So i finally found a 180g i can afford. But i am not yet sure it is worth it. The price is $450 for stand, canopy, tank, 40g sump, drilled in 2 places, one 400w misc halide and 2 x 250 watt misc halides and some sand. Is that a good price? However, the stand is a total nightmare. It's not solid wood, but is some crappy particle board. The doors are falling off and part of the back brace has water damage and is all corroded. The stand is pretty wimpy and doesnt look like it carries the weight of the tank well and will need support added somehow. One bulkhead where it was drilled is leaking. The glass tank has a lot of minor scratches. With all these issues that need to be fixed, is $450 still worth it?

I'll let someone else speak as to the price, but if you're not picky about appearances, it's pretty easy to build a simple 2x4 (or 4x4) stand that would hold that tank easily.

If it were me I would pass it up. Last time I saw pics of your tank it looked awesome! It's totally gonna suck to have to tear all of that apart. If it ain't broke....well, you know the rest.

sump seems really small for a tank that big...

I agree that anyone with some skill can build a stand and make it look good. Also, when you build your own stand, you can add shelves and anything you would like custom.

-Justin

Posted By Waverz on 08/30/2010 09:15 AM
If it were me I would pass it up. Last time I saw pics of your tank it looked awesome! It's totally gonna suck to have to tear all of that apart. If it ain't broke....well, you know the rest.

Forget me if I'm wrong here Lindsay, but I think she's going to be moving soon, so she'll have to tear this down anyways. I do agree though, her current tank looks awesome, way better in person!

As for the upgrade, I think it's a pretty good price, but I would definitely scrap the stand. I didn't even think twice about not keeping the stand when I traded for the 125 I have now. I like how my stand is much higher than the original stand. It makes things much more enjoyable, no bending over to see everything in the tank, plus higher stands make tanks look much much bigger. Not to poke fun here Lindsay, but you're short like me, you're already going to have to have a step stool of some sort to reach the bottom of the tank, you might as well build a bigger/stronger/taller stand to your liking.

As for the leaky bulkheads, that's an easy fix(new bulkheads). I would suggest the uni-seal slip fittings, I love them on my tanks, they seal up very tight, you don't have to worry about over-tightening them or worry about the pipes getting bumped and breaking glass, they are rubber and have a lot of flexibility at the joints.

As for the sump, a 40 gallon is a bit small as Justin suggested, but it would be easy to get another small tank and baffle them together, or better yet, use your 75 gallon if you're keeping it.

If it were me I would pass. I hate scratches!

I am thinking i will pass b/c it is prolly just too big a project for me to handle on my own. I do have a chance to buy a lovely 150g but i just hate the front to back dimensions, which are the same as my 75g, and that drives me nuts. It may be my only option.

Or... i could just stop buying so many corals.......

Posted By rockinsmall on 08/30/2010 02:05 PM 

Or... i could just stop buying so many corals.......

That's not going to happen!

If you want a bigger tank, save your money and look into the Marineland Deep Dimension Series tanks. They are all 36" deep and are reef ready. Flippin' awesome tanks!

I second what fishbrain said, I hate scratches.

i think i am gunna pass on this system. I really like pretty things.. or so i am told, so i have a feeling i will end up very dissatisfied and embarassed. i did find s deal for a 150g with sump, stand canopy and 2 x 400 watt halides for $900 delivered. thats good huh???

are the halides magnetic or electronic? what reflectors? i kinda think that is high...i'm selling my whole 120 system. without my lights, but with euroreef skimmer and all the pumps, rest the rock, frag tank and light and everything else i have for around 600 to gered...maybe....he needs to find a truck haha

Tell Gered I have a mini van with no back seats or a pick-up he can use.

Actually i think is it 1k delivered and may even come with an old mp40. i guess it has the nice reflectors. that makes it a better deal, dont ya think?
I was looking at all the dirrerent tank dimensions, and i dont think i can handle the dims of a 150g. i am barely 5'2. theres no way i could ever retrieve anything that fell to the back or bottom of the tank.  i can barely scrape the algae off the bottom glass of my 75g. a 150g is 28 inches tall. thats a lil under 2 1/2 feel of just glass, and my whole body is only twice that!

I reaaaally need a 180 b/c its 4 inches shorter. but, i may have to go with the 150 b/c im out of choices and low on time. i am trying make the switch as i move from one house to another.

Yes it does suck being vertically challenged. I felt like i was going to have to scuba dive when i was scraping algae off the glass...

why not look for a 120?? 4x2x2??? whats the dimensions of a 180 again?? i forgot

Posted By snowman82 on 08/31/2010 01:17 PM
why not look for a 120?? 4x2x2??? whats the dimensions of a 180 again?? i forgot

6'x2'x2'

a 120g sounds super! Ya'll wanna help me find one? Whomever finds the perfect one gets a free frag of something cool!! C'mon guys.... you've been challenged!!!

wait wait.... looks like a 120g is only a 4 foot tank... i feel like i have to get a 6 foot tank in order to fit all these darn frags..... u guys think that a 120g will be just as good as a 6 foot tank... oh im soooo worried about making a bad choice!

if your worried about space maybe you should just get a 300g or so and call it a day or frag tank after frag tank haha