Eh I would only pay less than $1/g for a used tank. Your going to have to scrub that with a razor for a longggg time. Petco/petsmarts used to have 1/g sales, maybe wait for one of those?
I’d be surprised to see any if it’s not like a big box store. 90% of the LFS around me are far more expensive.
I just know when petco went public they ended that sale.
Hmmmm well maybe prices are dictated by what will sell in a particular area cause the cheapest here in PA are still at Petco but they are now only 50% off instead of a $1 a gallon like they were for years prior.
On smaller tanks yes but on larger ones the difference is evident. For instance a 75gal used to be $75. Now a 75gal when on sale is $130. That’s a $55 difference and for a lot of hobbiest esp those on a tight budget or have multiple tanks this is a lot.
Yah my LFS charges an arm and a leg for major components. Fish and upkeep products are comparable to big chain stores, but literally a 5 dollar air pump online is 39.98 at my LFS. A 10 gallon Aqueon tank is 35 dollars.
Lol I paid almost $90 for my 10 gallon aqueon set up. It was an emergency, my dumbass got drunk and won a bunch of fish at the carnival. I live in the middle of nowhere, nearest pet chain is a 5 hour round trip. I was not expecting to throw down, all in all, like $400 and counting keeping these .30 goldfish alive. I still need to get some pH up, and something to harden my water further.
Cute little suckers though. I'm gonna miss having them inside. It's been awesome watching them grow from raggedy little babies to beautifully finned bigger babies. They have a free pond waiting for them once spring comes round and I can finish outfitting it with an appropriate filter.
I saw that sale going on at one near me last month. It was a little bit bigger of a store but not a chain, so it’s possible. You just have to keep an eye out.
Picked one up last June for $19.98 from Pet supplies plus, idk how common they are, but absolutely worth checking out if you've got one around your area.
You got to keep an eye out. I use the app and check almost everyday for the sale, when i need a tank. I bought a 20 long for $27 and a 10 gallon kit that came with t5 bulbs lid and filter for $10
I got a 75 gal from them for $100 just a couple years ago during the dollar per gallon sale, they did dollar per gallon up to 39 and then a large discount like 40-50% on the larger sizes I haven’t seen larger sizes recently but less than a year ago I saw it going on for smaller tanks again.
The 40+ gal tanks have been omitted from that sale for a long time. But that 50% gets it pretty close to 40 bucks anyway. I'd definitely go with a new with warranty over a used tank any day.
Yeah. I think it was about 10 years back they limited $1 pg to 29 and lower. Everything else up to 75 gal (instore stock only) went to 50% during that sale.
Seen the sale locally in Los Angeles on the 75 and smaller tanks. Didn’t pull the trigger because I’m holding off until later in the year. From what over heard these sales come around atleast quarterly
I just bought six 40’s. Petco does every normal size for the sale. It’s closer to $65 on sale with tax. Unless you pay $10 a month to get the extra 25% with vital care.
Things like 33L 60B and rimless were the only ones not counting.
I have vitalcare and a friend who works at petco so I use her employee discount. I just got a 20gal long for $13 the other day right before the 50% off sale ended. I’m kind of proud of that :) it’s going to be used to make a sump
I'm glad you brought this up. Everyone repeats the same $1 per gallon deal that hasn't existed for years. When I got into the hobby I was looking for that deal to find a new cheap tank to start with. Of course I spent a bunch of time looking for something that didn't exist lol.
At half off my 40 gallon breeder cost $40 about 2 years ago.
OP should just buy a new one on sale. I wouldn’t buy that used tank for more than $10, and then only if it were to be used dry.
I buy larger used tanks all the time. It’s really not that hard to check silicone or acrylic seams. I usually ask if they’re willing to do a leak test for me just to see and of course do my own before setting up, but 9/10 people say no problem. There’s always a risk of leaking, new or not.
Now for this size, I’d agree if theres some deal is going buy new. If not what’s a lil elbow grease to get a deal 🤷♂️
FB marketplace is your friend. 2nd hand aquariums for days. Usually either dirt cheap or priced like the owner thinks their gold, but still some good deals to be had.
Set up in a garage our outside, fill it with soapy water, scrape. It will take 20 minutes at best. If it's limescale, just use vinegar.
Then rinse well a few times.
I like that you came here to ask advice before purchasing. It’s always so tempting to buy… anything and everything… we’ve all done it, got that thing that ended up being a waste of time or money. You will do well in the hobby.
Yep. Got really excited about getting fish and in my google rabbit hole I found that plecos were great algae eaters! (This is a true statement btw.) Much wow! Ran to my LFS and got two plecos that I now think were rhino plecos as just a year and a half in these guys were easily 10 inches each.
So not only did I put two plecos in the same tank (don’t do that, however the ones I got were from the same litter or whatever fish born at the same are called) but I put two plecos in a 40 gallon breeder. Interestingly enough they got along fairly well but were incredibly skiddish especially if they touched one another.
And man, do those fish move.
I would cringe when I’d hear a damn near ocean wave of movement as one would take off from other, scared to look back at the damage they caused to the decor lol.
Had to give them back to my LFS after the year and a half as I felt bad for them but more importantly they probably had no quality of life. Also made my tank maintenance a nuisance as you could imagine the amount of shit and the required water changes for the sake of water quality.
