Has anyone had any luck selling a complete tank?

[MiddleGAreeftank]

I'm buying my parents house and my dad has a 150 gallon reef tank that's been set up since 2001. Although I enjoy the tank, I don't have time to take care of it. Anyone have tips for getting it sold? It's still up and running with live sand, rock, some soft corals, and a few fish. We'd like to sell it all together if possible.

 

[Reefin Aint Easy]

Past experiences and research its so much harder to sell a complete tank setup. You will have better luck selling the items individually. Although it takes more time to disassemble and list stuff individually, it will be worth it more in the end. And a little piece of advice, if you can clean the stuff up before listing it you will have better luck.

 

[blaxsun]

I just sold 2 tanks that had been taken down and disassembled, and it probably took a lot longer than if I’d sold them as complete systems. But I also know that I got so low-balled on a lot of the stuff I was selling that I would’ve been offered pennies on the dollar for any fish, inverts and corals.

So I’d have to agree with the above suggestion that you’ll get more if tou break everything up.

 

[Cell]

I think you could sell the live rock, coral and fish relatively easy, but I don't think I'd want a 20 year old 150G tank without plans on resealing it before use.

 

[mdb_talon]

I would recommend viewing craigslist ads in your area to get a general idea of what full setups go for and try that route. Can also post details here and someone might be able to give a vague idea. Whether to sell it as a complete setup or part it out largely depends on the type of equipment/livestock in there and how much work you want to put in. Generally speaking if it is low end or older equipment I dont think it is worth the effort to part it out. If there is a lot of high end modern equipment then I agree you can make a lot more money by parting it out. I am guessing that is not the case though on a tank setup since 2001 and your description of a few soft corals and some fish.

The other option is if you have saltwater LFS in your area they may be interested in buying it just for the established live rock/livestock and then some do sell used tanks/equip.

 

[Spieg]

Really hard to sell a complete setup. I'd try to sell the fish, coral and rock. Depending on how old the hardware is, it may not be worth much.

 

[Grumblez]

If you have any local fish stores nearby check with them they would probably be willing to buy the corals and fish. Any pictures of this 20 year old tank for prosperity?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Ive sold two complete setups

 

[MiddleGAreeftank]

Thanks for everyone's responses. I know the chiller is still modern and worth about $1000 new and the skimmer was really high end. I'll try to sell it complete for a month or two more and then move on to parting it out. It would be a great deal for someone looking to get into it all. My dad's priced everything about 25% of what it was new.

 

[MiddleGAreeftank]

Here's the list he made of what it is.


150 Gallon tank 72” x 28” x 18”

5 through hulls on the bottom

72”x18” glass top

Bottom grid

29 Gallon Sump tank underneath

Large Protein Skimmer

Custom Cherry Aquarium Cabinet with matching top

8 lights mounted in hinged top

2 sets of double doors for access underneath

JBJ Arctica Titanium Chiller DBA-150 1/5HP

2 Mag Drive Booster Pumps

Over 200lbs of live rock

Over 150lbs of live sand

Mushrooms and plants

 

[MiddleGAreeftank]

Here's the pictures I have for you guys. The tanks been through it's ups and downs haha. We had 2 convict blennies that grew way over a foot long and decimated all the fish and my dad hasn't bought more in a while. I've posted on craigslist and a reddit buy sell page. I'll post a bunch of stuff here once I'm able to make sale posts. We've had tons of aquariums though the years including multiple salt tanks and a 90 gallon amazon tank. I really loved looking at it as a kid and think my kids would get the same enjoyment, but I have so many other hobbies already and looking at fish prices these days is a rush.

 

[Devaji]

that is a nice stand and tank I bit old on the glass tho. but some one will want it even if just for the stand /canopy.

the LR and corals are not worth a ton most ppl would bleach it down.

here is what I would do try to list it on FB/crags list for a week or so as a complete pkg. if no takers then break it down list the fish corals rock 1st then the hardware.

good luck!

or you could just give away the livestock and keep the tank as a Fresh water setup then dont take a ton of work.

 

[MaxTremors]

Here's the pictures I have for you guys. The tanks been through it's ups and downs haha. We had 2 convict blennies that grew way over a foot long and decimated all the fish and my dad hasn't bought more in a while. I've posted on craigslist and a reddit buy sell page. I'll post a bunch of stuff here once I'm able to make sale posts. We've had tons of aquariums though the years including multiple salt tanks and a 90 gallon amazon tank. I really loved looking at it as a kid and think my kids would get the same enjoyment, but I have so many other hobbies already and looking at fish prices these days is a rush.

Unfortunately, and it’s not what you want to hear, I don’t think the tank and hardware is worth much if anything. The tank is old and would need to be resealed. The lighting is outdated (I’m guessing VHO?). If the stand and hood is in good condition it might be sellable. The chiller is definitely sellable. Can’t see enough of the skimmer to comment on it. The livestock is a tough one. Obviously the fish are sellable, but the live rock is covered in caulerpa, which most people don’t want in their display tanks (and it can be very difficult to get rid of), the mushrooms aren’t really worth selling individually, and not many people want a tank full of them (and again, hard to get rid of them). I would maybe try to sell the livestock, give away what you can’t sell, and then try to sell the chiller and skimmer (clean it out as best you can), and then give the tank and hardware away to someone just starting out in the hobby.

 

[Cell]

Gorgeous stand though.

 

[Rmckoy]

Unfortunately, and it’s not what you want to hear, I don’t think the tank and hardware is worth much if anything. The tank is old and would need to be resealed. The lighting is outdated (I’m guessing VHO?). If the stand and hood is in good condition it might be sellable. The chiller is definitely sellable. Can’t see enough of the skimmer to comment on it. The livestock is a tough one. Obviously the fish are sellable, but the live rock is covered in caulerpa, which most people don’t want in their display tanks (and it can be very difficult to get rid of), the mushrooms aren’t really worth selling individually, and not many people want a tank full of them (and again, hard to get rid of them). I would maybe try to sell the livestock, give away what you can’t sell, and then try to sell the chiller and skimmer (clean it out as best you can), and then give the tank and hardware away to someone just starting out in the hobby.

A 20 year old tank for someone starting in the hobby could be taken the wrong way .
someone new filling it thinking it’s as good as brand new and all of a sudden the corners give out or

There is a market for everything . The factor is how long are you willing to hold it to sell or are you willing to be low balled

realistically no one person will enjoy everything stocked inside each other’s tank .
some are good . Others could be a deal breaker

for me the rocks covered in mushrooms …. I’m out .
My first rocks came like that and was next to impossible to irradiate even 50%

 

[Cell]

A quick google search has me believing 78"x28" is a relatively standard size. This means you might be able to sell the stand for a pretty penny with or without the tank. I'd probably try to sell the stand and offer the tank for free if the buyer wants it.

 

[Dolphins18]

you could likely sell the whole setup for 500-600 dollars fairly quickly if you just don't want to deal with it.

 

[Big Smelly fish]

I brought complete setups before , but pretty cheap is the only way. I agree with most on here. Thank age will play a big part. As far as the rock it’s been neglected for sometime.

 

[a88ie100]

I'm buying my parents house and my dad has a 150 gallon reef tank that's been set up since 2001. Although I enjoy the tank, I don't have time to take care of it. Anyone have tips for getting it sold? It's still up and running with live sand, rock, some soft corals, and a few fish. We'd like to sell it all together if possible.

I’ve just sold a complete set up and all equipment