Looking at getting this setup

[malinois1]

Hi Guys, I found a used setup in my area and am supposed to go see it this weekend to see if it all works and looks as good as the pictures. The guy will let it go for $1600 and give me until april to pay...he has to move in June. I am including the equipment list and pics! Let me know what yall think of my deal.

90 gallon All Glass reef tank
120 lbs of live rock (40 Fiji, 40 Tonga slab, and 40 Marshall island)
live sand (don’t remember how many lbs, but about a 3 inch bed)
Arctica Titanium Chiller - 1/4 HP
Mag 12 water pump (main pump is 1 month old - replaced with mag 12 / w fractionating impeller)
Pro Clear Acrylic sump - 30 gallons (sump has 3 sock filters in first chamber, 3 inch mud bed with caulerpa algae in center chamber, and protein skimmer and return pump in last chamber)
Reef Octopus 110 protein skimmer
Heater
Koralia #3 and a Koralia #4 pumps
Lights include: 2 x 250W halide bulbs, and 2 x T5 actinic bulbs (currently have 1400K halides, bulbs last changed in June this year)
New RODI unit from airwaterice.com - large brute can for water changes also

Fish include: 3 blue green chromis, 1 flame angle, 1 clark’s clown, 1 ocellaris clown, 1 spotted mandarinfish, 1 spotted gobie, and 1 six line wrasse.

Please see pics for corals. I’ve slowly collected pieces over the last two years, some from people on this site from frag swaps. Got a bit of everything, acans, chalis, montipora, acropora, zoas, brains, etc.

Lots of supplies as well: salt, calc. and alk. additives, books, etc.

[kevinpo]

Hello,
I came up with a used value of $1947 so I would say that is a great deal. I deal with used equipment/livestock every day but the price I came up with is based on our area (which is quite low compared to most areas in the US).

HTH,
Kevin

[malinois1]

Thanks for your help and insight Kevin! That is just the kind of advise I was looking for. I had looked at the new price value of a system like that and had put it at about 4500 or so(some items guesstimated). He was asking 1800 but I offered 1600 and he took it. I was looking for something in the 120 gallon range but felt this deal was too good to pass up and should keep me busy for a couple of years at least.

I guess next I will have to ask on how to move this thing the most efficient way to avoid as little die off as possible.

[Ninong]

I think it's a very good deal. He even has the little Rubbermaid dolly to roll the Rubbermaid Brute container around. And the container is gray, too, which is good. I wish I had ordered those roll-around dollies for my Brutes.

So you're getting everything except the stand-bookcase, right? You're getting ALL of the livestock with this deal? And all of his books? Why don't you list the books so we can see what they cost him new?

Don't reuse all of his sand bed. Just save the top 1" layer and discard the rest. Start over with brand new sand for the bottom when you set up the tank in your location. Do not attempt to move an All-Glass tank with the wet sand bed still inside it. That would be courting disaster. The tank might very well crack.

The trick to moving an established tank is to plan everything in advance and have everything ready when the time comes. Also, enlist a couple of friends to help -- one at a minimum but three would be better. Two guys can lift a 90-gal All-Glass tank provided it's empty. Be sure to wear heavy gloves. Or, better still, use some of those professional suction-cup handles if you can get ahold of some.

[malinois1]

Thanks for the reply Ninong!

I am getting the stand livestock corals...everything pictured!

OK so don't move tank with wet sand. See I needed to hear that because that is what I planned on doing. Just scrape 1" layer to seed my new sand. Any idea for cheap fine sand? I shouldn't need the expensive so called "live sand". Should I try to keep all the old water and maybe use 10 gallons of new water?

I was thinking of big rubber maid containers to get the rock and maybe a couple of heaters? to keep the water temp stable? How about the corals in the LR how do I handle them? Any other things to consider?

Think if I start early enough in morning I can have this done in one day?

[Ninong]

I am getting the stand livestock corals...everything pictured!

Holy COW!!! You're getting that wall unit, too? All for the $1600? That really is a good deal.

OK so don't move tank with wet sand. See I needed to hear that because that is what I planned on doing.

I'm sure the All-Glass tank is out of warranty at this point but all of the manufacturers tell you NOT to move the tank with anything in it. And never lift the tank by the top. Lift it from underneath or use professional suction-cup grips. Virtually all tank warranties tell you that the warranty is void if you move the tank with anything in it.

Some people will try to move a tank with the sand bed in place but the only way they can hope to do that is to slide the tank onto a sheet of plywood so that it is fully supported during transport. This would be important for acrylic tanks, too. However, moving a tank in this manner is risky.

Just scrape 1" layer to seed my new sand. Any idea for cheap fine sand?