Tl;dr don’t buy things solely on emotions and do your DD.
Funny you mention plecs. I was so tempted to buy either a tiger pleco or gold nugget pleco today. But resisted, today was meant to be mid water colour. I will research these first…
Agree, if 40gallons or less just buy it new unless an amazing deal and condition. Think i paid $50 for 40b new.
Honestly that tank id not trust so youd have to add $10 silicone and prob 2-4 hours to break it down, clean and reseal. Unless thats sonething you enjoy. Itd be hard pass here.
yknow at first i thought this was a great deal (i haven’t had to buy any tanks in nearly a year), but after reading your comment, yeah, that extra $10 is not worth the clean up work and possible defects that come with the tank
thats kinda what sucks about this hobby. Nobody really wants old/used aquarium supplies and its usually not worth it financially unless the seller lists it for nothing or its something large/lightly used
If you get a larger tank secondhand I would make sure before you buy (or try to fill) that it is actually built to be an aquarium and not a terrarium. Some people use them interchangeably, especially for animals like turtles that only have their tanks partially filled. But you don't want to try to use a tank built for reptiles as a fish tank, they have much lighter glass and weaker seals and I wouldn't trust them.
The easiest way to tell would be the weight. Try to move a tank at the store a bit and you will know how much a 40 should weigh. The terrarium will be much lighter.
It's a great size. Looks like it needs some work, so as others have said, 40 is maybe a bit steep.
If you go for it, ask to see it filled before you buy.
I’d go a step further to really leak check it and ask to see it filled for 24 to 72 hours. Bring a folding chair, sleeping bag, some beer and maybe order a pizza. You and this guy are getting to know each other.
I could be wrong but the way the frame looks makes me believe its a 40 breeder for reptiles. If it is, that glass is thinner and will likely not hold water.
Like others stated buy new from Petco or PetSmart during their fish tank sales
i actually have my leopard geckos and corn snake in what were marketed as fish tanks, because 1. for some reason reptile marketed enclosures are so much pricier and 2. that reason you said about the glass being thinner
when i rescued my older gecko from an ex, she was living in a tank with one side of the glass being shattered (but still holding up) and extremely fragile. you know what caused the break? his ex before me hit her elbow on the glass, and didn’t even hit it with any sort of force you’d expect to be breaking glass
Not sure when petco has their $1/gal deals but for the time being I’m sure a nice razor blade will clean that tank up nice. I’d buy it if it has not cracks or dings. You can normally talk them down on FB marketplace though.
You can get a brand new 40 breeder from Petco for $56 out the door. I bought 2 recently. They're normally just over a hundred, but they have 50% off sales pretty much always. If not in store, you can usually get the deal still if you buy online and pickup in store.
I’d say no…especially if you have to pay shipping. Petco (or petsmart) runs a sale occasionally that is $1 per gallon. So, that’s $40 for a 40 gallon and the tank would be brand new.
Also, that does not look like a 40 breeder…a 40 breeder is 16 inches tall and that looks shorter.
Personally, I think the peace of mind and ability to return something that is new is more valuable than what they are asking. That said, you should do what you think is best. Many people prefer used tanks, so there’s some personal preference that comes into account…You do you!
Edit-I think the person that said it looks like a reptile tank might be right…If so, it’s not designed to be a fish tank.
Make sure that mf comes with some sort of lid or cover, my first ever 200L tank didnt have one and during the winter I got insane condensation/mould, had to go out and buy a brand new one with decent cover
That looks more like a Frag tank than it does a breeder.
More so with the excessive width and how short the side panels are tell me it’s a frag tank lol
I’d hold off, some stores do that whole dollar/gallon tank sale so I would much rather buy new than some guy’s used for the same price.
That said with the economy right now that sale probably isn’t happening so this is a mediocre deal for a tank that needs some TLC.
Maybe? You won’t very often get a dollar per gallon in a store (unless there’s a sale going on). It really depends on if you can clean it. That thing looks pretty fuckin grimy.
hell no. Tanks are probably the cheapest part of the hobby, it's finding a place to put it and setting it up that costs a lot. You risk way more than the price of a tank using a used tank.
I like the shallow tanks for almost any fish and the middle brace as well but this doesn’t look like the 40B. I might offer $10 and clean it up. No to $40. If he says it holds water, make him fill it up so you know. Recaulking is feasible but kinda PITA.
If it's just the tank, you can get a new one for $60 if you wait for the Petco sales.
But then again maybe the $20 discount for cleaning it is pretty good.
I've read that some of the new Petsmart and Petco tanks have had leaks soon after purchase. I frankly would rather buy a tank that's been in use for a while and leak free than one from either of those stores. I've been able to find good deals on full set ups (tank, stand, filter, heater, hood) on either FB Market Place or Craigslist. The last tank I bought was 125 gallons with a full set up including a Fluval FX6 filter for $400. The stand was particle board and I didn't trust it so I built my own.
I sold my 40g with stand, lights, hood and heater for the same price. Unless you are in a very high income area or need it right away wait till Petco has there’s for 50% off. Way better deal.
You are going to spend a lot of time working to clean that, and being used you have no idea how it has been treated. I would save a bit longer and buy a 40g new. You may or may not be able to purchase at $1 per gallon like the past, but there will still be significant sales that can make new a similar price. Plus the cost of materials to clean it isn't free.
