Here's the deal. Got a chance to pick up a used acrylic tenecor and custom built stand. Tank is 96x36x30 with blue background, center overflow, and four return lines plumbed in at the top. Fully braced at top with lith covers. Needs cleaning as it was a reef tank. Can pick it up for $1300. Not really sure where I would put it, but I consider that a minor detail. My wife on the other hand thinks it's way too big, it will cost too much to setup and run, be too noisy, etc. Can you give me some feedback on setup costs for what would be needed and rough estimates on running costs. I think this is too good of deal to pass on, even if I have to store it for a little while.
Tank help needed ASAP
- Thread starter dragonfish
- Start date
All you'll really need to get it up and running would be a sump (since it's already drilled and plumbed), a pump, and some lighting. If you make your own sump, it would be as cheap as a used 90g or 125g and some glass/bio material. If it's drilled like mine (same size tank) you'll need a pump for around 1,200gph (2-1" bulkheads=roughly 600gph each), around $100 from Big Al's. You can use a couple of Home Depot 4' shop lights with quality bulbs for maybe $50. And for the record, the cheapest I've seen a new Tenecor (same size) go for is $2,000, and that doesn't include a stand. Running costs as far as electricity shouldn't be too much if you have regular type lighting. If you have well water, water changes'll be free. Food costs are what kill me.
Why haven't you bought it yet?
***EDITED TO ADD***
Be careful cleaning all that reef stuff out, it'll scratch. Also, is it a center overflow as in the very center of the tank or the center of the back wall? Just curious.
Why haven't you bought it yet?
***EDITED TO ADD***
Be careful cleaning all that reef stuff out, it'll scratch. Also, is it a center overflow as in the very center of the tank or the center of the back wall? Just curious.
Center of back wall and what needs cleaning is the coralline algae growths on the sides. And I haven't bought it yet because I need a little more info to convince my dear, sweet, loving wife that this is truly a good idea.
dragonfish;1926338; said:
Good luck convincing the better half. What else do you need to know? Minimum cost brand new would be about $2,200 for the tank and at least $200 for materials for a DIY stand that's not for looking pretty. Figure another $400 for oak to make one super nice (don't know what kind of stand comes with the tank you're looking at for a fair comparison). A new stand from Tenecor is around in excess of $2,000.
A giant tank for a good deal sounds like a good idea to me. Pull the trigger and let the chips fall where they may, etc....
I need help here guys. Time is short and my astonishing powers of persuasion seem to be diminishing.
To be honest man it is kind of up to you. IMO the sump if you went with say an aquaclear would run you around 300-350 + pump 180-200. Then if you added an FX-5 for example another 250. SO your talking anywhere from 700-1000 in filtraton. Building your own sump obviously can knock that way down. I would say that would be on the super light side for a tank of that size. Then uyou need your substrate and whatever else you want of course.
If you wanted an off the top of my head est. with little or no building time from yourself I would say close to $2000.00.......... I would think you caould set up a kick ass filtration and have enough $ for everything else you want. Noise?? nah man don't worry about that. I don't think it will be a problem at all just throw some foam pads behind the doors and the canopy should take care of most of the topside. The electric bill won't really be a factor unless your going to run some very serious lighting. If you want some serious lighting for something that size you could add another 1000 easlily.
GL, I say go for it. Store it for awjhile if you need to. Heck I would buy it. Let me know if your not going to take it lol
If you wanted an off the top of my head est. with little or no building time from yourself I would say close to $2000.00.......... I would think you caould set up a kick ass filtration and have enough $ for everything else you want. Noise?? nah man don't worry about that. I don't think it will be a problem at all just throw some foam pads behind the doors and the canopy should take care of most of the topside. The electric bill won't really be a factor unless your going to run some very serious lighting. If you want some serious lighting for something that size you could add another 1000 easlily.
GL, I say go for it. Store it for awjhile if you need to. Heck I would buy it. Let me know if your not going to take it lol
Figured on building sump myself. Cost would be negligible. Don't need much lighting, again low cost. Biggest issue would be cost of pump to do an adequate job. The next issue would be cleaning the tank of red algae deposits. Can make the room, just trying to convince the other half that it would be a good idea. Don't suggest getting rid of some of the smaller tanks, she doesn't really buy that one.