buying second hand!

[scott67892002]

If you buy a compleate tank set up thats established would you have to cycle it again! or would it be ok providing the gravel and filter didn't dry out!

 

[Ferris]

It might be ok but as you'll need to change all the water, i would presume that it will re-cycle and check the water parameters to be sure.

 

[vantgE]

I think you should cycle it again it's worth it to clean out the new tank really good in case it is deseased and unless you plan to reset it within an hour of it being taken down it wouldn't work anyways

 

[TwoTankAmin]

If you transport it properly, depending on the time/distance involved, you can retain some to almost all of the bacterial colonies. If it is a live plant tank, then the odds of a successful move not entailing recycling on some level go up greatly.

 

[nc_nutcase]

I’m under the impression that if you were to remove the gravel and decor, transferring them right into a bucket of tank water, they will hold the bacteria you want to keep. Naturally the longer you 'store' them in the bucket the more likely it would be that they die off. But still, like Ferris said, I'd still use this as an opportunity to thoroughly clean everything before I set the aquarium up for my own fish. Chances are if the person is looking to get rid of a full set up they lost interest and have neglected maintenance as of lately. I'd suggest starting from the beginning... clean it all out... and cycle it over....

 

[Inchworm]

If you are buying it from a friend or from someone you can trust, it should be OK to go with without doing a massive clean out and starting new. You would want to know why they were getting rid of it and figure out the amount of risk you would be taking.

For example, if your friend is upgrading to a larger tank and his fish are healthy, no problem. Just make sure that the gravel and filter media are moved quickly, remain underwater and have some oxygen circulating around them most of the time. Do a good gravel vacuuming while you are draining the water to remove most of the loose debris. You will want to move the tank and set it up in it's new location the same day.

If it's a tank that a lfs is getting rid of, it would be safer to start over.

 

[dwarf-puffers]

i boughtr a second hand tank too i let it cycle 4 2 days and the fish r fine in it but i really cleend it i resilicined it and everything

 

[Tolak]

I wouldn't trust any used equipment, no matter where it came from. Even the most meticulous fishkeeper has problems here & there. It would suck if 2 weeks down the road, they had an outbreak of something nasty. I clean all used equipment, as well as new equipment.

Tolak

 

[littlefishie]

I'd say re-cycle it just to be on the safe side..
Though if it's from someone you trust, just keep the bacterialized surfaces [substrate, filter media] wet and oxygenated and you should be okay.

 

[chris allsop]

The tanks i have now one discus tank and one reef tank, are both second hand and ive never had a problem with any of them.

 

[scott67892002]

thanks all! the only reason i asked was that i saw some complete tank set ups on e-bay and was wondering how hard it would be to transport the whole set up! don't think i'd ever buy one but was just interested.

just realised that my first post didn't mention the set up included the fish! pobably makes a big differance! sorry

 

[webcat5]

I think it would be very difficult to do this. Getting it off e-bay then trying to move everything to your place, unless you are in the same city.

 

[scott67892002]

i thought i would be was more thinking about the poor people who bid in them! or the poor fish if people don't know what they're doing