Major Reefing Scores!! I got this for $600!!!

[destro]

Purchased a 100 gpd RODI. Got to location for pickup and was told it was sold to another customer by mistake.

They gave me a 200 gpd instead at no extra charge. Score!

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

Aptasia AND flat worms on a piece of coral from craigslist!!

#winning!!

 

[knowen87]

I do this every couple of years. I find someone who has quality gear but needs to get out of the hobby fast. I will buy the whole thing from them and keep what I want and sell the rest. They win because they don't have to sell everything individual and I usually get a killer deal. That is how I get some of the equipment that I have. I got all 4 of my mp40s that way and my current apex and lights. I once bought 11 tanks from a breeder and for $300 and made $1100 selling them individually on craigslist. I also once bought an entire setup and took half of all the colonies and sold the setup to someone else for the same price I paid. I once bought 3 H380's for $500 and sold two of them for $250 each and kept the last one. The largest one I did was this summer. I bought a 230 gallon tank and after all was said and done I made $1000 from selling supplies while keeping 2x mp40's, a $450 UV sterilizer, return pump, acrylic sump, Purple tang, leopard wrasse, and several corals including the 2 shown below. That one was the most stressful deals to date even though it was one of the best returns I have ever had. I don't think Id do the 230 again.

 

[Oliver d]

Lets see a 3 90 gallon bow front tanks 1 55 gallon sump 2 300 watt heaters a few small wave makers and some power heads .A 6000 l/h return pump and a Red Sea Prizm skimmer. 2 chillers for 200 gallon tanks the chiller units I kept the rest I passed on to others.Never scored any life stock that was really anything special.

 

[AZMSGT]

I’ve got to much crap in my garage already.. Nope, not looking for deals.

 

[3lusive]

I recently purchased a ConeS CO-3 for $25 . Previous owner stated the pump was dead, but when I brought it home, it works just fine.

 

[Peace River]

Once people know you’re the “fish guy” then tanks and equipment have a way of migrating to you. Over the years some of the stuff that has been given to me include a 150g, 120g, 75g, several 55g (see my build thread for one of these), and some 30s/20s/10s/5s/1s, plus a wide variety of equipment. Some stuff I have kept and a lot I have clean/repaired and passed along to other individuals, classrooms, and a nature center.

 

[EmilyXLC]

Luckily for me, working in the biz generally comes with some great gifts-- most recently, my FULL Marine 70.3 setup. All of my aquariums have been provided by my employer. : )

 

[EditOne]

I bought a brand new Nyos Quantum 160 protein skimmer for $200 from a guy who decided to upgrade his tank before he set it up and when I met with him he said he would throw in a Nyos Torq 1.0 media reactor with base, a Vectra S2 return pump and an XP Aqua Duetto ATO, for an additional $100. So of course I didn't hesitate and I scored over $1,200 worth of brand new equipment for $300!!

 

[G_Lows]

The best score I’ve ever had was a cadlights 50g cube with stand. Up and running cycled for 7 months with nothing In it but 2 clowns. Came with an xr30 and all the sump stuff for $300

 

[Mical]

The best deal I ever rec'd was a sump off Amazon. The sump came and when I water tested it, the bulkhead was leaking. Contacted Amazon, they sent another and told me to keep the first one. Went to HD and got new bulkhead fitting $3.00 - both 20 gal sumps work like a charm...

 

[Braves Fan]

I never look for deals ,, I buy from only the best vendors when I am buying corals ,, I only buy new equipment when I need something ,, that usually comes from BRS ,, buying second hand equipment pretty much always comes back to bite me ,, corals from lesser vendors pretty much are pest infested ,,

If I want a deal ,, I will go to the grocery store on Tuesday when its ,, buy one ,, get one day

 

[jda]

There were all kinds of scores in 2008 after the last economic downturn... if you had cash. There will be again someday, but it will be a sad day. I got a black tang for $50 and got a free Aussie Tusk with it... but I had a tank with room and some cash.

Currently, I like to score used MH stuff, calcium reactors and especially people who sell LifeReef skimmers since they read somewhere online that Venturi is old tech.

 

[Dbichler]

Bought my 210 stand canopy sump 150 lbs live rock. 2 eheim return pumps. Cheap led lights. Seaside aquatics skimmer. 2 mp40s and another cheap powerhead for $800. Only catch was I had to drive to Chicago from North of milwaukee during a blizzard to get that deal. Wanted it gone that day. Now on the search for some better leds.

 

[Shufflepig]

Got my 120 gallon drilled tank, custom made oak stand and canopy that matched woodwork in my house perfectly, return pump, 2 mp 40’s, 30 gallon sump, protein skimmer, heater, all plumbing, cheap fluvall led light, 80lbs live rock, 2 clownfish and a clown trigger(since regimes) all for $600. Saw the deal and got me back into the hobby after 20 years.

 

[Stevel]

I had a pretty good year picked up four Hydra WiFi LED lights plus controller and one nice Iwaki return pump all for $200

 

[Beefyreefy]

I bought this reef ready 125 gallon tank and cabinet for $225! It came with a hood too but I ended up building my own hood to suit my needs. The guy I bought it from actually propagates and sells coral out of his house and was about to move so I jumped on it! I can’t imagine moving is basement propagation setup and livestock to a new place. I’ll post a pic of his basement to give you an idea of what he had to move, plus several display tanks not pictured... yikes!

 

[JoeJoesonoma]

Almost about a year ago my wife showed me this ad on craigslist that someone seen a 60 gallon aquarium in the dumpster behind the Petco by my house...I was really interested but it was 12am and it was -5 deg out. (That didnt stop me). I had no intention keeping the 60 gallon for myself....but if it was in great shape...clean it and sell it. As I was pulling up behind the Petco I noticed it looked alot bigger than a 60 gallon. It was a 120 gallon 5'x18"×26"!!!. This was the exact dimensions I was looking for!! ( Since I was tired of looking at my 55 gallon)
I jumped out my truck and used all energy I had to pull this beast out of the dumpster.
Long story short......180 lb tank...had jello arms getting it out. And fit perfectly in my truck with just enough room. Good times.

 

[EastCoastScaping]

I got a really nice looking croc island scoly that was light blue with red and green specs and was really healthy for $130 along with a button scoly for $15 where as if seen similar ones for $75-90 online

 

[Sidius]

My latest "best" score was a 110 gallon 60"x18"x24" tank on a local classified forum. I got the tank and stand for $150 and the seller threw in a free 50 gallon long tank for free that they didn't want anymore. I turned around and sold the 50g tank and 110 gallon stand separately for a total of $220. I only wanted the 60" tank anway and made a $70 profit for my troubles!!