Tough decision... should I sell this tank?

[Natalie]

I really need advice on this one.

I have a really nice 5x2x2 custom acrylic tank (made by Midwest Acrylics), plus a Tenecor stand and canopy, and all kinds of beautiful accessories, all brand new, including Eheim 2260, 3D background, $200 LEDS, etc. I bought all of this with the hope of setting up my dream tank. I recently realized that due to all of the moving I have to do, I won't be able to set this system up for at least the next 5 years, until I finish my PhD. (I have to move every 1-2 years until the degree is done). Add to that, I just had surgery, and despite insurance the costs to me have already totaled about $2000. I am feeling totally overwhelmed. Every time I look at this tank, I stress out about it. It'll have to be in storage for such a long time. Should I even keep it, or offer it for sale? I could use the money, and the thought of lugging this thing around year after year only to have it sit in storage which I don't really have room for... it's wearing me down.

From here on out, I'll have a 40g breeder and 75g riparium set up, and those will keep me happy. I'd like to set up the 150g eventually, but it's going to be a long time away. Has anyone been through this situation before? I need help...

Edit: Here's the tank.

 

[dayak]

can you set it up at your parents house?
re-selling it will not getting the money you want, you will get low balled unless you just want to get rid of it and get as much money as you could get.

 

[Rawrzer]

Honestly imo i would sell it in your situation. It could help pay some bills and itll lighten your load a bit and make more space. plus if youre moving around at all itd just be even more money going into moving the tank. You can always buy another when you're ready to put time and money into it, and hey you could even buy a bigger one if you wanted! but like i said that's just my opinion on it.

 

[burzumaske20]

If I lived down in Florida or if you lived up in Illinois,I would let you have it at my place actually,so you wouldn't have to sell it at all and come back for it when you can.As dayak stated,you wont get the money you are looking for.Trust me,I have been trying to sell 32 xmen comics that are worth 1063 dollars in the condition of 6.5 and 8.0 range and I have to take a major loss and sell for 600 dollars instead.No one will pay the actual value on stuff that they invested into.

 

[Natalie]

can you set it up at your parents house?
re-selling it will not getting the money you want, you will get low balled unless you just want to get rid of it and get as much money as you could get.

That's unfortunately not an option. They live 800 miles away and don't have much storage room themselves. I know I'll never get the $$ that went into it. What I care about more is that the tank itself was a gift from my parents. I don't want to hurt their feelings.

Honestly imo i would sell it in your situation. It could help pay some bills and itll lighten your load a bit and make more space. plus if youre moving around at all itd just be even more money going into moving the tank. You can always buy another when you're ready to put time and money into it, and hey you could even buy a bigger one if you wanted! but like i said that's just my opinion on it.

Thanks for your insight I would sell this thing in a heartbeat if it weren't for my parents getting it for me as a gift. Part of me thinks I should just break down and confide to my dad about how much grief the thing is giving me. Maybe he'll give me the go-ahead to sell.

And the thought of buying a larger tank when I can sounds pretty good.

 

[Natalie]

If I lived down in Florida or if you lived up in Illinois,I would let you have it at my place actually,so you wouldn't have to sell it at all and come back for it when you can.As dayak stated,you wont get the money you are looking for.Trust me,I have been trying to sell 32 xmen comics that are worth 1063 dollars in the condition of 6.5 and 8.0 range and I have to take a major loss and sell for 600 dollars instead.No one will pay the actual value on stuff that they invested into.

That would be ideal, to keep it at a fellow MFKer's house until I could set it up. I hear ya on your comics. Nowadays nobody can afford to pay much for anything.

Another thought I had was to sell just the accessories (brand new filter, lights, tons of filter media, 3D background, etc.) That would lighten the load somewhat, and 5 years down the line I'd have the tank, stand, canopy ready to go. Argh... dont' know what to do.

 

[burzumaske20]

That would be ideal, to keep it at a fellow MFKer's house until I could set it up. I hear ya on your comics. Nowadays nobody can afford to pay much for anything.

Another thought I had was to sell just the accessories (brand new filter, lights, tons of filter media, 3D background, etc.) That would lighten the load somewhat, and 5 years down the line I'd have the tank, stand, canopy ready to go. Argh... dont' know what to do.

I know right?What I don't understand is these are my 60s,70s,early 80s xmen comics,that people would jump on a heart beat.Too many low balling people out there today though.Well it would really be awful for you to sell the tank and all the accessories in this sticky situation you are in.I hear that Eheim canister is amazing to run and I wish I would of gone with that,I am sure you paid good money for that I may have to sell it for less.

 

[taz1269u2]

I bought a 200 gallon glass tank ,doesnt take much to move ,just a strong back,lol,,and I'm on my 4th house ,I woundnt sell,,when I sold the 120 I had I almost had to give it away,,I'd ask dad to borrow u a little cash,,lol

 

[dayak]

That's unfortunately not an option. They live 800 miles away and don't have much storage room themselves. I know I'll never get the $$ that went into it. What I care about more is that the tank itself was a gift from my parents. I don't want to hurt their feelings.



Thanks for your insight I would sell this thing in a heartbeat if it weren't for my parents getting it for me as a gift. Part of me thinks I should just break down and confide to my dad about how much grief the thing is giving me. Maybe he'll give me the go-ahead to sell.

And the thought of buying a larger tank when I can sounds pretty good.

thats even more problem then lol
if i were you i would talk about it with your parents, they might let you set it up at their house and more reason for you to see them often
i know some times space is a luxury but im sure they can spare their 5x2x2' for you.
and if you selling it and without consulting with your parents since its a gift from them, it would break their hearts because i know mine will

 

[muffywrx]

oh man, i hope one of your local MFKers chimes in and helps you out