Livestock Opportunity

[unbeatablebonz]

I am very fortunate to have a local wholesaler less than 15 minutes from my home. Today, while asking a million questions, he made me an offer. Everything he stocked his display Nano (24) delivered to my home, set up in my Red Sea Max. As my set up is not yet cycled, he will bring all the water & all filter media that is presently in this set up. Bottom line of $1500 (obviously not including the tank). In everyone's experience, IS THIS A GOOD IDEA? There are two set ups to choose from, so I took pictures of both. Also, there is one pic from a 12 gallon that is not inclued. I am new to forums in general so I do not know how to link you to the photos. I uploaded a bunch into my gallery & attached one of each set up to this post. I know this will take a lot of the fun out of the process, but it seems way to good to pass up. PLEASE take a look. Any suggestion or advise is very appreciated!

 

Mike

[Elite Twit]

Just looking at those first two pics, $1500 is definitely NOT worth it. Both tanks have common morphs of easy to keep LPS and softies, of which you can easily get a frag of each for under 500 total if you got every one of the corals. In my opinion that also takes the fun out of it. There's no searching for that perfect coral for that spot you've been saving.

 

You said your tank isn't cycled yet, and the fact you joined yesterday tells me you are new to the hobby. Spending that much right up front for things you are going to have to learn likes and dislikes of, and how to read a corals health spells disaster. I'd say start slow like everyone else and learn along the way, or it's going to be a quick $1500 lesson in the world of nanos.

[unbeatablebonz]

Just looking at those first two pics, $1500 is definitely NOT worth it. Both tanks have common morphs of easy to keep LPS and softies, of which you can easily get a frag of each for under 500 total if you got every one of the corals. In my opinion that also takes the fun out of it. There's no searching for that perfect coral for that spot you've been saving.

 

You said your tank isn't cycled yet, and the fact you joined yesterday tells me you are new to the hobby. Spending that much right up front for things you are going to have to learn likes and dislikes of, and how to read a corals health spells disaster. I'd say start slow like everyone else and learn along the way, or it's going to be a quick $1500 lesson in the world of nanos.

Thanks for the great advise!

[veshman]

I also agree that it's not a great deal

 

Something to keep in mind in the future though is that your tank won't need to cycle unless you're adding new LS or LR (water doesn't cycle), so if you're just transferring everything from his setup to yours, you don't have to worry about cycling dieoff

[AZINDY]

We just started our nano tank (our first SW tank, had FW tanks for over 20yrs) at the begining of the year and so far it has been a good time, thanks to the great info on this forum. To me half the fun of having the tank is waiting for it to cycle then adding everything else. We enjoy going to the LFS every weekend and picking up a new coral or 2. Adding everything at once would just take to much of the fun out of bulding your own tank IMHO. Plus like the others have said that price seems alittle high for the corals you would get. Take your time and enjoy building your tank with the corals & fish that you pick out yourself, you'll be happier with the end result. Besides if you spend that much money in the begining and your tank crashes, it will probably turn you away from the hobby.

 

The most important thing I have learned is to take your time and enjoy building your reef tank.

 

Good luck and have fun.

[unbeatablebonz]

We just started our nano tank (our first SW tank, had FW tanks for over 20yrs) at the begining of the year and so far it has been a good time, thanks to the great info on this forum. To me half the fun of having the tank is waiting for it to cycle then adding everything else. We enjoy going to the LFS every weekend and picking up a new coral or 2. Adding everything at once would just take to much of the fun out of bulding your own tank IMHO. Plus like the others have said that price seems alittle high for the corals you would get. Take your time and enjoy building your tank with the corals & fish that you pick out yourself, you'll be happier with the end result. Besides if you spend that much money in the begining and your tank crashes, it will probably turn you away from the hobby.

 

The most important thing I have learned is to take your time and enjoy building your reef tank.

 

Good luck and have fun.

 

That's exactly what I am going to do!!! Thanks

[Sexy Shrimp]

You have made the right decision! My favourite time of tank building is the cycle. Finding out what you have got for "free" as hitchhikers and rearranging everything until you aquascape is just right (which you wont be able to do with loads of corals in there). Sit back and enjoy watching your mini critters during your cycle. And don't forget your torch after lights out!

 

You're going to love it and be hooked like us!

 

EDIT - its best to buy small corals that can grow into your tank rather than large ones that will look out of place in a few months - which is what those are. I bet the LFS is stripping it down as the corals are starting to look too big for the tank

 

Also try local reefers if you want smaller frags of corals - that way you can have a great variety of corals rather than just a few larger sized ones from the LFS

[unbeatablebonz]

You have made the right decision! My favourite time of tank building is the cycle. Finding out what you have got for "free" as hitchhikers and rearranging everything until you aquascape is just right (which you wont be able to do with loads of corals in there). Sit back and enjoy watching your mini critters during your cycle. And don't forget your torch after lights out!

 

You're going to love it and be hooked like us!

 

EDIT - its best to buy small corals that can grow into your tank rather than large ones that will look out of place in a few months - which is what those are. I bet the LFS is stripping it down as the corals are starting to look too big for the tank

 

Also try local reefers if you want smaller frags of corals - that way you can have a great variety of corals rather than just a few larger sized ones from the LFS

Thanks! This is the exact reason I joined this site/forum. I am definately not purchasing that set up! Great advice from all!

[singmealullaby]

i'm really glad you didn't take that deal, to me it seems like it's not even close to being worth $1500 of coral. I wouldn't trust that person ever again for offering a deal like that . Sure some pieces have large colonies but the color morphs really nothing special. well, good luck with your tank, i'm sure you can have a better result picking out your own corals.

[Pship]

That is pretty bad that a wholesaler is asking $1500 for that crap... granted the pic on the left has a lot of brains in it I wouldnt hand over $1500 for the contents of BOTH of those tanks. Good job on coming here for info first, we may have talked you out of a huge mistake. If you are looking for specific corals check out our sponsors they have a ton of very nice stuff and at much, MUCH better prices.

[AcroporaLokani]

whats the name of the wholesalers company? Both the tanks are beautiful but im not sure worth $1500 the coco tube worms look well establishes though....