Need advise picking aquarium

Hi everyone, I am impressed at the input and concern for my new project. $-wise I am just like most, trying to get the most bang for my buck. My freshwater tank is a 55 and it sounds like I need to duplicate that size for water quality. The craigslist suggestion is a good one as I have utilized it before. Are there red flags to look for when looking at used equipment? Being a saltwater novice I may overlook an obvious defect.

 

my main concerns when buying a used tank are:

1. Leaks
2. If it is/was used for fresh water. If it was you will want to run Cuprisorb to absorb any copper, left over from the meds they may or may not have used. They might not remember if they used it or not, but it gets into the glass and silicone and will kill saltwater inverts(snails, crabs, anemone...etc..). It's very easy to use Cuprisorb. I put it into a knee high then into another and put it n a high flow area, such as filter system.

no real concerns other than those. I just got my 135 with sump, stand, sump, pump and other "junk" for 250. Not from Craig's list, but it was a used tank and I didn't know the owner. It's up and running and doing Great!

 

That 75g that looks like it has a green tint is right here in Lakeland where I live, I could go by and look at it. If the water is green is that a big red flag?
Pink Lady

 

no, not really, you'd want to start over anyway, new water, nuking the rock, cleaning the tank with bleach then vinegar, then water, water, water, and new sand. If you did buy it do like Pharm said, take the fish to a LFS for store credit. Explain to them you just bought the tank and you don't have a place for them yet. They will most likely understand. Then use that tank and go from the beginning.

they have green either from reflection from grass or too much direct sunlight or maybe even they use tap water(loaded w/phosphates). I'd go for it and really try to get them down in price. They want 500 for it, go over with 500 and tell them you'll give them 350 cash and take it all away. Bring buckets and boxes with you to show you are serious. Then put all the livestock into two different buckets and bring them directly to the lfs. They can go for 6-8 hours without having to put an air pump in the water. The worst thing they can say is NO.


However, if you see it looks good and everything is healthy, buy it set it up in your own space and consider it a steal!

 

Thanks, we will learn together

 

I copy and paste this link on the bottom that might help you some, I posted on the last of the page but you can read the whole thing very interesting and helpful

http://www.3reef.com/forums/say-hello/still-considering-51403-4.html

 

i think she is going to read that thing on Archemedes and get confused on what that has to do with fish...;D

 

lol.. well we are trying to make it simple, don't mind me if I add this link to your post from another fellow reefer here just saw it and I thought that was pretty good also

http://www.3reef.com/forums/fish-tank/choosing-correct-tank-47082.html