods, but I didn't know what the differences were. I've never seen that sort of metal stand before. The only metal stands I've seen (and I have them) are the open metal stands. I'm definitely looking for a closed wood stand for my large display tank.

 

500 for a high quality built stand is a decent price ... But one of the common pine stands I wouldn't pay any more than 100 for probably.

 

I can buy a pine stand (90 gallon), brand new for $180, and an oak stand, same size and also brand new for $260. So I've definitely got some things to think about.

On another note, I offered $350 for the 120, and the seller said he won't take less than $450. I'm curious to hear if you guys would or wouldn't consider paying this. Dave75g, I'm especially interested in hearing your final opinion on this, since you're so close to my area. Again, it's a 120 gallon tank, glass tops, a heater, driftwood, and a pine stand. He says it was all brand new in January, 2016 and was set up for only about three months. He'll send pictures this weekend, so I can verify what kind of shape it's in.

 

Agree a lot of stands are made from 1× pine. While those will work that's not what I consider high quality.

I can buy a pine stand (90 gallon), brand new for $180, and an oak stand, same size and also brand new for $260. So I've definitely got some things to think about.

On another note, I offered $350 for the 120, and the seller said he won't take less than $450. I'm curious to hear if you guys would or wouldn't consider paying this. Dave75g, I'm especially interested in hearing your final opinion on this, since you're so close to my area. Again, it's a 120 gallon tank, glass tops, a heater, driftwood, and a pine stand. He says it was all brand new in January, 2016 and was set up for only about three months. He'll send pictures this weekend, so I can verify what kind of shape it's in.

Agree a lot of stands are made from 1× pine. While those will work that's not what I consider high quality.

450 is a great price. Like I said I paid 800 for a 125 tank stand and glass tops. That was brand new tho.

 

Depending on the quality of the driftwood it may be a decent price. If you are getting some big pieces of really nice driftwood then it might be worth it. But I think 450 would probably be my ceiling. 400 makes more sense in my mind but if you just wanted to get it done 450 wouldn't be awful

Though different localities will run different prices so I'll defer to Dave

 

Thanks, fellas! Dave75g, do you think I should offer $400, or do you think even with a used setup, I'm getting that good of a deal at $450?

 

Thanks, fellas! Dave75g, do you think I should offer $400, or do you think even with a used setup, I'm getting that good of a deal at $450?

450 is a good deal,but offer 400 mabee you'll get a better deal.

 

I wish I had seen this thread earlier during the week. Last year I picked up a 5' 110 gallon tank, wood stand, glass hood, and wood canopy last year for $300.The tank, stand and canopy I found on eBay about an hour down the road. My lights I bought on eBay for about $50 new, 2 48" LED lights overlapping each other installed in the wood canopy. The heaters where a pair of 300 watt for about $16 from eBay. One filter I already had on my 55, the other was $10 from craigslist. The craigslist filter buy was actually 3 older filters and I got 2 functioning filters and some spare parts out of the deal. Prices vary with your location, its almost the same with buying used cars. Deals can be had it just takes a little hunting around, and don't be afraid to expand your search area out a little farther.

 

Thanks, guys. I guess I'll wait for the seller to send more pictures over the weekend, and if it's in the condition he says, I'll see about making an offer. Of course I'll have to decide if I want to try to make my light work, or if I want to buy something that will span the entire length of the tank.

 

I am using a 30 inch light on a 36 inch tank and see no effects on the edges. I would think that a 4 foot light on a 5 foot tank would provide plenty of light unless you needed it to grow plants or something. You are only going to have 6 inches on either side of the tank without light directly over it. Now if this was a 6 foot tank, then I'd say you need to invest in another light or a larger light

 

If you don't mind florescent lighting Lowes has a. 48 inch T8 twin tube shop light(I use it) for 12 bucks. A grow bulb for it is around 15 and a low light full spectrum is like 5 bucks. So for like 32 bucks your set up for plants.

 

Thanks, all! I prefer LED (it's what I have), and I don't have live plants. I'm going to go off of what tyguy7760 has said. It just makes sense, and it's what I was hoping for, anyway. Worse comes to worse, I'll replace the light down the road, but hopefully I won't need to.

 

Okay, I'm back with another set up question. Also I know there are some people on here who don't think it's a great size option, I have found a set up that I would like a few opinions on. The tank is 110 gallons. It comes with an oak stand and a canopy. The seller says the stand is in almost perfect condition and the tank is in very good condition. It does have some age, though as he said it's about 20 years old. I can also get it with some rocks and driftwood. Just wanting to hear some thoughts on how much I should offer for this setup. Or, due to the age should I not consider it?

 

Do you have pics of the tank? It's hard for me to imagine a 20 year old tank in very good condition (without many scratches, etc.).

 

It almost sounds like the tank I have. If there is a 12" glass brace/support in the middle of the tank it's probably an old Oceanic tank. If the silicon appears in good condition offer the guy $450 and then negotiate from there.

 

If it's 20 years old it's probably worth getting it torn apart and then resiliconed anyway. So I'd say the condition of the silicone isn't important. The condition and appearance of the stand would be my primary concern.

 

Thanks, all! I'll try to get a photo posted later on for further consideration.

 

Here are two possibilities. The older (about 20 years old) 110, and a 4' 120. The 120 is much newer (under 2 years) and according to the seller was only set up for a few months, but unfortunately has some scratches on the rim. At this point, please disregard the prices on the listings as I won't be purchasing everything, and therefore will be offering a different amount if I do decide to move forward.

 

Again, if it were me I'd go with the 4 foot 120 between those 2.

 

Yes, that does seem to give me much better stocking options. I'm mainly posting the photos since I said I would. At this point, unless someone points something out that I don't know, I think the debate is between the 4' 120 and waiting for something else.

That being said, if I do wait, I think it would be for a 5' tank. I think 5' would suit me and my space better than a 6' tank. Since I'm not sure how common 5' tanks are, I'll have to give it some thought.

 

5' 120's are pretty common if that's what you want, I got mine from Petsmart a few years ago.