Buying a used 40 gal aquarium, what should I be wary of?

Question

I found a great deal.

There is a guy selling a 40 gallon aquarium, only a couple years old, with the oak cabinet, for only $100!! Everything is included, including the fish! Gravel, homes, plants, filter, thermometer and heater, etc. We have made a point to purchase it from him (found it in a local classified ad magazine online) on Friday. He says he is selling because he has to move and he has to be out by the 27th.

This is a great deal, right?? He has fish in it right now so there are no leaks. He said we may have to buy a new filter, tho ($20). I already have a 10 gallon aquarium with a rainbow shark, platy, otto, and a dwarf gourami. He said he has mollies and guppies and neons mostly.

Is there anything that I shoudl be wary of when buying it? How should I go with the transfer of my fish into the big tank with his fish? Should my tank be transferred into a "hospital tank"?

Please give me any feedback you have, it's very welcome!! =)

Amanda

Also -- would I be able to get a turtle now? will he/she eat the smaller fish?

Answer 1

1. don't get a turtle, they'll eat the smaller fish.
2. i'd be wary of cracks or damage in the tank, bad diy jobs (with lighting, filters etc). be sure to examine VERY thoroughly around every seam for any quick fixes to disguise potential leaks. and see it full up.
3. do not put your fish straight in with his fish. keep both tanks seperate for a week or so and watch the new fish for any signs of disease or illness. don't want to infect your fish!
4. the best way to transport the tank, is to remove the fish, keep the filter wet in a bucket full of some of his water, but the fish in fish bags, as they're small fish this should be easy, wrap them in newspaper or bubble wrap and put them in a secure and safe box, even a cooler would be good to keep their temperature stable. empty away the rest of the tank water (keep about 4" worth to mix back when you get to yours) and lift and transport VERY carefully, wrap in more bubble wrap, especially on the corners, and rest it on something completely flat in the car, like some wood covered in towels. when you get home set it all back up as quickly as possible with the old water and the new water (dechlored and all) and start it warming up, float the fish in their bags for about an hour i'd say as they get used to their new surroundings and drop in some of the new tank water every now and again.

remember to keep the filter media wet!!

that's my opinion anyway. i'm sure i've missed something.

Answer 2

No turtle. That tank is too small. Turtles can only be kept with fish if you have a 24 hour drip water change system, and this is pretty expensive and fairly complicated. Or you could just do 50% water changes every day to remove turtle waste.

Answer 3

Transfer your fish, like you would if you were buying them from a store. Put them in bags and float the bags, slowing adding the new water. Also, he may have a fully stocked tank, make sure you don't overcrowd it adding your fish.

Make sure his fish don't show any signs of ick, fin rot etc.

A red slider turtle would prefer colder water then the tropical fish you have now. Also, turtle are bad for scoming with diseases, and may kill your fish with a disease. A turtle will also outgrow a 40 gallon in a short time, they get big and can live for 20+ years

Answer 4

sounds good and because he has fish in it now, there should be no problems. put the fish in a glass jar with a lid for the transfer. use the water they are in now. let some water sit out overnight to put in the new aquarium. I don't know about getting a turtle. they don't live in deep water. they breathe air and need some place to sit on to rest. I kept my turtle in a shallow dish with just a little water.

Answer 5

The transfer of fish from one temperature to another can kill them. The best way is too put them in glad sandwich bags filled with the water from the tank they come out of and place that in your tank until the temp equals out and then let them loose.

Answer 6

degree the dimensions of your tank, then head to petsmart. They sell many diverse tops with lights. you will could purchase a sparkling filter out although. installation a sparkling aquarium would be costly, extremely identifying to purchase new fish and decorations. If its too numerous a hastle you may constantly sell the tank and the stand and purchase something else. it's going to value you approximately 40 5$ for a sparkling filter out and approximately ~seventy 9$ for the canopy.

Answer 7

make sure the fish don't spawn out of the tank.

Answer 8

ummmmmmmmm

I pled the 5th!