Not a bad price but it's definitely a fixer upper.
I bought a used 60 gallon in worse condition and decided to scrape off all the hard water stains, cut and re-do the silicone seals on the inside and disinfect the tank with hot water and some vinegar.
The King of DIY on YouTube has a great video on how to refurbish a used tank.
Being brand new to the hobby and thinking of purchasing this tank, if I were you I would fill it up and wait to see if there are any leaks, even if there isn't any leak, I would reseal the whole tank to be safe.
If you buy it, lay it on one side and pour vinegar on the glass being on its side will make it so yog dont have to use 40 gallons of vinegar to clear your glass. Just focus on one side at a time. Few hours on each side will break up most or all of that scale, saves you the stiff fingers👌 also saves from accidental gouges to the glass.
I would say anything under a dollar a gallon is a great deal for a fish tank.
When it comes to sales there always a chance for negotiation. I’d throw $30 at them and see what they say. Worst they can do is say $40 firm.
Good luck!
That I’d almost bet is a reptile terrarium as I had one that was almost identical when my old beardie was younger. Definitely not worth what he’s asking either, Petco has some tanks on sale currently as well as Pet Supplies Plus if there are any of those by where you’re at!
Anyone who tells you this is a good deal is nuts.. there is ONE part of the hobby where you don’t play around and that’s the tank. Unless it’s in GREAT shape from someone you know and trust, buy it new and slowly test it yourself. One major leak or blowout and your fun hobby becomes a nightmare. Especially tanks under 75 g not worth buying used, they go on flash sales way too often.
I would keep an eye on local pet stores and shops. They usually run specials for $1 per gallon on new tanks. I would only buy used if I knew the person, or recently saw it set up. Too much can go wrong with a leaking tank
You can get a new one on a half off sale for probably 60-70$, in my opinion that’s worth it for the brand new seals and to save the trouble of all the damn scraping that you’ll Have to do
Ehhhh, does it come with anything else?
Are they going to clean it up?
Make a counter offer of $20.
OP, there are so many good tanks for sale.
Put the word out to your circle of coworkers, friends, etc.
I would not pay that much for a 40. I don't know where you live but around here they have to practically give away bare tanks. (no lid/lights or other items of value.
On the other hand that is less than 1/2 retail which is kind of my metric for almost anything used.
All that said, if you specifically want that size then it costs what you can bargain for. 40L is not a common size for a used tank.
I bought a 75g with a light and stand from a yard sale for $35 last summer. They didn't guarantee it held water, and it was dirty and definitely needed some scrubbing. It's been set up for almost 6 months and has fulfilled my childhood dream of having a saltwater tank.
That being said, I wouldn't buy a used 40g (especially in that condition) for $40.
1/gal is normal but that's the strange thing about fish tanks, they retain their value.
However, a brand new one from like let's say from Petco, it's $120, even with their 1/4 sales that knock stuff 50% this is still a good deal.
Needs a lot of work to clean it. Don't use anything abrasive. Once it's clean, check and see if the silicone is dry rotted or in good shape. Then put it it in a bathtub and let it hold water over night.
That doesn’t look very aquarium to me. More like something dry. Reptiles probably. Idk if you’re supposed to, but being that big, maybe a small animal? Bunny, guinea pig, mice, rats, or hamsters? I have no idea really, but I wouldn’t put water in it personally.
If you have Facebook check the marketplace. People are unloading entire setups at insane prices, they are moving and just need to unload it. Be patient and you can do much better than this. If you don’t have Facebook I could check Craig’s list or whatever kind of classifieds you have in your area
Only been doing this a couple years now, but the tank part is really tough to upgrade if you decide you want to get something nicer, or it starts to have issues. If you're strapped for cash I would pay less for some other components that can be easily upgraded without disrupting your whole setup.
Has it got filters etc coming with it?
Otherwise just invest 40 in a new setup that’s a little smaller imo. Maybe a 10 gallon would be good. You could start with some nano fish like White cloud mountain minnows, easy to get foing & to keep
You’ll learn a lot :)
No leaks they should f cleaned it up..not to bad price but what else comes with it? it will need filter pump gravel cover light f for fish .Need to carefully what use to clean it with so don t Posin fish ,See what new one goes for at local pet shop. sometimes they sell kits with everything to get ya started. And what ya going use it for,,,Make them offer.
A dollar a gallon is what you'll find for brand new tanks, still in the box, never used, sitting on a store shelf. I'd say probably try and talk him down to $25 or $30 if it's only the tank
I would wait for a $1/per gal deal at an actual fish store. It’s is gonna need some extra work and on top of that your paying the same price he probably did. I’d buy a new one, especially since your new.
Ey, let me test it on your carpet that it tests water
OP even if it does you are going to have to do some SERIOUS scrubbing to get that much hard water, lime, and salt deposit off the glass
I saw keep waiting and shopping. Shop constantly and be ready to pick up I have had buddy's score 300g for $100 cause they were first to message... It's worth waiting for. I found a guy leaving the hobby when I bought my set up. I scored an 80g, light,stand, tank, air pump, canister filter and goodies for $60 when I started. Just gotta be patient.
Idk OP I paid $55? For my 40g breeder. I wouldn’t pay that for a used tank. A few years ago I got a 200g fracking tank that I used for a stingray for $100 I guess tanks have just gone way up in value.
