Where To Buy Tanks?

[crazycallum]

I'm after a 20-30 gallon tank but have no idea where to look for one? don't want to be spending over like 80 quid really, might go a little over it, does anyone know where i could get one? do pets at home have any cheap ones this size?

 

[OldMan47]

Your best bet is to look in ads by individuals who are getting out of the hobby. When people get frustrated and give up, they will often sell off their equipment cheap. It happens quite often that people do not get the advice that they need and end up quitting. It is a sad day for them but can be an opportunity for you. I'm not sure where they would advertise used equipment in the UK but in north america it would be want ads in the newspapers or on line sites like craig's list or E-Bay.

 

[crazycallum]

I'v been looking on ebay and stuff but alot of the time they just have the dimensions of the tank... but it doesnt tell me how many gallons or litres it is so i have no idea how big it is

 

[rdd1952]

You can use the Aquarium Calculator at the top of the page to calculate volume if you have the dimensions. As far as buying tanks, you really have to buy them locally. Because of the cost to ship fragile items like aquariums, buying online is cost prohibitive. The shipping would cost more than the tank. If you can find one nearby on ebay, then it will work but otherwise, just find a good local fish store.

 

[crazycallum]

Thanks rdd and oldman does anyone know what the dimensions are of the ones at pets at home?

 

[smudger123]

I just bought a 1yr old second hand Rio 125 + cabinet on ebay with loads of extras for £95. Its my first tank and I really wanted a new one - they convinced me to go second hand though and I'm soooooo glad I did!!

My budget was similar to yours and I spend a few days researching the web - basically the Juwel Rekord 70 is the biggest you can get new at that sort of price. If you do go for the Rekord range make sure you check stock before you buy - Juwel have discontinued the line and brought out the Rekord 600, 800 and 1000 now but they're more pricey. I got caught out buying a Rekord 70 - I ordered it but then was told of stock problems (apparently Juwel discontinued the line rather abruptly without much warning or so I was told)

Others in the budget is Tetra AquaArt, ViaAqua and the Fluval 600 Uno - have no idea what they're like though. Most hitting the £80 mark are 60l/15gallon, the Rekord 70 is 70l/18gallon. Go to £100 you are looking at Fluval duos + 800s, Rekord 96s and even 120s in some places (25gallon + 31gallon). Admittedly I was biased to Juwel looking around but im pretty sure I found all the possibilities in the budget.

Watch for places like Pets at Home - they often sell tanks up to £50 more expensive than you can find on the web at these prices!

Hope this helps, I spent ages looking for a decent tank under £100 a few weeks ago - ended up with about £280 worth second hand so worth a look.

 

[rdd1952]

They most likely have different sizes. There are standards though. Check out this site for what is considered a standard aquarium dimensions.

 

[crazycallum]

Think im going to go for a clearseal aquarium? Looks like theres alot of sizess at quite a decent price how much are filters and heaters usualy?

 

[aaronnorth]

you can get heaters for a 30g for about £15 - £25 depending on the brand and typr (like bi-metallic etc). Filters are around £30 for internal, then you could get an external for £50.

 

[Honeythorn]

I bought my 30 gallon from a car boot sale. It didn't have a hood, but the guy threw in the filter for free. Which is an Eheim 2215 classic external, in full working order. I got that lot for £22 . All I had to buy was a hood and heater, so the whole basic setup cost me less than £50 . Also look in the classifieds of your local newspapers or bargain pages.

 

[aaronnorth]

i would get a filter second hand. I got the eheim classic 2215 for £33 delivered! Included some new media, i chucked the old just to make sure.

 

[crazycallum]

im definatly going for a clearseal one now, 30 gallon is 77 quid or something anyone know if clearseal is the ones pets at home sell?

 

[shibby]

im definatly going for a clearseal one now, 30 gallon is 77 quid or something anyone know if clearseal is the ones pets at home sell?

i think it is, i bought my clearseal from pets at home.

 

[tenohfive]

Pets at home sell all sorts - like Tesco's sell different brands of ketchup. Easiest way to find out if P@H stock them is to ring them.

There is only one good reason to buy a fish tank new - because you're in a hurry for a tank. You can ALWAYS get the equivilant better priced second hand from ebay or the buy/sell section of this forum. Often they'll be in very near new condition as people buy them, don't do their research properly and have all their fish die on them - and decide its not for them.

I own 6 tanks and all bar one of them have been bought second hand. 2 of them look second hand empty, but when full you can't tell. The others are in perfect condition. If I had the spare cash I could have easily picked up that number of tanks again at bargain prices from the buy/sell forum.


As for filters - again, you will pay well over the odds for a new one from your local fish shop. Look on ebay and the buy/sell forum.




Thats my advice based upon my experience anyway.

 

[crazycallum]

Theres like none around my area on ebay does anyone know if pets at home will be open tomorow as its a bank holiday? and at what time?