Your cichlid tank... How much?

[Tongue33]

Ya am I just extremely poor or are you guys just extremely rich?!!!

I could barely afford a 55 and that's not what I ended up with... I am currently getting ready to either buy from the newspaper minimum 100 gal.. $100.. Which is good but then I have to find all the filteration and other goods...
I am also looking into building my own but glass and acrylic around here are also a little out of my range.... Foir the moment..

So the question is where'd you get yours 100 gal. or or deeper and how much??

I would hate to think I am missing the right palce as I've looked all over the web aND JUST am not capable of getting anything bigger...... I love my cichlids and want them to be happier!!

Suggestions for getting what I need with out paying a milliion would be nice thanks....

[Tongue33]

I mean hell all my rocks hehe are from the canyons around where I live LOL....

[jimk]

you are doing the right thing looking in the paper. a majority of my tanks are secondhand, including my 125. you are also right in the real expense is not the tank but all the accessories. one word of caution. secondhand tanks that sit for awhile w/o water sometimes have their silicone shrink. had an unfortunate incident in my dining room this way

[rallysman]

keep your eyes open everywhere. Estate auctions, ebay, newspapers, garage sales, and talk to EVERYONE. I got a lot of tanks because people wanted to get rid of them and I was the only person they knew who would take it.

[Ash]

All the ones we own came from the newspaper and garage sales!! I got my 30gal at the garage sale. The 125 we got came with everything and also came from the news paper and my bf just bought 2 55gal and a 75gal from the news paper for $100 or something it was sweet deal =)

[gomezladdams]

Yea let a used tank sit for a few days with water to be sure no leaks,you can reseal a used tank for undr $10 for silicone.For lights you can buy ballast and parts from home depot and build it yourself.build a stand yourself too.filters the cheapest way would be a couple of big sponge filters,or check the specials at drsfosterandsmith.com,much cheaper than even chain stores.Get your heaters there too.Substrate go to garden supply and get pool filter sand or small decorative gravel$5 or less per 50lbs.as you have already discovered theres no reason to go buy rocks if you are willing to look around outside.

[BigPleco]

I found someone on eBay that's selling Jebo canister filters for $62 including shipping! Theyre for up to a 150 gal tank i think! Hope this helps!

[Ducati996]

I felt the price of a new glass tank was close enough to the price of what folks are asking for used. I feel the price of glass seems to be more affordable -the price seems to have come down a lot

[Siemens2]

Another way to save money is Petsmarts price matching policy. They will match their online prices, just print out the web page and save the money. Plus no shipping charges. Emperor 400's $41, AC 110 $40, and so on.
Jason

[mustanggtandgsxr]

you can get stuff at really good prices i found a 55 gal with everything included i mean mag 350, grave, baackdrop, fish, whisper 60 hob, and some extras for the 350 for 150 you just have to be patient and look around

[chefdazza]

Another way to save money is Petsmarts price matching policy. They will match their online prices, just print out the web page and save the money. Plus no shipping charges. Emperor 400's $41, AC 110 $40, and so on.
Jason


bigalsonline has a policy similar to that, they promise to beat anyones price by 5%. if you call them and make them look it up, they'll take care of you, they sold me a jager 250W heater for 28 bucks.

[HarpoGarza]

I found my 125 on craigslist.org (www.craigslist.org). Tank and stand for $200. 2 Fluval 404- $375. 2 hoods and lights- $150. 2 450w heaters- $75. Awesome tank for less than a grand.

[Rbishop]

Newspapers, yardsales and word of mouth is the way to go! Seems early summer has always been good for me on the "give aways". Guess they are Christmas gifts that have lost their welcome. :grinno:

[scottv]

Another way to save money is Petsmarts price matching policy. They will match their online prices, just print out the web page and save the money. Plus no shipping charges. Emperor 400's $41, AC 110 $40, and so on.
Jason

PETSMART pricematch is the ****.....go there for your filters etc. I've saved hundreds of bucks from there. I still go there whenever I need a new filter etc.