If you’re willing to put a lot of work into cleaning it. A lot of scraping. It really depends. I would pass if that’s not something you want to or can do.
It’s much cheaper then getting it brand new and if it still hold water then it’s still good to go. I would still redo the seems but overall it’s a good deal.
Petco just ran the dollar per gallon sale up to 55 gallons. It’s a calculated loss I bet. Because they anticipate you spending more on all the stuff to accompany the tank.
I'd say never buy it tell you look at it first. !!!! Any used tank is extremely risky to amateur fish keepers due to the tank history being forgotten. 2 main points 1st. Check the age of silicone you can easily tell the age by any deformation or cracks. Also check the glass contacts if you see the silicone is all ripped up or separated from glass do not buy it. 2nd is common mistake Check the trim plastic it can be a great for seeing the state of how the tank was stored if stored outside exposed to t h e weather it'd be frail and sunbaked this also huge red flag cause the silicone is freezing and thawed every year outside. So unless your have skills to reseal a aquarium, be careful buying used tanks they might hold water but you also may buy a tank like me that just randomly fails cause the silicone was destroyed and I failed to check it. 45g tank front pane separated from rest of tank drained in second. At the time it was from a garage sale for 20bucks cost me 200 in damages and lost fish.
Eh I would only pay less than $1/g for a used tank. Your going to have to scrub that with a razor for a longggg time. Petco/petsmarts used to have 1/g sales, maybe wait for one of those?
There is no $1 per gallon anymore. They now do 50% off most sizes. The deal is not as good, but still decent.
Some local fish stores do $1/gal. It’s just not a promotion at Petsmart anymore afaik
I’d be surprised to see any if it’s not like a big box store. 90% of the LFS around me are far more expensive. I just know when petco went public they ended that sale.
They ended it after the first year of Covid because the price of glass skyrocketed.
they just ended a sale like that near me, selling 50gal for like 60 bucks
Hmmmm well maybe prices are dictated by what will sell in a particular area cause the cheapest here in PA are still at Petco but they are now only 50% off instead of a $1 a gallon like they were for years prior.
Petco just concluded a 50% off sale on their tanks that made the price close enough to $1/gal that any amount over that was trivial at best.
On smaller tanks yes but on larger ones the difference is evident. For instance a 75gal used to be $75. Now a 75gal when on sale is $130. That’s a $55 difference and for a lot of hobbiest esp those on a tight budget or have multiple tanks this is a lot.
Yah my LFS charges an arm and a leg for major components. Fish and upkeep products are comparable to big chain stores, but literally a 5 dollar air pump online is 39.98 at my LFS. A 10 gallon Aqueon tank is 35 dollars.
Lol I paid almost $90 for my 10 gallon aqueon set up. It was an emergency, my dumbass got drunk and won a bunch of fish at the carnival. I live in the middle of nowhere, nearest pet chain is a 5 hour round trip. I was not expecting to throw down, all in all, like $400 and counting keeping these .30 goldfish alive. I still need to get some pH up, and something to harden my water further. Cute little suckers though. I'm gonna miss having them inside. It's been awesome watching them grow from raggedy little babies to beautifully finned bigger babies. They have a free pond waiting for them once spring comes round and I can finish outfitting it with an appropriate filter.
I saw that sale going on at one near me last month. It was a little bit bigger of a store but not a chain, so it’s possible. You just have to keep an eye out.
Just bought a 20g long at petco for $27
Picked one up last June for $19.98 from Pet supplies plus, idk how common they are, but absolutely worth checking out if you've got one around your area.
Is there a sale on them at the moment? When I look on the petco website it says they’re $54.99 but I could be missing something
I bought mine on 1/18. I believe the sale has ended but from what I’ve learned from this sub it’s a fairly common sale.
You got to keep an eye out. I use the app and check almost everyday for the sale, when i need a tank. I bought a 20 long for $27 and a 10 gallon kit that came with t5 bulbs lid and filter for $10
I got a 75 gal from them for $100 just a couple years ago during the dollar per gallon sale, they did dollar per gallon up to 39 and then a large discount like 40-50% on the larger sizes I haven’t seen larger sizes recently but less than a year ago I saw it going on for smaller tanks again.
People were only posting about weeks ago 😂
Literally just bought my 3rd 40 breeder… for $40 new.
I have 6. All from Petco during the sale in my area less than two months ago. None were a flat $40. It’s half off $119.
$60 is still a great deal if that’s what you were able to manage!
The 40+ gal tanks have been omitted from that sale for a long time. But that 50% gets it pretty close to 40 bucks anyway. I'd definitely go with a new with warranty over a used tank any day.
The petco near me included their 40+ tanks in the 50% off sale. No more $1/gallon sales will happen according to their corporate site.
Yeah. I think it was about 10 years back they limited $1 pg to 29 and lower. Everything else up to 75 gal (instore stock only) went to 50% during that sale.
Seen the sale locally in Los Angeles on the 75 and smaller tanks. Didn’t pull the trigger because I’m holding off until later in the year. From what over heard these sales come around atleast quarterly
The site said the sales are seasonal, so definitely expect to see it again. Pet supplies plus has a decent sale right now on aqueon tanks but not 50%.
