Good deal but not sure of buying.

I just started with a little 30 gallon bowfront. Still havnt got my protien skimmer yet but got a nice little clown a anemone and my cleaner crew. All in all about $400 start out with all things required. Then i came across a craigslist ad for a 72 gallon bowfront with stand. Here is a list and price below.

72 gallon bowfront with black stand
Lighting: Dont know but in picture looks like a nice system.
40 Pounds of live rock
10 pounds of substrate
Fish: (this is her list)
fish- fox face(poisines), peppemint shrimps, cleaner shrimp, catfish shark, purple lobster, snails, crabs, mushrooms, long nose hawk fish, falco's hawk fish, damsels

Salt
Test Kit
Fish Nets

You get the point. She wants $500 for it all. Now im like WTH i just spent 400 for my small bowfront. So i get curious and ask her what is all the equipment that comes with it like filters sumps protien skimmer, lighting yadda yadda. She emails back and asks ..."what is a sump, protien skimmer, or canister filter? oh and the lights turn blue at night"

So should i still make the purchase as in the picture it doesnt look like any of that stuff is there. Im worried about the quality of the fish and live rock without proper filtration.

Sorry for the long post.

 

If possible, go inspect it first. Sometimes ignorance is a sign of a great deal.............for you.


Luna

 

Very interesting....sounds almost like someone selling off the former posessions of an ex? She sounds like she doesn't know much about the hobby.

The only thing I would be really careful about is your anemone - they tend not to do well in new set-ups (whether that is your new 30g or the possible 72g). And if they die, they can nuke the whole tank. Especially if you upgrade to a 72g tank, you will need quite a powerful lighting system to keep the anemone. My advice- consider the 72g, but perhaps return the anemone to the store or a friend with an established system until your tank is more mature. Just my 2 cents.

 

is the purple lobster fish friendly? hate fot it to turn the tables and be the eater tahn the eatee. but im sure reefsparky wouldnt mind it on toast.

 

Yeah I would check that out! With everything listed there you still would be getting a great deal. Although I have never heard of a catfish shark, most sharks will out grow a 72 very quickly. I would see if you could sell it to a LFS iff posable. But still Great Find!

 

To give you an example of ignorance, I bought my current 90g tank thinking it was a 75g. The guy who sold it to me didnt know what he was selling. Hopefully you have the same luck.


Luna

 

Well if i buy the tank ill take all my water canisters over there and keep most of the tank water as i can. The guy at the LFS said my anemone would be fine even though my cycle was just completed. I got half a notion to return it to him then. He said "set it on your live rock it will move to where it wants to be and feed it krill. GRRRR

 

I learned the hard way to take what the LFS guys say with a grain of salt unless you find a place with people you really trust. In many of those stores, their motivation is to sell you stuff. My 90g tank is about 6 months old, I've got loads of lighting and a proten skimmer, and I don't think I'll be ready to try an anemone for another 6 months at least. I'm not saying it's impossible for you, but I am saying why risk it for now?

And regarding the 72g for sale, just make sure it doesn't leak anywhere, and that no copper was ever used in it. It may just be a really lucky find.

 

If copper was used is there anyway to totaly get it out im planning on slowly very slowly building a reef tank (learn as i go) slowly build one lol. If copper is used then its a FOWLR tank

 

Just to clarify, the water doesnt cycle, its the LR and the LS that goes through a cycle.

Luna