Buying First Piece Of Equipment !!!! :)

[AngelLeah1981]

I'm so excited. I'm about to buy my 120 gallon aquarium. Quick question. I'm going to get it ready for a sump. I don't particularly trust my LFS but they're all I have and the price is definately right for the 120 gallon glass aquarium ($699 sump ready (will have to be "ordered" )). Is there anything I should ask besides the warranty? How good of a leak warranty should I get? Also, BIGGEST concern here is - DOES IT MATTER WHERE THE HOLES ARE DRILLED FOR THE SUMP? I need a very good detailed answer here because like I said I DON'T trust my lfs. I'm not going to do business with them unless it is necessary. I will be moving in 6 months so I'm only interested in equipment at the moment. Thanks !!!

P.s. Is there anything I need to know or to ask for that I may need to say myself and not expect them to accomedate me? I don’t want to buy something wrong / get ripped off just because I didn’t know a small piece of information. Thanks.

[scubadude]

Hi Angelleah

Ok first a couple of questions for ya Before you buy this tank

1. Does the tank come with a hood and stand?
2. What is the name of the manufacturer of the tank?
3. Does the tank already have holes drilled in it? if so where and how big?
4. Are there standpipes already in the overflow holes?
5. What type of bracing and how big is over the top of the tank?
6. What are the dimensions of the tank? stand (inside dimensions) canopy?
7. Main thing is what are you getting for $699...hard to answer your questions tell we know this....the more detailed answer you give us the more detaild reply we can give you. If your LFS doesnt want to give up to much of this information then I wouldnt trust them w/the tank purchase, its that simple IMO! I bought my 125 for $240 brand spankin new and it was Reef-ready (with the holes in it) but that was just for the tank...I built my own stand, and used pendants for lights.

I don’t want to buy something wrong / get ripped off just because I didn’t know a small piece of information.

Totally understand! dont be in a rush $699 is ALOT of mula

[scubadude]

I 4got 2 mention....If you have a camera, get some pics of the tank, then post them here pics can speak for themselves

[FireEater]

That sure seems like a lot of money for a 120g tank.

[Ramer]

It does seem perty high $. Unless he is getting alot with it... My future wife bought me my 90gal with rock, stand, hood, pc, over flow, small sump, sand and a few other odds and ends for $500.00. Upgraded over flow and sump but still great deal

[Ratpack]

Yeah, seems high. I can get an Oceanic 120 with overflows for $499 or All Glass for about $400 reef ready. Hopefully this is more than a tank.

[AngelLeah1981]

I feel like such a dummy for not posting this info before. I am so sorry.
$
Aquarium plate glass48x24x24 Ocean View (glass co.) -1 year manufacturer warranty - with lights -don't know if it comes with hood or not - also he acted like the holes are to be drilled on the bottom with with no other options. I hope that is ok.
stand 599
to have holes drilled for sump 100 "making it (699)"
He said they would have to order it with the holes
sump 30 gallon "around 110"
pump "around 120"
I don't know how big the holes are going to be. Do I need to ask?

Are there standpipes already in the overflow holes? What type of bracing and how big is over the top of the tank?

I don't know the answer to these either. Should I call and ask him?

stand (inside dimensions) canopy?

dont know
If the sump fits comfortably in the stand is that enough space?
This man has been in business for 15 years but the reason why I don't trust him is because of the way he acts towards me and I think I finally figured out what is going on yesterday. My husband and I went into the store and he acted fine towards my husband but rude towards me. I think he hates women. My husband agreed that was probably the case. Let me know if I need to ask anything else. I will call the little *@*&@*@ and ask him. LOL. sorry. ha ha. He's a butthole.
I hate to say this about the photos but he makes me so uncomfortable I am too intimidated to go in there and take pics of the tank. When I buy this tank from him hopefully I won't be going back to his store. I will try to find the other things elsewhere.
Thank you all so much for helping me. You have NO IDEA how much I appreciate it.

[scubadude]

AngelLeah,
I wouldnt buy this tank if it was me! Sounds a bit pricey to me. I think you could find a great deal on a used tank (in good shape). Have you checked out the East Tennessee Reef Club?