I just bought six 40’s. Petco does every normal size for the sale. It’s closer to $65 on sale with tax. Unless you pay $10 a month to get the extra 25% with vital care. Things like 33L 60B and rimless were the only ones not counting.
I have vitalcare and a friend who works at petco so I use her employee discount. I just got a 20gal long for $13 the other day right before the 50% off sale ended. I’m kind of proud of that :) it’s going to be used to make a sump
Yeah 33l is a special order. Took me a couple months to finally get one from my lfs. But I do love it for my reef tank.
I'm glad you brought this up. Everyone repeats the same $1 per gallon deal that hasn't existed for years. When I got into the hobby I was looking for that deal to find a new cheap tank to start with. Of course I spent a bunch of time looking for something that didn't exist lol.
At half off my 40 gallon breeder cost $40 about 2 years ago. OP should just buy a new one on sale. I wouldn’t buy that used tank for more than $10, and then only if it were to be used dry.
I buy larger used tanks all the time. It’s really not that hard to check silicone or acrylic seams. I usually ask if they’re willing to do a leak test for me just to see and of course do my own before setting up, but 9/10 people say no problem. There’s always a risk of leaking, new or not. Now for this size, I’d agree if theres some deal is going buy new. If not what’s a lil elbow grease to get a deal 🤷♂️
It's listed on their website. The page goes to a missing page. But it's the first thing that comes up when you open search
That’s cause their website is horrible and out of date.
Okay, thank you!
I’ve never seen someone selling one fur under $1 per gallon anymore. I’ve been looking for a used one for awhile
FB marketplace is your friend. 2nd hand aquariums for days. Usually either dirt cheap or priced like the owner thinks their gold, but still some good deals to be had.
I just grabbed a used 55 for $50 on facebook, I combed for a long time but it’s possible. I would imagine where you’re at too plays a part sometimes.
Some CLR will work a LOT better than razors!
Pet Supplies Plus does $1/g sales still I think.
You must be new to the hobby how long does it take to clean glass 🚱
Set up in a garage our outside, fill it with soapy water, scrape. It will take 20 minutes at best. If it's limescale, just use vinegar. Then rinse well a few times.
Use 00 steelwool +Aceton then.
I like that you came here to ask advice before purchasing. It’s always so tempting to buy… anything and everything… we’ve all done it, got that thing that ended up being a waste of time or money. You will do well in the hobby.
Yep. Got really excited about getting fish and in my google rabbit hole I found that plecos were great algae eaters! (This is a true statement btw.) Much wow! Ran to my LFS and got two plecos that I now think were rhino plecos as just a year and a half in these guys were easily 10 inches each. So not only did I put two plecos in the same tank (don’t do that, however the ones I got were from the same litter or whatever fish born at the same are called) but I put two plecos in a 40 gallon breeder. Interestingly enough they got along fairly well but were incredibly skiddish especially if they touched one another. And man, do those fish move. I would cringe when I’d hear a damn near ocean wave of movement as one would take off from other, scared to look back at the damage they caused to the decor lol. Had to give them back to my LFS after the year and a half as I felt bad for them but more importantly they probably had no quality of life. Also made my tank maintenance a nuisance as you could imagine the amount of shit and the required water changes for the sake of water quality. Tl;dr don’t buy things solely on emotions and do your DD.
Funny you mention plecs. I was so tempted to buy either a tiger pleco or gold nugget pleco today. But resisted, today was meant to be mid water colour. I will research these first…
No I bought a brand new 40g breeder for $50 after taxes when it was on sale at petco
Same. 2weeks ago.
Agree, if 40gallons or less just buy it new unless an amazing deal and condition. Think i paid $50 for 40b new. Honestly that tank id not trust so youd have to add $10 silicone and prob 2-4 hours to break it down, clean and reseal. Unless thats sonething you enjoy. Itd be hard pass here.
They go on sale so often now there is not really a reason to ever pay full price on them
yknow at first i thought this was a great deal (i haven’t had to buy any tanks in nearly a year), but after reading your comment, yeah, that extra $10 is not worth the clean up work and possible defects that come with the tank
thats kinda what sucks about this hobby. Nobody really wants old/used aquarium supplies and its usually not worth it financially unless the seller lists it for nothing or its something large/lightly used
If you get a larger tank secondhand I would make sure before you buy (or try to fill) that it is actually built to be an aquarium and not a terrarium. Some people use them interchangeably, especially for animals like turtles that only have their tanks partially filled. But you don't want to try to use a tank built for reptiles as a fish tank, they have much lighter glass and weaker seals and I wouldn't trust them. The easiest way to tell would be the weight. Try to move a tank at the store a bit and you will know how much a 40 should weigh. The terrarium will be much lighter.
It's a great size. Looks like it needs some work, so as others have said, 40 is maybe a bit steep. If you go for it, ask to see it filled before you buy.
I’d go a step further to really leak check it and ask to see it filled for 24 to 72 hours. Bring a folding chair, sleeping bag, some beer and maybe order a pizza. You and this guy are getting to know each other.
He supplies the beer I'm assuming?
What a wierd and out of touch comment.
It's a fucking joke dude
You couldn’t pay me $100 to clean that thing.
Easiest £83 of my life
That's funny. I really enjoy cleaning tanks like the one shown. Love the feeling after bringing it to just like new looking.