Not anymore. You will have to use regular aragonite (sugar sized particles) such as Carib-Sea, etc. If you want to get the so-called "live sand" then that's okay but you can really get by with just plain dry aragonite sand. Do NOT get crushed coral.

Should I try to keep all the old water and maybe use 10 gallons of new water?

You should keep as much of the old water as possible but if you have to use 30-40% new saltwater, that's okay.

I was thinking of big rubber maid containers to get the rock and maybe a couple of heaters? to keep the water temp stable?

We were 72 deg F today and it's still 69 F right now at 5 p.m. I'm only 100 miles east of you. It won't hurt the live rock if the water temp falls a little. The water temp will probably be 78-80 F or thereabouts when you pick it up. It's not going to drop all that much during the move. It all depends on the weather on the day you move. It's not like we're in Montana or Michigan or some place where it's freezing cold this time of year.

How about the corals in the LR how do I handle them? Any other things to consider?

How you handle the corals depends on whether they can be detached from the major pieces of live rock or not. You will want to try to keep the corals at relatively stable water temps during the move but a drop of up to 10 deg F shouldn't cause any problems. If it's 40 deg F on moving day then you will have to deal with temperature issues. If it's 70 F, you won't.

Think if I start early enough in morning I can have this done in one day?

It will probably take you an hour and a half to remove everything from the established tank -- maybe two hours. Then another half hour to drive carefully to your place. Then another two to two and a half hours to set everything up. If you start at 9 a.m., you should be done by 3 pm. easily. That's assuming you have a couple of good volunteers helping you. Just eat breakfast before you leave and wait until you finish to eat again. I would be willing to bet that you're done no later than 5 p.m. Don't give any beer out unti AFTER everything is moved. This is VERY important.

Good luck!

[malinois1]

Yes I am getting the wall unit too! This is what the seller said and the only part I left off from my first post.

"I paid $2,000 for the entertainment center, and well over $3,000 for all the equipment and livestock. I’m asking $1,800 for everything. As I mentioned, if there are no bites on the whole set up, I will repost closer to June offering everything separate."

I think I will just follow your advise on not moving tank with stand. It makes since now that I think about it. I have read plenty of stuff already and I do know better than using crushed coral

Yeah I was reading that other thread you posted in....I will only use as much new water as I need to fill the tank.

No food and beer for helpers until the work is finished!

I think I have the plan now. Just need to pick up a couple of heaters or so and make sure I have enough containers. I am probably trying to make this much harder than it really is.

Then from there monitor water parameters daily and watch for spikes in amm and nitrates and stay on top of water changes to keep things good for livestock.

Thanks for the help and encouragement Nin.! I might call you when I am ready to move it! LOL j/k

[Ninong]

It's okay if they have something to eat, just no adult beverages until after they finish. Glass, saltwater and electricity do not go well with adult beverages. Happy hour starts as soon as the job is done.

I can't even see to drive over there.

I had cataract surgery on both eyes in October and November and I won't be getting examined for a new eyeglasses prescription until next month.

[Ninong]

You're very lucky to find such a very good deal so close to home!

When I sold my 120-gal tank, the livestock, live rock and live sand all went to a guy from Baton Rouge (45 miles away) who has a 300-gal tank but my 120-gal Starphire tank and all of the equipment (Life Reef sump, skimmer, pumps, Aqua-Medic light fixture, etc.) all went to a kid from College Station, TX, 408 miles away. He came over in a pickup truck with just one helper.

It's a good thing both of them were young college kids who looked like they were on football scholarships because that tank weighed 420 lbs empty in the wooden crate. The crate weighed no more than 90 lbs tops. So they were lifting a good 330 lbs or so off of a 36" high stand and then they had to carry it a good 75 ft to their truck. Three sides of my tank were 1/2" Starphire but the back was 1" thick and the bottom was 3/4" thick.

[malinois1]

Yes, I think I was very lucky as well. I just talked to the seller and set up a time to meet him on Sunday so I can see the setup before I totally decide. He gave me directions to get to his house and he is maybe 20 minutes away....I am sure I can make it in 15 though!

Man I am so excited and pumped up right now! Can't wait to see it. I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve.

[Steve McKay]

I think your getting a good deal.You are going to be doing a larger and longer transfer than I did going from my 30 to a 50.What really helped me was to sit back relax and go through the process in my head in detail over and over until I had it down.That helped me tremendously,when the time came it was a breeze.Make sure you have enough heaters,pumps for circulation and thermometers.Like Ninong said and I agree don't give out adult beverages until it is over,that is a wise idea.Good luck and have fun,don't deprive us of photos of course.