Don't sell your tanks!

[brewmaster15]

Seriously don't sell your tanks when you cut back. Hold on to them in storage if you can. You will most likely fill them up again! Sure you can always buy a new one but odds are its going to cost more than you made on the one you sold...and sometimes its hard to even find the tank size you need or want. Many local fish stores and chains will rake you over the coals price wise.

I had a ton of tanks in storage after I shut down the fishroom a few years ago. I held them a year or two and convinced myself I would not need them.... so I sold them on the cheap. Fastforward a year and here I am scrounging through craigslist ads, buying used overpriced tanks,and hoping they dont leak. When I think.of all the tanks I had and how much time I have spent looking to replace them on the cheap....I could kick myself.

Odds are if you had alot of tanks at one point...you will again.

I really wish I had kept the 125's I sold...Those and the the 36 "long tanks I had.. I could sure use them now.

Oh well... I did pick up 2 each 55 gals and metal stand on Crsigslist this weekend for $80. VeryFair price and not leaking yet:bounce2:.. but I sold at least 6 of them when I closed the fishroom and they were like new.


So...heed my advice. A tank doesn't go bad in storage.. I had some in the yard for 3 years that I just put back into service this past year.

The one thing I am glad of was I did keep.most of my Aquaclear 110 filters, heaters, and airpumps, as well as my hydro sponges....but I gave away soooooo much stuff!

Once a fish junkie,always a fish junkie
...remember that!:)
Al

[LizStreithorst]

I've never gotten totally out of fish but I once had to sell almost all of my fish due to an emergency move back to Mississippi. It never occurred to me to sell my tanks and equipment.

[Pardal]

Good Point
I can relate to that in a sense, that I used to PCS every three to five years, I remember given away and sell on the cheap, because the time constrain. Luckily I am not longer have to worry about that any more, but I will keep your advise. as I'm downsizing right now.
Julian

[zimmjeff]

my father is trying to get me to sell everything NO WAY.

[Poppa Ryno]

I agree whole heartedly, Al.
I keep it all.
http://i1341.photobucket.com/albums/o746/popparyno/Mobile%20Uploads/20170601_165603_HDR_zpsxtesk4e2.jpg (http://s1341.photobucket.com/user/popparyno/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20170601_165603_HDR_zpsxtesk4e2.jpg.html)
http://i1341.photobucket.com/albums/o746/popparyno/Mobile%20Uploads/20170601_165537_HDR_zpsnowkbl9f.jpg (http://s1341.photobucket.com/user/popparyno/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20170601_165537_HDR_zpsnowkbl9f.jpg.html)
http://i1341.photobucket.com/albums/o746/popparyno/Mobile%20Uploads/20170601_165551_HDR_zpsy9dbquui.jpg (http://s1341.photobucket.com/user/popparyno/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20170601_165551_HDR_zpsy9dbquui.jpg.html)
Theres more in the basement storage room & under the stairs. Lol.... Nope... I dont have a fish addiction problem at all.

[RobC]

Agreed. I sold a 200G and a 125G, I'm regretting doing that now. Once a hobbyist, always a hobbyist.

[Discus-n00b]

I have a lot of crap sitting around. I did end up selling my smaller tanks when I went to 2 running tanks though. They are just so space hungry. They are common smaller sizes that I could get again or find used with no real issue. The bigger tanks I'd hesitate to sell. I will never let go of my 100gal rimless custom though, I'd pay storage for that if I ever broke it down.

[brady]

And I thought I was bad.
Jay
I agree whole heartedly, Al.
I keep it all.
http://i1341.photobucket.com/albums/o746/popparyno/Mobile%20Uploads/20170601_165603_HDR_zpsxtesk4e2.jpg (http://s1341.photobucket.com/user/popparyno/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20170601_165603_HDR_zpsxtesk4e2.jpg.html)
http://i1341.photobucket.com/albums/o746/popparyno/Mobile%20Uploads/20170601_165537_HDR_zpsnowkbl9f.jpg (http://s1341.photobucket.com/user/popparyno/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20170601_165537_HDR_zpsnowkbl9f.jpg.html)
http://i1341.photobucket.com/albums/o746/popparyno/Mobile%20Uploads/20170601_165551_HDR_zpsy9dbquui.jpg (http://s1341.photobucket.com/user/popparyno/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20170601_165551_HDR_zpsy9dbquui.jpg.html)
Theres more in the basement storage room & under the stairs. Lol.... Nope... I dont have a fish addiction problem at all.