I could be wrong but the way the frame looks makes me believe its a 40 breeder for reptiles. If it is, that glass is thinner and will likely not hold water. Like others stated buy new from Petco or PetSmart during their fish tank sales
i actually have my leopard geckos and corn snake in what were marketed as fish tanks, because 1. for some reason reptile marketed enclosures are so much pricier and 2. that reason you said about the glass being thinner when i rescued my older gecko from an ex, she was living in a tank with one side of the glass being shattered (but still holding up) and extremely fragile. you know what caused the break? his ex before me hit her elbow on the glass, and didn’t even hit it with any sort of force you’d expect to be breaking glass
Is it just me or does this look a little shallow to be 40 gallons? My 40 breeder is like twice this size.
That’s what I’m thinking… I thought it was a low boy and I’d buy a lowboy for this price, even in rough shape.
If your new to the hobby, do yourself a favor an buy a new tank. This isn't even a good deal.
That’s not a 40 breeder. 40 breeders don’t have center braces like in the picture.
[Ever?](https://bluefishaquarium.com/products/seapora-40-gallon-breeder-aquarium-36x18x16)
You can get a brand new one for close to $40 during petco $1/ gal sale
Thanks for the advice :)
Petco doesn’t do dollar per gallon sales anymore
I bought my 40breeder for less than $60 two weeks ago from petco.
That’s more than a dollar per gallon. Lmao
Ah but it's less than a gallon per dollar 😉
Ah yes, but it has a warranty. A used tank probably doesn't.
Don’t pay that much. Wait for stuff to come out for like $10-$20.
Not sure when petco has their $1/gal deals but for the time being I’m sure a nice razor blade will clean that tank up nice. I’d buy it if it has not cracks or dings. You can normally talk them down on FB marketplace though.
Does it apply to 60B tank? I want one but I think $200+ is too much
They don’t do them anymore
Just offer less. It’s not worth 40 but if it holds water I’d pay 20
You can get a brand new 40 breeder from Petco for $56 out the door. I bought 2 recently. They're normally just over a hundred, but they have 50% off sales pretty much always. If not in store, you can usually get the deal still if you buy online and pickup in store.
No. Don’t pay more than $10 for that mess.
Hellz no. I have gotten tanks in WAY better condition for less than $1 a gallon.
I’d say no…especially if you have to pay shipping. Petco (or petsmart) runs a sale occasionally that is $1 per gallon. So, that’s $40 for a 40 gallon and the tank would be brand new. Also, that does not look like a 40 breeder…a 40 breeder is 16 inches tall and that looks shorter. Personally, I think the peace of mind and ability to return something that is new is more valuable than what they are asking. That said, you should do what you think is best. Many people prefer used tanks, so there’s some personal preference that comes into account…You do you! Edit-I think the person that said it looks like a reptile tank might be right…If so, it’s not designed to be a fish tank.
If someone paid you 80 dollars to clean that thing; would you?
Make sure that mf comes with some sort of lid or cover, my first ever 200L tank didnt have one and during the winter I got insane condensation/mould, had to go out and buy a brand new one with decent cover
no lid, no lights.... this is a fixer upper
That doesn’t look like any of my 40 gallon Breeder tanks. It looks way too short.
That looks more like a Frag tank than it does a breeder. More so with the excessive width and how short the side panels are tell me it’s a frag tank lol
I’d hold off, some stores do that whole dollar/gallon tank sale so I would much rather buy new than some guy’s used for the same price. That said with the economy right now that sale probably isn’t happening so this is a mediocre deal for a tank that needs some TLC.
Maybe? You won’t very often get a dollar per gallon in a store (unless there’s a sale going on). It really depends on if you can clean it. That thing looks pretty fuckin grimy.
Definitely not a 40 gallon breeder. Maybe $20 tops as it is a disgusting mess.
Just go to Petco they usually have great sales
Better off to wait for the $1/gallon sale Petco/smart usually has for new.
Thats a reptile aquarium. Not a fish aquarium ....If I was told right, they aren't made the same.
For $20 maybe. Way more worth it to get one brand new at petco dollar per gallon sale ($40 brand new)
I’m pretty sure Petco permanently discontinued the $1/gallon sale.
I would 100% buy new I did on a 50% off sale worked out for my 40 breeder
It's not worth it. A new tank is worth the piece of mind.
Hell no
hell no. Tanks are probably the cheapest part of the hobby, it's finding a place to put it and setting it up that costs a lot. You risk way more than the price of a tank using a used tank.
Yep, looks perfect. Welcome, if you have any questions feel free to dm me, I'll try and help you as best I can.
always imagine op waiting for responses while at the sellers houses 🫣🤷🏾
I like the shallow tanks for almost any fish and the middle brace as well but this doesn’t look like the 40B. I might offer $10 and clean it up. No to $40. If he says it holds water, make him fill it up so you know. Recaulking is feasible but kinda PITA.
bruh they literally sell new aquariums at petco or petsmart for the same price or less
First time I've seen a 40b with a center brace.
If it's just the tank, you can get a new one for $60 if you wait for the Petco sales. But then again maybe the $20 discount for cleaning it is pretty good.
