What would you pay for this setup? 150 gal

[greatwave]

Looking to make an offer on a tank I found on craigslist, but wanted to make sure I don't get ripped off as I'm new to this hobby
150 gallon glass tank with dual overflows (no scratches)
Oak stand/canopy
3 metal halide lights
4 actinic lights
50 gallon Mega Flow 4 sump (no skimmer)
So, what do you think? I'd appreciate any help. I've found a bunch of great deals, but this is the first with a cabinet/canopy that doesn't look like it was put together by a 5 year old. I'm ready to get a tank and get started. Thanks

 

[scopus tang]

Originally Posted by GreatWave
http:///forum/post/3159017
Looking to make an offer on a tank I found on craigslist, but wanted to make sure I don't get ripped off as I'm new to this hobby
150 gallon glass tank with dual overflows (no scratches)
Oak stand/canopy
3 metal halide lights
4 actinic lights
50 gallon Mega Flow 4 sump (no skimmer)
So, what do you think? I'd appreciate any help. I've found a bunch of great deals, but this is the first with a cabinet/canopy that doesn't look like it was put together by a 5 year old. I'm ready to get a tank and get started. Thanks

The real question here is what will you pay for it? Too many variables involved here to even begin to give a rational response. Is the stand custom built or prefab? What does it look like, is it scratched up, salt bleached, or any water damage? What type of 3 light metal halide system are you talking (some brands of MH lights are prone to starting fires)? Actinic lights? PC or t5? Pumps? Powerheads? How long has it been sitting empty (silicon may dry out and pull away from the glass, allowing the tank to leak if its sat too long)?
200 gallons of total water volume is a good system and will give you great water parameter stability. I've seen Oak custom stands go for a couple thousand dollars, and I've seen prefab ones go for $50. The general rule of thumb for a buyer is that a used system goes for about half the cost of a new system. The rule of thumb for a seller is that you get everything you can out of it. If big, used systems of good quality are easy to come by where you live (which it sounds like isn't the case), than you may not want to pay much for it. On the other hand if they are hard to come by, then you could end up paying almost the price of a new system for it. %%
BTW; welcome to the SWF.com

 

[greatwave]

Thanks for the reply. I'm going to ask about the lights and the silicon because I know the tank had been disassembled a while ago.
He's asking $900. If he can assure me the tank will hold water, do you think it is worth close to that?

 

[scopus tang]

Originally Posted by GreatWave
http:///forum/post/3159042
Thanks for the reply. I'm going to ask about the lights and the silicon because I know the tank had been disassembled a while ago.
He's asking $900. If he can assure me the tank will hold water, do you think it is worth close to that?

; again, I think its really a question of how hard a system like this is to find in your area. Without seeing the stand and the shape it's in and knowing something about the lights, its very hard to say. I personally paid close to $1000 for a 125 gallon set-up, but I knew a whole lot about the system and what type of shape everything was in before I bought it. But, I've also seen 100 gallon systems go for a few hundred bucks

.

 

[dragonzim]

A lot depends on the type of lights they are as well. A MH lighting fixture can easily go for $900 on its own.

 

[rgf1046]

The halides are definitely a big variable. If they are retro kits mounted inside a canopy, the cost can be relatively low, but ballasts and housings can significantly vary their worth.

 

[btldreef]

I personally would not pay more than $600 for used equipment, period. There's no guarantee with it.
I got my 155 for free, so who knows