East Tennessee Reef Club - ETRC

This would be a good place to start IMO for looking for a good deal on a tank. You might be able to save $200+ if you go to a bigger town not too far away from you that has more LFS with more competitive pricing, I would look into custom tank manufacturers as well as LFS's You might find a tank manufacturer right there in say Nashville that would hook you up with a custom tank build for a really good price....and heck you could have him build your sump while hes at it....and even find someone like a carpentar to build your hood/stand for ya if you wanted (your husband could build this if he is a little handy though) I know that you may very well live in a small town and this guy may be the only LFS in town....well im sure he knows it if he is! Thus you get the high prices.......price and demand is the name of the game.

[FireEater]

to have holes drilled for sump 100

Two holes drilled for $100? Is the overflow installed with this price?

I had both my overflows drilled and installed for $24.00 each, not including the Durso Standpipes I did myself.

Like Rocky said, look around. This hobby can get real pricey, so shopping around and learning what you are getting into helps so much.

[Ratpack]

Just outside Nashville is glasscages.com. They are really affordable as far as tanks go.

[scubadude]

Just outside Nashville is glasscages.com. They are really affordable as far as tanks go.

Excellent idea Ratpack!

I was just on their website to browse it and clicked on their "Specials" and here is what I found

120 aquarium 48 x 24 x 25 tall with blemish ( call for info) $250

The blemish may be very slight and on the back glass, or somewhere where it doesnt even matter.

I feel like such a dummy for not posting this info before. I am so sorry.

AngelLeah
DONT!! You are that much wiser for atleast asking and not feeling intimidated enough to NOT ask! Cmon gurl step up to the bat and dont let anything get in your way

There are SOOOO many variables in this hobby just in building a tank and how many options you want for your tank and with each option is another addon$$. You really should analyze the hobby pretty good, a 120g is a pretty good size tank and is very expensive...And you havent even started pricing out equipment yet like lights, skimmer, reactors...Your talking major bucks....then there is livestock like liverock, livesand, fish, corals, inverts....then miscellaneous which can be just as big as the other areas....my point is maybe you do or maybe you dont realize how much this will cost in the end when its all said and done. I dont want to rain on your day in the sun here, but I do want you to know the possibilities you could face ;) I hope you catch my drift.

[scubadude]

Here is another good one glasscages had

99 Gal. 60 x 18 x 21 Tall
Has hole in back top corner
Eurobraced $150

Eurobracing usually isnt cheap! Man I bet that is a SWEET Tank! For $150 atleast

[Ratpack]

[quote=scubadude;170824
There are SOOOO many variables in this hobby just in building a tank and how many options you want for your tank and with each option is another addon$$. You really should analyze the hobby pretty good, a 120g is a pretty good size tank and is very expensive...And you havent even started pricing out equipment yet like lights, skimmer, reactors...Your talking major bucks....then there is livestock like liverock, livesand, fish, corals, inverts....then miscellaneous which can be just as big as the other areas....my point is maybe you do or maybe you dont realize how much this will cost in the end when its all said and done. I dont want to rain on your day in the sun here, but I do want you to know the possibilities you could face ;) I hope you catch my drift.[/quote]

This is a good piece of info to have up front. The tank is in all likelyhood, the cheapest part of the system unless you cut corners on the other equipment or are good at DIY. I am not exact on this, put I believe I read at one time to set up a reef tank successfully, figure the cost to be between $30-50 per gallon. So even on the low side, a 20 gallon tank may run you about $3600 when it is "complete" (if there is such a stage).

[PortWash]

I would have to agree with the sentiments above. Look around and you will be more satisifed with your purchase. Even if you end up going with the "butthole" you will be more satisfied knowing that you did you end with the research. I looked for 4 months at tanks new at LFS's and custom built tanks and I ended up finding someone on Ebay selling a used Oceanic tank near me and purchased that. I paid $275 for 90g tank RR(reef ready with overflow holes drilled) with stand and hood. Especially since you said that you will be moving and are only looking for equipment you are afforded the luxury of looking around. Best of luck and in the end Enjoy the process. Its supposed to be fun not stressful. Easier said I know

[AngelLeah1981]

Yes most definatly stressful and not fun at this time. lol. Thank you all for your great info. I definatly understand what you're saying.
Leah