[Jeremy0322]

I have been looking around for a while now trying to find the right aquarium. A few days ago I found someone on craigslist that was selling theirs and I became interested. We sent about 14 emails back and forth and I finally said yes today. I am pretty sure this was a good deal but I could be wrong. For 400 dollars i got...

1. 55 gallon aquarium(not drilled)(48x13x18)
2. Oak Stand with room for sump underneath
3. Oak Canopy
4. Magnum 350 filter(no idea what im going to do with it)
5. Excalibur Protein Skimmer(rated at 110 gallons)
-I had never heard of the brand so i looked it up and there were mixed reviews, either people loved it or hated it. I guess we will see.
6. Power Compact Lighting(260 watts for a 55 gallon tank, not too shabby)
7. 2 Powerheads(Aqua clears at 300 gph a piece)
8. 100 lbs of Live Rock(sent me pictures, looks all covered in purple Coraline algae)
9. 60 lbs of Live Sand
10. Test Kits
11. Salt
12. Cleaning Supplies

It also came with fish but i dont know what i am going to do with them. I am going to redo the tank so they may have to go for store credit.....that is also up in the air at the moment.
1. Various Snails and Crabs
2. Starfish
3. 2 Blue Damsels(eek)
4. Imperator/Emperor Angel
5. Butterfly Fish
6. Percula Clown Fish

It has been set up and running nicely for 5 years now and he sent me pictures of everything. Copper was never used in the tank either. It seemed like a really nice deal to me but i would like to know what everyone else thinks. Also, with it being that cheap I will have plenty of money left over for "other stuff" in case the skimmer is crappy. I will also more than likely get new bulbs and i need a heater. Let me know what you think though please. I was really Really REALLY excited...lol

[pogodzib]

The rock alone is worth at least $250 and once you add the used light setup of which probably is worth $150+ and you're at the $400 already so yes, you did good. If you decide that you want to add a sump, now would be the time to do it. It's much easier and better to drill the tank now and add a sump rather than using the HOB overflows at some point in the future.

BTW - Happy reef keeping

[Jeremy0322]

I am going to be adding a sump, i already have the 20 long(or 15, im not really sure what it is...lol) i just dont know who will drill it. I am going to have to ask around. There really is no LFS's around here so it will have to be a hardware store, because I will not be drilling it, dont trust myself with power tools.

[NOSAJ214]

great deal.forget the livestock,except the rock.get new sand,and yes i agree,drill tank and put in sump.ditch the old bulbs and buy some new(who knows how long they have been in the ballast)but other than the cost of new sand and bulbs,great deal.good luck.let us know what happens.

[Jeremy0322]

I was planning on looking at the sand and if it was alright using it for the sump, plus breaking up some of the rock and using it. 100 lbs is a crap load for a 55 gallon tank, just seems like there would be no room in the tank for anything else.

[pogodzib]

My old tank had 350-400 Lbs of LR in a 125 gal tank. For a 18" wide that, that worked out alright, but a 13" wide tank leaves a lot less room for stacking rock.

[Jeremy0322]

I would have loved to find an 18 wide but this was such a good deal that it was hard for me to pass up.

[pogodzib]

A 55 gal tank is a nice tank for a first reef tank. Not too small so you should be able to keep that water parameters stable and not too big that you're overwhelmed.

Besides, think about how much less it will cost you to fill the tank up with corals than it would have to stock a large tank.

[Jeremy0322]

I am probably going to stray away from the "elite" corals, at least for now, there is no doubt in my mind that i wont be ready for that for a while. I would like an anemone though and maybe a few other simple ones. I have not even started thinking about that list yet though, dont wanna get to far ahead of myself. But at 260 watts in a 55 that is almost 5 watts per gallon, which should be alright for everything except for the very best. I dont remember what you need for clams but i though it was something around 6.

[thelastmucci]

thats a great deal man...good for you and happy reefing.

[e_baer]

I had 80lbs of LR in my 55 and was overwhelmed. Had to crush some for the sump. The only bad thing with 55's are how narrow they are....tough to aquascape.

If you decide to get rid of that skimmer, PM me PLEASE!

[Jeremy0322]

I will be more than happy to message you about the skimmer. The only problem with that is i am going to be getting rid of it only if it sucks, so i dont know if you will want it then.

[blu23girl]

Congrats! Can't wait to see pictures... :-)

[Packer Lakerfan4]

good deal...i got all that including the canister rock and light and a 150 gallon with stand not to long ago for 500 needless to say i was quite happy but i gave the fish up for some store credit also

[e_baer]

Originally Posted by Jeremy0322

I will be more than happy to message you about the skimmer. The only problem with that is i am going to be getting rid of it only if it sucks, so i dont know if you will want it then.

I bet it is better than the coralife needle wheel skimmer rated for 65g!

[Jeremy0322]

I would have liked to go bigger but i wont have the money for upkeep on a 150, or any of the stuff needed to keep it properly.

[Jeremy0322]

I will be sure to let you know then e_baer...

[e_baer]

alrighty, thanks!

[Packer Lakerfan4]

ya i wasn't ready for a 150 either its my first saltwater tank ever i was gonna go with a 55 or something close to that but i couldn't pass up the deal and now i will soon be upgrading for a 180...funny how this crap works isin't it but good luck with it dude

[stephaniesquires]

Originally Posted by Jeremy0322

I am going to be adding a sump, i already have the 20 long(or 15, im not really sure what it is...lol) i just dont know who will drill it. I am going to have to ask around. There really is no LFS's around here so it will have to be a hardware store, because I will not be drilling it, dont trust myself with power tools.

Congrats!! sounds like a great deal!! As for drilling the tank, if it's acrylic, it is really easy. I did my fuge and no problem. I used my house drill - nothing special, and got the "hole saw" attachment at Home Depot. Much easier than I expected.... Can't wait to see pictures

[Jeremy0322]

Both tanks are glass. I dont know how crazy i am about Acrylic, it scratches really easy and that is a problem with me, i am clumsy and i am sure the tank would be trashed within the first 3 months. I dont know how i am going to get it drilled, but i am sure there is someone out there that will drill it for me.

[stephaniesquires]

Originally Posted by Jeremy0322

Both tanks are glass. I dont know how crazy i am about Acrylic, it scratches really easy and that is a problem with me, i am clumsy and i am sure the tank would be trashed within the first 3 months. I dont know how i am going to get it drilled, but i am sure there is someone out there that will drill it for me.

Ahh - I'm with you on the glass, thinking about a glasscages with custom overflow etc... $1100 trucked to within 15 miles from here... If there is no good lfs (oxymoron??) near you check into a glass shop and ask if they would drill the holes for you, shouldn't be too much more difficult than drilling acrylic if you have the right tools (but I wouldn't do it!!!)

[Jeremy0322]

I was going to go the Glasscages route but then i found this and i could not turn it down. I was looking at the 65's, same as 55's but 18 wide instead of 12. They also have a 50 square that looked really cool, but i dont know where i would put it.