[rickztahone]

I always sell my equipment because because I never have storage to keep it all. I also like the buying process and spec'ing out a tank for a specific purpose. Keep in mind, I typically only have 1 tank running and it is always my main tank.

[khooyang]

That's so glad to see you back on fish :) Are you planning to breed again? Are they discus or something else? Any strains that caught your attention? Will keep following....

[LizStreithorst]

I always sell my equipment because because I never have storage to keep it all. I also like the buying process and spec'ing out a tank for a specific purpose. Keep in mind, I typically only have 1 tank running and it is always my main tank.

That's great if you can afford it...

[Kyla]

I sold all but one of my tanks and the gear that went with them and have been super happy with the minimal set up... but the one thing I regret was giving away my cute little cube 30gal to a friend. It was a perfect QT and matched my 180gal tank and stand combo. Kicking myself now... hindsight is 20/20

[Bethzb]

I've got about 7 or so stored along with the many filters but, unfortunately, they aren't for my personal use. Instead once a year I get to set them up for our "River Day" displays where we introduce the local youth to the Hudson River, fishing, and of course what swims there. My husband is the only thing that keeps me from using those tanks for other purposes (like more discus). Of course having 2 tanks at home, one tank at each of the boat clubs for "river" fish, and helping out the 2 elementary school science teachers at work, I probably don't need another tank anyway.;)

[brewmaster15]

I've got about 7 or so stored along with the many filters but, unfortunately, they aren't for my personal use. Instead once a year I get to set them up for our "River Day" displays where we introduce the local youth to the Hudson River, fishing, and of course what swims there. My husband is the only thing that keeps me from using those tanks for other purposes (like more discus). Of course having 2 tanks at home, one tank at each of the boat clubs for "river" fish, and helping out the 2 elementary school science teachers at work, I probably don't need another tank anyway.;)

I think thats really very cool! I love science outreach programs!

al

[Bethzb]

The next school project will be comparing growth rates of invasive species in the Bronx River. I just need to confirm if Hygrophilia has appeared there yet. Eurasian Millfoil is everywhere along with Water Chestnut but, as I've only a 29 gallon to work with I think I'll keep it with the 2 smaller species. I'm also pretty sure Millfoil will win as it seems to root from pieces so every time it's disturbed, you end up with more.

[brewmaster15]

The next school project will be comparing growth rates of invasive species in the Bronx River. I just need to confirm if Hygrophilia has appeared there yet. Eurasian Millfoil is everywhere along with Water Chestnut but, as I've only a 29 gallon to work with I think I'll keep it with the 2 smaller species. I'm also pretty sure Millfoil will win as it seems to root from pieces so every time it's disturbed, you end up with more.
for aquatic plants... cheap 20 gal clear plastic Bins at Home depot should work.. They bow out in the middle if wrapped with a strip of Duck tape they work well. I used some here in the past.

al

[Bethzb]

for aquatic plants... cheap 20 gal clear plastic Bins at Home depot should work.. They bow out in the middle if wrapped with a strip of Duck tape they work well. I used some here in the past.

al

Got the chance to look at those as an option then checked her room. She has similar tubs but they're white with a more rigid design. I think as long as she puts the tubs in the window, she can cut up the plants and compare growth rates and we'll keep the 29 as a control.

[brewmaster15]

Got the chance to look at those as an option then checked her room. She has similar tubs but they're white with a more rigid design. I think as long as she puts the tubs in the window, she can cut up the plants and compare growth rates and we'll keep the 29 as a control.

If you have the chance and can post pics of it... be a cool thread to follow what they are doing and maybe give others ideas for science out reach.

al

[Ryan925]

The next school project will be comparing growth rates of invasive species in the Bronx River. I just need to confirm if Hygrophilia has appeared there yet. Eurasian Millfoil is everywhere along with Water Chestnut but, as I've only a 29 gallon to work with I think I'll keep it with the 2 smaller species. I'm also pretty sure Millfoil will win as it seems to root from pieces so every time it's disturbed, you end up with more.