It's as cheap as online, but you don't have to pay shipping! :woot:

[rasdbo]

I found my 125 on craigslist.org (www.craigslist.org). Tank and stand for $200. 2 Fluval 404- $375. 2 hoods and lights- $150. 2 450w heaters- $75. Awesome tank for less than a grand.

same here, got a 120 with everything for 600

[Tongue33]

Thanks for the info... Have actually been doing all. that... And that is how it's workin... I have ran into a couple deals, but nothin I really want yet... I might settle for a 55 just to upgrade a little so my babies can have a condo instead of a studio LOL... But thanks I'll keep takin all these suggestions and hopefully soon they's have they're space and I'll have yet another dream come true...
\ Thanks again!!!

[BDawg364]

Craigslist is a really good way to go. I got an Oceanic 55 gallon tank with matching wood stand and canopy, glass tops, lights, a fluval 404, and 6 beautiful cobalt cichlids for $125.

[HolyBull]

I got my 125 with builtin skimmer box for 700 + tax from a LFS. The stand and canopy i had custom made was anohter 600.

I knew i was gonna get ripped, so i kept telling myself that it was alright, but I got my first job out of college and i was sick of having small aquariums my whole life.

[Miles]

I found someone on eBay that's selling Jebo canister filters for $62 including shipping! Theyre for up to a 150 gal tank i think! Hope this helps!

They are cheap.. Stay away. I ordered 8 of these to get a discount deal, and majority of them leak or broke real easy. I think I have a total of 2 working ones now.

[stingray4540]

definately check craigslist if it is around you. Also, newspapers, garage sales, and doctor/dentists that are moving/remodeling. I work in construction and am remodeling a dentist office that used to have a huge tank in it. Doctor didn't want it anymore so he GAVE it away with everything!
Also, when buying a used tank spend the 5 bucks on aquarium silicone and go over all the seams and let dry. fill with water to make sure there are no leaks, then add deco.
I just bought my 85 gallon complete with everything except water and fish, for 150 bucks.

[CichlidKid]

Keep looking in the paper and garage sales, those are rare finds though. For a good price on a tank anytime go to EBAY, just make sure you have the person's garentee that the tank doesn't leak. Any other things you can get from ebay also, i got my aquaclear 300 for 15 dollars (with shipping included) thought that was a pretty good deal. Also got a 30 with a stand for 60, friend of mine got a 55 with stand for 72. so the prices are out there. YOu just gotta keep your eyes open. and trust me, you are not poorer than me and my friends ( all poor college students) haha.
gl on finding your tank, hope i don't come up against you in an ebay bid. :thumbsup:

[tattoodaddy]

Go with DIY. The savings are tremendous.

[benzjamin13]

I bought my 75g tank piece by piece. first I bought the stand from a Petco that was selling for $100 because it has a small scratch on it. Then I got my Fluval 404 for $100 from a lfs on sale. And then heater, sand, etc. Pretty much I ended up buying the tank last because I wouldn't have waited for everything else if I got the tank first.

[Tongue33]

man It seems like this was soo long ago....

At this point I believe I had a 40g that had had my O in it for 4 YEARS!!! And just got him into a 55..... And now... Well You know where my tanks are now :)

Infact shortly after thsi thread I bought a 150 for 300.00 and Then shortly after that I got my current 250.00 for 100.00!!!!

Thanks guys!!

[killerfish]

pffff you think that expensive try setting up a large saltwater tank freshwater is MUCH cheaper but can still be pricey look at craigslist.org or your newspaper you can useually find a good deal there most tanks are used new ones cost $1000s

[invisyblegypsey]

hey i mite be able to help you a bit
i have several pums and a home made filter system that i had working on a 180 gal. tank till i could aford the setup i have now. PM me i will be home tomarro night
i'm @ work in La. at the moment

[Tongue33]

pffff you think that expensive try setting up a large saltwater tank freshwater is MUCH cheaper but can still be pricey look at craigslist.org or your newspaper you can useually find a good deal there most tanks are used new ones cost $1000s


Only to the unexperienced in my opinion ;)

[FSM]

Let other people spend the big money and then buy the used stuff off craigslist for half of retail when they get tired of it. You can get a 125 setup for 350-400 dollars.

[Tongue33]

Man I remember when i started this thread... It seems so long ago;)