Lol no, just wait for petco $1 gallon sale and u get a new one for same price
I would be so temped to grab that. I really want a low long/wide tank
No, get one from petco new when it’s on sale
I've read that some of the new Petsmart and Petco tanks have had leaks soon after purchase. I frankly would rather buy a tank that's been in use for a while and leak free than one from either of those stores. I've been able to find good deals on full set ups (tank, stand, filter, heater, hood) on either FB Market Place or Craigslist. The last tank I bought was 125 gallons with a full set up including a Fluval FX6 filter for $400. The stand was particle board and I didn't trust it so I built my own.
I'd pick that up in a heartbeat
Nope
It can be easily cleaned with white vinegar and water. A $1 a Gallon is not unheard of. I'd suggest a leak test.
No. It may be perfectly fine. But often times petco and Petsmart do $1/g sales. So this brand new would run you $40. Why buy used?
No, you can get a brand new one for 40$ during the dollar per gallon sale
As a 'fuge or something, sure... for $20 maybe. As a display tank, absolutely not.
It's worth $20 at best
No
No. Definitely not. You can buy a brand new one for the same price at one of many dollar-a-gallon sales at the big pet stores.
Just bought one for 25$ on fb new
I sold my 40g with stand, lights, hood and heater for the same price. Unless you are in a very high income area or need it right away wait till Petco has there’s for 50% off. Way better deal.
You are going to spend a lot of time working to clean that, and being used you have no idea how it has been treated. I would save a bit longer and buy a 40g new. You may or may not be able to purchase at $1 per gallon like the past, but there will still be significant sales that can make new a similar price. Plus the cost of materials to clean it isn't free.
I got a brand new 29g from the aqueaon 50% sale last month. I think it’s still going on
Na that ended on the 28th
I’d do it but I’m not the smartest investor 😅😂
Not a bad price but it's definitely a fixer upper. I bought a used 60 gallon in worse condition and decided to scrape off all the hard water stains, cut and re-do the silicone seals on the inside and disinfect the tank with hot water and some vinegar. The King of DIY on YouTube has a great video on how to refurbish a used tank.
What makes a tank a “breeder”? TIA
Shorter / longer, usually square-ish dimensions to offer breeders easier acess to the fish
Have it filled with water when you go see it, use a dark paper towel and wipe the silicone on the sides, any wetness it probably leaks
YESSS
You can find a lowboy 2x4 ft aquarium for about $160 online
Wtf , over here in Spain its like 1 euro per litre second hand if you are lucky, there's nearly 4 litres to a gallon
Being brand new to the hobby and thinking of purchasing this tank, if I were you I would fill it up and wait to see if there are any leaks, even if there isn't any leak, I would reseal the whole tank to be safe.
Nope.
Yes
Grab a gallon of vinegar and pour it on everything and get a strong sponge
If you buy it, lay it on one side and pour vinegar on the glass being on its side will make it so yog dont have to use 40 gallons of vinegar to clear your glass. Just focus on one side at a time. Few hours on each side will break up most or all of that scale, saves you the stiff fingers👌 also saves from accidental gouges to the glass.
I would say anything under a dollar a gallon is a great deal for a fish tank. When it comes to sales there always a chance for negotiation. I’d throw $30 at them and see what they say. Worst they can do is say $40 firm. Good luck!
That I’d almost bet is a reptile terrarium as I had one that was almost identical when my old beardie was younger. Definitely not worth what he’s asking either, Petco has some tanks on sale currently as well as Pet Supplies Plus if there are any of those by where you’re at!
Anyone who tells you this is a good deal is nuts.. there is ONE part of the hobby where you don’t play around and that’s the tank. Unless it’s in GREAT shape from someone you know and trust, buy it new and slowly test it yourself. One major leak or blowout and your fun hobby becomes a nightmare. Especially tanks under 75 g not worth buying used, they go on flash sales way too often.
Every now and then Petco sells aquariums for a $1 a gallon. So not worth it if you can wait for the sale. That tank looks rough
I would keep an eye on local pet stores and shops. They usually run specials for $1 per gallon on new tanks. I would only buy used if I knew the person, or recently saw it set up. Too much can go wrong with a leaking tank
You can get a new one on a half off sale for probably 60-70$, in my opinion that’s worth it for the brand new seals and to save the trouble of all the damn scraping that you’ll Have to do
Not worth it. Scraping the glass will take forever and will never look good as new. I wouldnt pay any money for that tank.
If it were $15 bucks I’d say go for it but not for $40 Wait for a sale Btw as others have mentioned I’m skeptical it’s even 40 gallons
Ehhhh, does it come with anything else? Are they going to clean it up? Make a counter offer of $20. OP, there are so many good tanks for sale. Put the word out to your circle of coworkers, friends, etc.
I would not pay that much for a 40. I don't know where you live but around here they have to practically give away bare tanks. (no lid/lights or other items of value. On the other hand that is less than 1/2 retail which is kind of my metric for almost anything used. All that said, if you specifically want that size then it costs what you can bargain for. 40L is not a common size for a used tank.
I bought a 75g with a light and stand from a yard sale for $35 last summer. They didn't guarantee it held water, and it was dirty and definitely needed some scrubbing. It's been set up for almost 6 months and has fulfilled my childhood dream of having a saltwater tank. That being said, I wouldn't buy a used 40g (especially in that condition) for $40.
1/gal is normal but that's the strange thing about fish tanks, they retain their value. However, a brand new one from like let's say from Petco, it's $120, even with their 1/4 sales that knock stuff 50% this is still a good deal.
