Frag tank for $2000

MSB123

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Im looking to do a 36x24x12 frag tank for under 1200, and then spend another 800 on basic coral to start up.
$300 of this is going towards lighting. So I have $900 for the filtration, tank, and heaters.
What tank should I get? I would like to go with a 36 or 48" long tank, no more than 24" wide.
Where can I buy a tank like this? (Goal is under $400 for tank only)
 
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40 breeder - like $90 bucks
Stand - $50
looking for a bigger tank (48x24) and something not more then 12" high- this is frag only, I don't want to have to get more powerful lights to reach into the depth of a 40 breeder, and I want to easily be able to take top down shots.
 

andrewkw

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I think I paid $129 maybe $149 for my 48x24x10 lowboy frag tank, $30 in wood and screws. $150 for a T5 fixture and maybe $50 in plumbing parts. Oh I did buy a new return pump too. Obviously if you don't have extra heaters / powerheads ect that will add a few hundred dollars but you can do it for a lot less then you have budget.

While it's not that exciting you can just start with some plain softies which actually in many cases can be the best sellers regardless. I just brought a bunch of pom pom xenia to a fish store and they gave me $270 credit for it. Sure they are selling them at considerably more but I was happy to get what I got with no headache. I do have nicer stuff in my frag tank as well but simple stuff can be easy to get rid of and almost always in demand.
 
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I think I paid $129 maybe $149 for my 48x24x10 lowboy frag tank, $30 in wood and screws. $150 for a T5 fixture and maybe $50 in plumbing parts. Oh I did buy a new return pump too. Obviously if you don't have extra heaters / powerheads ect that will add a few hundred dollars but you can do it for a lot less then you have budget.

While it's not that exciting you can just start with some plain softies which actually in many cases can be the best sellers regardless. I just brought a bunch of pom pom xenia to a fish store and they gave me $270 credit for it. Sure they are selling them at considerably more but I was happy to get what I got with no headache. I do have nicer stuff in my frag tank as well but simple stuff can be easy to get rid of and almost always in demand.
Planning on spending a few hundred on torches and frogspawn, and a couple hundred on zoas and sps
 

Dempsey941

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Im looking to do a 36x24x12 frag tank for under 1200, and then spend another 800 on basic coral to start up.
$300 of this is going towards lighting. So I have $900 for the filtration, tank, and heaters.
What tank should I get? I would like to go with a 36 or 48" long tank, no more than 24" wide.
Where can I buy a tank like this? (Goal is under $400 for tank only)
Gotchya how about this
50 gallon Low Boy Frag Tank
 
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MSB123

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They do pickup only in NY.
 

blasterman

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Love that low boy tank and price.

Prices for acrylic frag tanks are outrageous.
 

OlderManSea

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The Zoo Med lowboy frag tank is awesome. 50 gal 48x24x10 for around $125 at many places. Makes an excellent “look down” tank. My LFS has 6 of them in a row, excellent to see frags and colonies.
 

Dempsey941

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Quite honestly you could probably also find a hydroponics tray and use that, granted it would only have a top down view. Here
 
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Still can't find a way to order a low boy tank. ugh
 

JoshH

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Seapora makes a 48 x 24 x 12, you should be able to order them from most LFS'
 

Kyl

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The only issue with the lowboys is construction quality control seems to be awful about 10% of the time, so the tanks slowly develop a leak near the top of the trim line. I've seen three locally exhibit the same issue, one of which is in a LFS that put 10 of them in the store during a renovation.

If you can at all possible inspect a lowboy, especially the top of the seam that's hidden by the top trim, in person before buying.
 

RickG

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Still can't find a way to order a low boy tank. ugh
Got mine by looking fof authorized zoomed dealers around me. Called up the LFS and placed the order. They had it in a couple of days and I picked it up. Great tank for the money
 
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Good news.
I found and ordered a lowboy, and also found a vector M1 for $30, and two MP40s for $20 each. (I have great friends)
I am going to use Noopsyche K7 Pros because they have worked for me in the past.
 

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Does anyone have a low boys with sand?? Wondering if even the biggest sand would blow around...
 

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