That would be really interesting. Here in my neck of the woods we have a plague of water hyacinth in the Sacramento/ San Joaquin river delta

[Jack L]

i sold a beautiful 110 high with custom stand and hood. you don't get even 50 cent on the dollar....another reason not to sell.

[FischAutoTechGarten]

I have one caveat to add to Al's advice. That is to perfectly clean each and every piece before storing it away.

If you clean it, you're more likely to:
1. Optimize storage (as opposed to... ummmm.. I can't store anything inside that tank.. It's so dirty... but I'll clean it up later)
2. Reuse (as opposed to... ummmm.. It's going to take allot of work to use that again... It's so dirty... but I'll clean it up later)

All of that said, I am glad that I sold everything when I did. I had become unbalanced in the amount of things I was trying to care for and was no longer enjoying it. I sold everything leading up to my 10 year wedding anniversary and purchased my wife 10 gifts (some big - Train ride to NYC, Broadway Play, Hotel on Central Park, IPod, Tour of the MET, some small - Hot dog at Yankee Stadium, Cashews on the street, etc...). I made her happy 11 times (1st time, closing the Skanky Basement o' Fish, 10 more times sharing the presents). I got dimes on the dollar, but it represented about 13 years of accumulation, so it was still a very large amount of money. Two years after that, we started our Mexican adventure anyway! Now, some 12 years later, (that's 22 years of marriage for those quick with the math), allot of the equipment would now be outdated (old tech UV filter, old tech T-40 lighting). However, AL is right! My 4 75s (which I never even put into use to replace the homemade 80s) would still be good. (Only, I wouldn't have wanted to move them from NY to Mexico.)

I will restart again... but it will be small.. 4 20L tanks on a central system. (Obviously, no discus, but dwarf cichlids, shrimps, cories, etc...). The stuff I have is perfectly clean and can be setup in a moment's notice (still have to buy the 4th 20 gal long tank).

[Jason]

Once a fish junkie,always a fish junkie
...remember that!:)
Al

so true! :)

[Cosmo]

I'm at the point where I'd really like to downsize from my 180gal to a 125 - the 180 is so big it's a royal P.I.T.A. cleaning, but, my wife says if I get the new tank I have to give or throw away the 180 and the stand - just can't do it :p Thinking it would come in handy sometime in the future, but I really have no good place to store it. So now, I'm setting the 180 back up so I can get the poor fish out of the 90 they're in now. How about talking to the wife for me Brew .. maybe she'll listen to you lol

[geo57]

I had about 7 tanks stored with the biggest being a 185gal tank. My son had to move back in and we were having a drought so I shut tanks down, sold or gave away my discus and stored tanks. My wife talked me into giving her brother my tanks and equipment, so I let him pick them up, he took four tanks and we agreed he would pick up the rest later, he only had so much room. Well, after he left I was just kinda looking at what was left and decided to setup the 90gal tall tank with just some tetras. Broke out the equipment I had left and setup tank in 24hours, next day I threw some tetras in. Waited another 24 hours and all looked good so I put more tetras in, within a week o had 125 fish, all tetras save 8 corys and 1 shrimp. Next I setup a 50gal pretty much the same way. I never even serviced tanks or pumps, busted filled and go lol. No fish died save a jumper who I found on floor. The fever got me and I started to crave the discus. So I purchased a 450gal custom aquarium and am in the process of creating a discus world...so yeah don't sell your tanks and equipment once it gets in your blood, your done and you'll always swim back.

[geo57]

Also I'm new to the Site, been around discus for awhile, use to read site just never joined. I'm never gonna be without discus again so I thought I'd join the party. Love all the info and ideas from the good folks here.

[Jenene]

Also I'm new to the Site, been around discus for awhile, use to read site just never joined. I'm never gonna be without discus again so I thought I'd join the party. Love all the info and ideas from the good folks here.

Welcome George! Better late to the party than staying at home. I am sure you have noticed this is a great place to learn, be entertained, try a new project on for size, or make some new friends.

