Buying A Second Hand Tank?

[stup3rman]

i was looking into buying a bigger tank, like 60 gal, but im on a budget so i was thinking if i could pick one up second hand complete that would be ideal, my only problem would be, how would i be able to check that the filter was good and the heater was ok first without having to buy it? like a quick spot check kind of thing

 

[grumpymole]

i was looking into buying a bigger tank, like 60 gal, but im on a budget so i was thinking if i could pick one up second hand complete that would be ideal, my only problem would be, how would i be able to check that the filter was good and the heater was ok first without having to buy it? like a quick spot check kind of thing

just ask to see it before you buy, if its faulty, then say no thank you and walk off

 

[stup3rman]

yes, but if i see it if like i turn the filter on n hear it working is that good enough to assume the filter is actually working properly?

 

[Fishkeeper2004]

yes, but if i see it if like i turn the filter on n hear it working is that good enough to assume the filter is actually working properly?

Just look around the tank for a few minutes, and maybe turn the power supply off and restart it to make sure everything is working properly. If nothing seems obviously wrong, I wouldn't worry.

 

[grumpymole]

yes, but if i see it if like i turn the filter on n hear it working is that good enough to assume the filter is actually working properly?

hmmm...
i see what you mean, im afraid that you will probably just have to bite the bullet and take a gamble.

 

[stup3rman]

ok, thanks, i will bear this in mind, n hope everything will be just fine, im not making a purchase til after christmas anyway

 

[Fadi]

for the filter, you could try and plug it in and see if the fan works.

 

[yvez9]

really the only thing you can do is try it.

like buying a used car. the only way to know if it will be reliable in the future is to use it for a while.

of course, if it doesn't work the first time, it gives you a good idea of how good it will be...

 

[Tolak]

Biggest concern should be the tank itself. It's the most expensive component, and the most expensive to deal with if it goes bad. A bad leak on a tank that size could cause quite a lot of damage. Next would come the filter, last of all the heater.

If you could see the tank up & running it would be best. At very least you want to see the tank full, and not just recently filled. If you see tiny air bubbles, or lines from air bubbles on the inside of the tank, it means it was filled that day. Tell them to leave it filled, & come back to it in a day or two.

Run the filter with water, see if it works. It doesn't have to have media, I wouldn't use the old media anyway. Sometimes impellers on hob filters need a little nudge to get spinning, this is nothing to be concerned with. They may also be a little noisy at first due to a little trapped air. Let the filter run for a good 10 minutes. If it's still noisy, then be concerned.

Heaters are hit or miss, but are one of the cheaper parts to deal with. Some cheap ones last forever, some of the more expensive ones have a bad run & don't last but a couple months. Buy a new one, see if the used one works ok. If it does, you have a spare on hand, which is a good idea anyway.

Tolak

 

[Inchworm]

Hi Stup3rman

I've bought quite a bit of used equipment and never got a bad tank yet. Filters are usually a good bet, especially if they let you try them out, but heaters I don't trust.

You can learn a lot about the tank by talking to the seller about it. Ask them why they took it down. Quite often it will be because they never learned how to keep their fish alive and healthy, and they got discouraged before long. In this case, the equipment is almost new. Of course, they won't come right out and tell you that, but if you know what you are doing, you'll catch on to the real reason.

 

[stup3rman]

ok, thankyou, now to search for a second hand 60 gallon to house 4 or 5 piranhas i am planning on getting
thanks again for all the help!

 

[WendyinWichita]

One other thing to watch out for are scratches on the glass of the tank. I have 7 tanks up and running, and all but one were bought used. Scratches may be tough to see and they look terrible after the tank is full. Also watch out for lime or calcium stains, they are really difficult if not impossible to remove.

 

[Soaup]

If the motor Works the filter will generally work. You can check if its an over hang filter in a bucket maybe instead of filling up the tank which would not be good being as your gonna buy the tank? Umm If the motor works again i think it should be alright if there are any doubts try buying a new filter or used filter elsewhere.

 

[dothedew]

bought my tank used for 50 bucks, no complaints here. 45g tall. It came with a hood in bad condition, UG filter with powerheads, and a heater, I didn't use any of it.

 

[Inchworm]

Also watch out for lime or calcium stains, they are really difficult if not impossible to remove.

Hi WendyinWichita

The next time you get a tank with those deposits, try pouring a little white vinegar on them, let it set to loosen them up, and rub on them with a plastic scrubber pad. It might take a little work, but you can usually get them off the glass. Those black hoods with the textured surface are a lot harder, but you can get rid of the worst of it.