Is This A Good Deal?

[l.michelle]

Hi,

I am wondering if this is a good deal or not. Basically, I went into a Big Al's Aquarium Services tonight to buy my 28 gallon tank, and at the checkout was a 14gallon fully set up nano tank for sale for $1300. It looked so so nice! It had 2 clowns, a red shrimp thing (sorry I don't know the names of these things) it had corals, one that looks like glowy tentacles, these purpleish round ones with green centres, a purpleish big one with green and others. The live rock was quite large.

I asked how long the tank had been established for, and the man said 8 months. Is this a good deal? He started to explain about the filtration system, but that went waaaay over my head lol.

So i am wondering if the whole setup for $1300 is a good deal? I am so tempted to buy it, but I thought I would ask you guys before I did. He said that they would put everything in buckets to transport it. I live about a 30 minute drivwe from the store so would that be a problem, also?

Any suggestions/advice would be very very appreciated!!!!

 

[SkiFletch]

Depends on what the corals were really... The hardware/filtration costs are a fraction of that $1300, even in canadian prices. I'd be surprised if the hardware collectively cost more than $400, then prolly another $100 in LR, $100 in shrimp/clownfish, so that brings you up to $600. If they were nice rare cherry picked corals, then sure, it could easily be worth up to that much. But something smells fishy to me about this "deal"

 

[gigmeyer]

I agree with Ski. Sounds like you'll pay a premium for instant gratification.

While it is easy to spend that amount of money on a setup that size, a significant amount goes into extra's like RO units, refractometers, skimmers, test kits, etc. The filtration in nano's like that is usually pretty simple and inexpensive. In fact, many people immediately trade out the stock pump for something better. A list of fish and corals would help determine the value, but they would have to be pretty rare and pricey to make it a 'deal' IMO.

 

[l.michelle]

Okay, I have been mullingit over. I just bought a 28 gallon tank from them, I was going to go brackish with, but would that be okay to start a nano? I am so indecisive right now, but I am leaning more towards nano. is 28 gallons good for a beginner?

Thank you so so so much!!

 

[Musho3210]

bigger the better.... i will sound hypocritical but beginners shouldnt really have nano tanks.....

 

[l.michelle]

I mean a beginner to nano tanks. I have had fish for about 6 years now

 

[Musho3210]

is it the jbj nano with MH light?

 

[l.michelle]

I do not know what jbj means, and i can only assume that "MH" means Metal halides?

Please keep in mind, you are talking to a beginner to nano tanks. I have a couple books on saltwater aquariums and have briefly looked through the information provided on this site. Rest assured, I am not going to go fill my tank and plop some fish in there. My tank isn't set up yet, I am getting all the information I need before doing anything. But obviously there are terms I don't know yet.

 

[AQUAKING]

I think its fine someone new to saltwater to have a nano. My first SW tank was a 10 gallon. Its all about research.

 

[Musho3210]

I do not know what jbj means, and i can only assume that "MH" means Metal halides?

Please keep in mind, you are talking to a beginner to nano tanks. I have a couple books on saltwater aquariums and have briefly looked through the information provided on this site. Rest assured, I am not going to go fill my tank and plop some fish in there. My tank isn't set up yet, I am getting all the information I need before doing anything. But obviously there are terms I don't know yet.

Well it should be on the box if it says jbj (company) and/or mh/HQI (metal halide)..... You said you bought a 28 nano, well what 28 gallon nano?

 

[l.michelle]

I bought a 28 gallon tank, and was going to use that for something else.

When I was at the checkout i saw the 14 gallon nano set up, and at first was wondering if it was a good deal. I am no longer going to buy that 14 gallon nano, and was now wondering if a 28 gallon would be an ideal size to start up my own nano tank.

 

[Musho3210]

well any size would do really, whatever fits your budget and space i guess.... there is no difference between a nano tank and a big tank besides the size difference, youve had 6 years so you should know what to do

 

[1entra]

Hi there,

I beleive a 28gallon would be fine as a nano set-up, there are people on this site along with others that have started off with only a 10gallon so yours would be more than adequate! Dont let anyone put you off, just make sure you thouroughly research into marine tanks and know exactly what commitment and dedication will be required of you once you get going.

I myself am currently starting my first nano reef and its slightly smaller than yours (25Gallon), and if you have a look at my journal, I have listed all of the equipment I require and you hence you may require so may come of use to you.

Keep us updated on what you decide and how you get on

 

[l.michelle]

1entra: Thank you so so much!! I will definately look at your journal, My tank is not yet set up, I have two books thus far, the encyclopedia of saltwater aquariums and saltwater aquairiums for dummies lol. But I think that hearing from straight experience helps so much!

Thanks again!

 

[CAC]

The problem with going bigger is bigger lights, more corals to fill the space (if your having them), more SW for water changes, and (in the UK atleast) more liverock which will make it really expensive.
Read pinned topics, they will sort ya out