Help picking out a new tank

[par55347]

Hey guys,
I currently have a 20g tank and have decided its not enough. I found someone selling theres for 375 but I talked them down to 300. It comes with:
-36” Orbit Compact Fluorescen
t Lunar Lights 192w & 3 lunar lights
- SeaClone Protein Skimmer 100
- 2 Maxi-Jet Powerhead/Pump 900
- Wave Master Pro
- Visi-Therm Deluxe Heater 200w
- Marineland Emperor Bio-Wheel Powerfilter 400
- 50 lbs Fiji Live Rock

Does this sound like a good deal? Can I have soft and hard corals and anemones with this light?Is there anything I have to look for buying a tank online? Are there any questions I should ask him about it? The add i s on craigs list. The link is below.

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hsh/269482507.html

Thanks

[oyam123]

the rock, maxi-jets and wave maker seem OK.
looks like a nice little tank and stand.
I would not keep an anemone with that light.
$300? close call.
soon you will see you want to get a RR/drilled tank and want a sump with a good skimmer...etc.
only problem is it will be hard to re-sell any of this stuff (but the rock) and not take a loss.
good luck.
PM smeese and see if he still has a Oceanic tank he was selling.
Dirk also has some nice tanks if you want to go new...but its all about how much $$$ you want to drop.

[christensonjes]

Yeah I would also go a different route. You can get shortys 65 gal for that kind of money

[mcliffy2]

That does seem expensive for a 40g tank, and the equipment doesn't seem that great (so you might just end up spending more to upgrade down the road). I just bought a tank from ViewSim and am really happy with it (I wouldn't trust their accessories as much tho). They would be pricier, but on their specials (ie floor models, etc.) They have a really nice 63g bowfront for 530 w/ tank stand and light. Its pricier but consider it is about as nice a Tenecor for about 1/3 of the price. I went w/ 118 w/ rose cherry stand/canopy and it set me back 990 (plus I get 10% back when I send pictures of my tank set up). As I'm discovering, once you add in the cost of doing it right (sump, skimmer, pump, live rock, chemicals, RO/DI), you are looking at another $1000, so in the grand scheme the tank is not that big of a cost. the link is www.4fishtank.com

[REEFSTOCK]

I agree, you will be upgrading again in 3 months.

Make a wish list for critters and tank.

That way you wont be making what you have fit your dream, you will be making what is available fit your dream with scrutinized compramizes.

Make a plan FIRST!

HTH

[smeese]

Do it big the first time (or second in your case ) Then you will not have to change it later.

[David Grigor]

I'd pass as well. Really none of the hardware is that great. Skimmer, hang on filter, heater, lighting are all subpar. Stand looks to be the cheap particle board stuff too and has no real value. So basically you'd be buying a $89 40g tank new, $30 worth MJets and the rock for $300. The wavemaker home some resale value of about $60 the rest doesn't really have any value to speak of.

I'd choose the shorty tank as well over this one for $300. Tank is drilled, better stand/canopy and good lights.

[eswebster]

doesnt really seem like a great deal to me either, you want a RR tank to start with otherwise you will be kicking yourself later. Really hard to drill a tank with water in it.

[wesley]

Originally Posted by eswebster

doesnt really seem like a great deal to me either, you want a RR tank to start with otherwise you will be kicking yourself later. Really hard to drill a tank with water in it.

shouldda read this one first! I'm upgrading already and kickin' myself, too. I should've listened to my own advice I learned from building a recording studio-- you buy cheap, you buy twice.

[epidemic]

Originally Posted by wesley

shouldda read this one first! I'm upgrading already and kickin' myself, too. I should've listened to my own advice I learned from building a recording studio-- you buy cheap, you buy twice.

recording studio?? Tell me more...

[wesley]

used to live in Ames, IA. not a huge get-up, but I got good at using what I had. I ran Nuendo by way of a tascam FW-1082, modded-out presonus pres, neumann tlm103, akg 414, etc, etc. Did mostly crappy local bands, but a few good regional/national acts. I still do some location work but not enough time to be heavily involved anymore, really.

[madscientist]

I have to agree with the agreements. I rebuilt my 65 after i realized the potential of a drilled tank with good lights, skimmer and etc. There are much better deals out there.