where are all these good deals?

[harif87]

Haha, i would never pay $148 for a 55 gallon. I would pay maybe $75 tops.

Used equipment is a great way to find deals. Just take a look at the condition the item is in and use common sense. If you look at a filter that has a broken impeller then i wouldnt go near it, but if i see someone selling a brand new 48" coralife power compact fixture for 20 bucks, of course im going to buy it.

[Ice]

Never thought of it that way, harif87. Something I have to look for then. LOL !!

[vvolfe1]

One thing too with most skimmers is the pump is the only thing that can really go wrong. nothing else on them is really mechanical. So If you can find a good deal on a skimmer that is not totaly funtional you might get away getting it dirt cheap and putting another $20=$30 into replacing the pump.

[harif87]

Make sure your getting a skimmer made by a good brand, just because your getting a deal doesnt mean you should settle for brands that are known to make lesser quality items.

[GumboJones]

Word of advice though, read carefully, if they have a lot of things WRONG with the thing they are selling (even if they say they fixed it), it's best to leave it alone.

Couldn't agree more. Don't be fooled by those "too good to be true" prices, becuase you often get what you pay for. I once baught a 75 gallon tank for 30 bucks. I thaught it was an amazing deal till i got it home, tested it on my deck and realized it can only hold about 50 gallons before it started to leak.

My advice is to look in the For Free section of the news paper and craigslist. I would even post a wanted ad on craigslist. The thing is, if someone has no gain other then avoiding throwing it away, its probubly a good bet that they're not trying to screw you over. I picked up a 55 gallon tank, stand, hood, lights, and a 20 year old outdated filter (which I tossed) all for the cost of gas and time.

The 75 gallon tank that leaked cost me 30 dollars more.


Edit: I later sold the 75 gallon tank to someone who was keeping tree frogs for 50 bucks.. I guess the 20 dollar profit was nice, but not worth the effort and frustration.

[harif87]

Originally Posted by GumboJones

Couldn't agree more. Don't be fooled by those "too good to be true" prices, becuase you often get what you pay for.

Although many times true, it isnt always the case, especially with SW equipment. Thats because there are tons of people out there who didnt know much about the responsibilities of keeping a SW tank who decided to keep one anyway. They sell their gear in efforts to get out of the hobby. Almost all of these type of people dont know how much their things should go for and would accept a fraction of the price that its worth not knowing the equipments true value. Those are the deals you should look for. Try and find ads with people saying that theyre selling a "UV device" or people who emphasize that the tank comes with a fish net.

[denise86]

i took some of your advise, started asking around, and a friend from work is selling me a 38g tank along with lights, heater, and a filter for like $100!, he's pretty much just trying to make space, he's upgrading it to a 100g, so it will be ready for me to start setting up in a month

[Ice]

Nice ! Not bad for a Clownfish tank only.