Possible Upgrade?!

[Cassette87]

Hey everyone,

well, looking around in the local classifieds, i was able to find a 55 gallon setup complete with everything for much cheaper than I anticipated. This makes me wonder about the 8 gallon nano.. possibly bigger will be better, or maybe the nano will do nicely at work though I'm not sure yet.

At any rate, heres what i found, let me know what you think!


It includes:
1 55gallon all glass aquarium
1 Black pine stand
1 Coralife light hood with moonlight feature
50 lbs of live rock
live sand bed
1 Aqua C remora pro protein skimmer
1 Fluval canister filter
1 heater
2 power heads

And the fish:
5 blue chromis
1 clownfish
1 lanwmower blenny
1 yellow foxface
assorted snails

asking price is $300. I almost can't resist... though my dad may have a bit of a tantrum, seeing as I'm not sure where I'd put it! I can live with the basement if necessary though What do you guys think?

[lcstorc]

Not a bad deal IMO. Realize you will need/want to upgrade the skimmer to at least a pro. Preferrable something even bigger like an ASM G1x or G2.
Also there are no specs on the lights so they may well need an upgrade as well.
Even if it was just the tank, stand, and LR it sounds like a decent deal and there are a couple of other usefull things on the list as a bonus.
Most importantly this will be a lot easier to maintain than an eight gallon tank.

[bluespotjawfish]

The skimmer is a Remora Pro. Should be ok for this size of tank.
Lights are very questionable, but could get you by until you upgraded. (I love my Sunpac for my 50 gallon setup.)
Good deal overall!

[Dentoid]

Do it, and piggy back it to your 29!

[Cassette87]

Haha, somehow i dont see that workin scott Here's a picture! lights will certainly need replacing..


But I'm sure i could sell the fixture that comes with it. looks like it's got a cyano problem, probably lack of water movement. I'm going to get in touch and try and go see it, so keep posted. Also! I put my Eclipse 3 hood up for sale at 2am today, and it's 7:30 am... i already have a person asking about it! talk about quick response only reason i bring that up, is it'll help offset the cost of the 55

[goldenmean]

Hey Andy that does sound like a great deal
but as Lynn alluded to you ned to look for those hidden costs
of upgrades and noew/other equipement needed/wanted

[lcstorc]

Based on the info and the pic I would say a definite go for it. Plus you can add the desired items before you transfer from the 29.
From appearances only I think you might want a few more pieces of LR but still a good deal.
The Remora pro should be good for you, but I like to go high on the skimming, so personally I would get a bigger skimmer but it wouldn't be a need to do now kinda thinkg even for me. I have an Aqua C Remora on a 20g and love it. I am sure the pro is just as good but designed for bigger tanks.

[bluespotjawfish]

The algae could also be from the bulbs in the lights being old.

[Dentoid]

Andy, start saving for a Monster light!
The kind that goes, Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh , when you turn it on!

[Cassette87]

Good points you guys! and thanks for all the input! Only thing I guess that'd be hard to do is give up the 29.. I've kinda come to like it so I'm not sure what to do here, new, 2nd tank, or replace 29... obviously the latter would be more cost effective, but i also need to determine where to put the tank if i were to get it. It will fit in my room where the 29 is at, just barely though. I'll have to use some of my time here at work with cad to figure out how else i can place things in my room... Time well spent ey? I think the light in the picture may be the same model i have, or maybe a 36", either way it needs to be replaced. What would electricity costs be for a system this size with entry level HQI? I just want to get an idea of how much my dad will kick me in the butt for doing this if I do; not to mention i have to determine if the house can support the weight of a 55 in my room, ( on the 2nd floor ) I know this is kind of a long babble, i'm just thinking out loud here: couple last things. Does a system this size need a sump? can I get by the same way I do with my 29? seems to work well..

Lastly, these are the options running through my head.

1. Buy the tank, prepare, and switch everything over to the 55, and part out and sell the 29, or save for parts/future sump, so on and so on.

2. Buy the tank, sell what won't be used, light fixture, possibly skimmer, and keep everything else in the basement for a day down the road.

3. set up the 55 as a second tank, maybe in the basement. I don't know that I like the idea of having the tank in the basement, but knowing my dad, it ain't going anywhere else in the house.

i think regardless i'll be following option 2... but i still need your opinions

[bluespotjawfish]

Just got to go with a double decker! The stand I have my 30 and 50 on was bought used for $50.

[Cassette87]

Originally Posted by bluespotjawfish

Just got to go with a double decker! The stand I have my 30 and 50 on was bought used for $50.

Heh, believe me, I would love to Lorraine, but then you have to take the weight of the system into consideration, and I'm not in my condo yet for a couple years, so I can't do "whatever" i want just yet so to speak. I pay $15 a month for my electricity on the 29 and i'm just curious how much it would spike with hqi? and the 55. this is going to be a rough decision...

[Triggerjay]

easy decision... you cant go wrong on the price of it for starters... and unless your house is 100 years old, the floors will be fine, and lastly, yes, your electricity will go up a little with HQI's...BUT, you can off-set the cost of this with a little fragging from the fast growing corals under the new lights...

Jason

[Triggerjay]

Oh yeah............ GO BUY IT BEFORE SOMEONE ELSE DOES! It wont last long at that price...

Jason

[Cassette87]

haha jason... your like the little demon on my right shoulder saying BUY IT BUY IT BUY IT and I'm starting to think i'm going to listen!