Can I have your opinion on this setup?

ziora · Oct 25, 2015

This is 1 and 1/2 years old. It will also include a 30 gallon rimless frag tank with stand, sump, return pump, power head, power strip, and heater. The price is $4500. I haven't seen it yet, but the pics are beautiful.

120 gallon rimless tank made by glass cages.
40 gallon rimless sump made by glass cages
Custom built stand (celipe wood) with granite top. The stand is sealed so it won't leak out the bottom.
2 Eco Tech Radion Gen 3 Pros
2 MP40 powerheads
1 Eco tech battery backups
1 Eco tech reef link controller
1 MP10 powerhead
1 Kessil A150 Ocean blue
1 Reef Octopus PS-2000 Int
1 automatic neck cleaner
1 reef octopus protein skimmer overflow container
1 Eheim 1260? Return pump
1 apex controller with three power strips and extra modules for temp, ph, water sensors, temp sensor, ground probe, and salinity probe that isn't very accurate.
3 dosing pumps
Separate tank for ATO, calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium.
2 titanium heaters with manual limiter
Approximately 40 pounds of black sand and 150 pounds of coralline encrusted rock.

I have two cans and pumps that go with the tank as well. One is for saltwater and the other is for fresh water.

melypr1985 · Oct 25, 2015

Sounds like a top notch set up. What its worth? I can't say, but everything there is top of the line stuff

ziora · Oct 25, 2015

Thank you! I'm going to look at it next weekend and I don't want to lowball him.

melypr1985 · Oct 25, 2015

Make sure to look closely at the livestock inside the tank. Look for excessive algae, pests, sick/injured fish, unhealthy corals that are dying or poorly colored. If you see any of these things make sure to ask what happened and dont pay top dollar for a tank that you'll have to put money, time and effort into fixing. Inspect the equipment for damage, excessive salt creep, rust, damaged wiring ect. Ask him about his maintenance schedual also.

ziora · Oct 25, 2015

It's too late to ask him questions tonight, but I think he sold most of his fish. He is moving and giving up the hobby after only 3 years. Maybe I should bring someone along with me who knows the right questions to ask. I would rather pay for someone to come than make an expensive mistake. Thank you so much for your advice.

melypr1985 · Oct 25, 2015

Any time. If you have a local club or a group on facebook of local reefers, you could ask any of them to come with you. I bet at least one will do it for free.

Broadfield · Oct 25, 2015

If it helps at all, when I sell used marine stuff, I usually ask roughly 50-60% of what it was new. This is for equipment that is in perfect condition and typically about the same age as what his is. I always clean it up really nice so it looks virtually new. I also include free shipping in that price. So simply look up all of the equipment on BRS, Marine Depot etc and see what it was new. The tank, sump etc you will need to do a little research on price. This method will at least give you a nice starting point on price. I also discount a little if someone is buying an entire setup like this. He could make more if he parted it all out, but it's easier for him if he sells it all to one person... so he should be discounting the setup for that reason. Can you post pictures of it all!?!

ziora · Oct 25, 2015

Thanks Broadfield. He says it was a 10k investment.

ziora · Oct 25, 2015

ziora said:
Thanks Broadfield. He says it was a 10k investment.

The tank is 500 lbs so shipping is probably not likely.

Broadfield · Oct 25, 2015

ziora said:
The tank is 500 lbs so shipping is probably not likely.

I was just implying that when I price my stuff, I include free shipping. I knew that you would be picking it up, so he does not need to worry about packaging, shipping costs etc... thus should give you a better price than if he had to ship it all. I'm not saying that the price isn't fair, he may have already factored in the bulk discount, not needing to ship the stuff etc. Time is money... so the less time he has into selling this stuff, the less money he's probably willing to accept for all of it.

ziora · Oct 26, 2015

Broadfield said:
I was just implying that when I price my stuff, I include free shipping. I knew that you would be picking it up, so he does not need to worry about packaging, shipping costs etc... thus should give you a better price than if he had to ship it all. I'm not saying that the price isn't fair, he may have already factored in the bulk discount, not needing to ship the stuff etc. Time is money... so the less time he has into selling this stuff, the less money he's probably willing to accept for all of it.

Terribly sorry if I came across as snide

I really appreciate the input!

Broadfield · Oct 26, 2015

ziora said:
Terribly sorry if I came across as snide I really appreciate the input!

Oh gosh no, not at all. I just wanted to make sure you knew how I was factoring a "fair" asking price for both parties. I would love to see images if you have them?

Mike in CT · Oct 26, 2015

Just from observing whole setup sales I have seen locally.
People have been having a hard time selling them and they have been going unsold even and steep discounts. I don't think the equipment that went along with the set ups was as high end as the one your looking at, but I would say they were not asking 50% of new and it still was not selling.

Mike in CT · Oct 26, 2015

Just from observing whole setup sales I have seen locally.
People have been having a hard time selling them and they have been going unsold even and steep discounts. I don't think the equipment that went along with the set ups was as high end as the one your looking at, but I would say they were not asking 50% of new and it still was not selling.

Pete polyp · Oct 26, 2015

I would buy it and sell the ecotech stuff and have a nice start for 3k

ziora · Oct 26, 2015

I have some images on my phone but came down with a little flu type thing today. I will post the images tomorrow. I don't know what I am really looking at with the cabinet doors open. Thank you for your help!

ReeferBob · Oct 27, 2015

Price is somewhat high. I doubt he will find anyone willing to buy it all at once and will end up parting it out. I'd offer maybe $3000 for it all. Like someone else said, 50% of new price is about it (and even that is high for many things). That isn't the same for everything though, some things, like the Apex and Echotech stuff will sell for a lot more than 50% - perhaps as much as 80% of new. So just the echotech and Apex stuff he might get $1500+. He is better off parting it out but if he is willing to make a package deal for you, you could come out ahead. Put on your negotiating hat.

Pete polyp · Oct 27, 2015

2 gen 3, 2 mp40, 1 mp10, reeflink, battery backup, kessil a 150 and an apex.... that would sell in seconds for $1500

ziora · Oct 27, 2015

ReeferBob said:
Price is somewhat high. I doubt he will find anyone willing to buy it all at once and will end up parting it out. I'd offer maybe $3000 for it all. Like someone else said, 50% of new price is about it (and even that is high for many things). That isn't the same for everything though, some things, like the Apex and Echotech stuff will sell for a lot more than 50% - perhaps as much as 80% of new. So just the echotech and Apex stuff he might get $1500+. He is better off parting it out but if he is willing to make a package deal for you, you could come out ahead. Put on your negotiating hat.

With furniture I generally think about 1/3 if it is in excellent condition. This is all new to me, but it really seems to be that way with this type of equipment as well.