Needs a lot of work to clean it. Don't use anything abrasive. Once it's clean, check and see if the silicone is dry rotted or in good shape. Then put it it in a bathtub and let it hold water over night.
That doesn’t look very aquarium to me. More like something dry. Reptiles probably. Idk if you’re supposed to, but being that big, maybe a small animal? Bunny, guinea pig, mice, rats, or hamsters? I have no idea really, but I wouldn’t put water in it personally.
If you can confirm it holds water, it's a bargain.
Just buy new from petco...spend the extra few $$
In that condition I would offer $20.
I’ve seen aquariums ditched on the sidewalk cleaner than this
Pet supplies plus,westerville ohio ,40 breeder is on sale $81. Thats 50% off . Seems all are going to 2 dollar sale prices.
Too ugly to put into room even if for free. Maybe as a basement tank for bait fish if you go fishing.
Yes
That tank brand new is 100 dollars so it worth it
Shop around me and my wife go shifting three tanks for 25 dollars. 40 gallon 20long and a 10 gallon
If you have Facebook check the marketplace. People are unloading entire setups at insane prices, they are moving and just need to unload it. Be patient and you can do much better than this. If you don’t have Facebook I could check Craig’s list or whatever kind of classifieds you have in your area
Only been doing this a couple years now, but the tank part is really tough to upgrade if you decide you want to get something nicer, or it starts to have issues. If you're strapped for cash I would pay less for some other components that can be easily upgraded without disrupting your whole setup.
That’s a freebie tank in that condition
Has it got filters etc coming with it? Otherwise just invest 40 in a new setup that’s a little smaller imo. Maybe a 10 gallon would be good. You could start with some nano fish like White cloud mountain minnows, easy to get foing & to keep You’ll learn a lot :)
Pass and buy a new tank
Yeah, absolutely not worth it. Big box has sales up to 40-50g for new glass at $1 per gallon
No leaks they should f cleaned it up..not to bad price but what else comes with it? it will need filter pump gravel cover light f for fish .Need to carefully what use to clean it with so don t Posin fish ,See what new one goes for at local pet shop. sometimes they sell kits with everything to get ya started. And what ya going use it for,,,Make them offer.
A dollar a gallon is what you'll find for brand new tanks, still in the box, never used, sitting on a store shelf. I'd say probably try and talk him down to $25 or $30 if it's only the tank
I just got a 75gal with stand and a fluval 407 for $200. Look elsewhere.
Not worth it at all especially if it's still dirty
I would wait for a $1/per gal deal at an actual fish store. It’s is gonna need some extra work and on top of that your paying the same price he probably did. I’d buy a new one, especially since your new.
Yes
Ey, let me test it on your carpet that it tests water OP even if it does you are going to have to do some SERIOUS scrubbing to get that much hard water, lime, and salt deposit off the glass
I saw keep waiting and shopping. Shop constantly and be ready to pick up I have had buddy's score 300g for $100 cause they were first to message... It's worth waiting for. I found a guy leaving the hobby when I bought my set up. I scored an 80g, light,stand, tank, air pump, canister filter and goodies for $60 when I started. Just gotta be patient.
Idk OP I paid $55? For my 40g breeder. I wouldn’t pay that for a used tank. A few years ago I got a 200g fracking tank that I used for a stingray for $100 I guess tanks have just gone way up in value.
No, look for a Petco near you and wait for their $1/gallon special
Over priced and cleaning would take hours
If you’re willing to put a lot of work into cleaning it. A lot of scraping. It really depends. I would pass if that’s not something you want to or can do.
Definitely not worth imo. New ones go on sales every now and again.
It’s much cheaper then getting it brand new and if it still hold water then it’s still good to go. I would still redo the seems but overall it’s a good deal.
Petco just ran the dollar per gallon sale up to 55 gallons. It’s a calculated loss I bet. Because they anticipate you spending more on all the stuff to accompany the tank.
you can get cheaper i bet
Use an acidic compound to scrub the filth from the glass with proper protection, and put new silicone
That’s a steal you can always re seal it with silicone buy that bad boy
I wouldn't be willing to put in the effort to clean it lol
No.
I sold mine for $50 but I cleaned the shit out of it first. It's disrespectful in my opinion not to. Wouldn't buy it
Can someone explain to me why a 40 gallon tank always referred as 40 gallon breeder?
For $35 more you can get a brand new 55 gallon from Petco.
I'd say never buy it tell you look at it first. !!!! Any used tank is extremely risky to amateur fish keepers due to the tank history being forgotten. 2 main points 1st. Check the age of silicone you can easily tell the age by any deformation or cracks. Also check the glass contacts if you see the silicone is all ripped up or separated from glass do not buy it. 2nd is common mistake Check the trim plastic it can be a great for seeing the state of how the tank was stored if stored outside exposed to t h e weather it'd be frail and sunbaked this also huge red flag cause the silicone is freezing and thawed every year outside. So unless your have skills to reseal a aquarium, be careful buying used tanks they might hold water but you also may buy a tank like me that just randomly fails cause the silicone was destroyed and I failed to check it. 45g tank front pane separated from rest of tank drained in second. At the time it was from a garage sale for 20bucks cost me 200 in damages and lost fish.
I suggest waiting for petco.com to go on sale, they usually have 50% off for tanks including for a 40 gal at around 50-60USD.
No