Do us all a favor and start a journal here on that 450... I am sure many are out there already drooling... We like pictures..lots of pictures...;)

[cloney]

Al,

My wife wants to talk to you.

[geo57]

Hi and thanks Jenene, you'll find that I come and go and respond like days later and yes I'll post pics, would post some now but I'm at work, probably need to do it off my phone as soon as I get the site there. The tank is just sitting with sand and a few pieces of driftwood and full of water that's stabilizing, I'm getting ready to transport my first batch of tetras that i've had for a few months making sure they're healthy and able to break in a new tank. It will be a black water tank and I'm using Fluval Peat moss and i use National geographic white sand, about 400 lbs in tank now and malaysian driftwood. I was gonna attempt to download some pics but work calls dang it. talk later.

[geo57]

I'm gonna have to learn how to post pics da,lol, 🙁embarrassing.

[jeep]

So...heed my advice. A tank doesn't go bad in storage.. I had some in the yard for 3 years that I just put back into service this past year.

True!!! I left the hobby around 2007. I tried to sell my tanks but had no takers. Now that I m back, I already have all I need except for the fish!!!

[FischAutoTechGarten]

I left the hobby in 2004.
The other day I just put one of my 20 gallon longs back in service. I had it stored in the bodega of my home in Arizona (didn't live there long, I now rent it out) and brought it down to my home here in Sonora, Mexico. Started it all up in 5 minutes (everything was stored clean) using purified water from a garrafon (yeah... we really don't drink the tap water here in Mexico).

Went up into the Sierra foothills and trapped 10 minnows from a stream feeding the Mayo River around San Bernardo that was absolutely teaming with fish, which I think are the Gila Topminnow (Poeciliopsis Occidentalis, an at risk / endangered species in the United States). They aren't showing much color in the plain tank, but they are eating flake food... They might be Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis), as these are known to displace entire populations of the Topminnow. Doing good. Eating well. Haven't lost a single one since Saturday. I'll post a photo, but there's not much to look at it as they are rather plain.


This same tributary has a nice cichlid fish that is either a Herichthys Cyanoguttatus (Texas Green) or a Cichlasoma Beani (Sinaloan Cichlid). Or it could be something completely different.. LOL. Have to catch a few and have a closer look. Regardless, they are too big and aggressive for a 20L tank.... and they would make quick work of the little silver mollie type fish (topminnow/mosquitofish) that I have.


Anyway, who knows how long before I head north of the border to get my other 3 out of storage and start something here in Mexico again. Only possible because I stored my tanks carefully. :D Getting that Mikrogeophagus Ramirezi bug again. ;)

[Darren's Discus]

I don't even want to think about how much I have sold over the years! So true should always keep your stuff because sooner or later you will be back.

[FischAutoTechGarten]

I don't even want to think about how much I have sold over the years! So true should always keep your stuff because sooner or later you will be back.

Only if you can properly clean it and store it. If you can't, then it's a burden and you should get it out of your life. Hoarding = Bad. LOL.

[GeraldHammond]

I agree whole heartedly, Al.
I keep it all.
http://i1341.photobucket.com/albums/o746/popparyno/Mobile%20Uploads/20170601_165603_HDR_zpsxtesk4e2.jpg (http://s1341.photobucket.com/user/popparyno/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20170601_165603_HDR_zpsxtesk4e2.jpg.html) texttospeech.onl (https://texttospeech.onl)
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http://i1341.photobucket.com/albums/o746/popparyno/Mobile%20Uploads/20170601_165551_HDR_zpsy9dbquui.jpg (http://s1341.photobucket.com/user/popparyno/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20170601_165551_HDR_zpsy9dbquui.jpg.html)
Theres more in the basement storage room & under the stairs. Lol.... Nope... I dont have a fish addiction problem at all.

Pretty big storage man!

[DiscusWhisper]

Unfortunitly If I do not sell them and upgrade to bigger I find a way of squeezing them all in ,BUT I am slowly running out of human space to live LMAO!

Aquaticsuppliers is the best thanks Al for keeping me stocked up on freeze dried black worms its much appreciated Kim Walker in Mich.