buying a set up off ebay including the fish

**sumatera** · 05-03-2012, 01:23 PM

Hi,

I am totally new to this so please be gentle

.

I am thinking of buying a full set up for tropical fish including all the equipment AND the fish. I notice many people are selling, for one reason or another, whole set ups on Ebay - for example:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1708315804...#ht_500wt_1413

Please can anyone with more experience advise me if this a bad idea for an absolute beginner? Also, please can I have some advice, if I were to buy this kind of thing off ebay, about how to transport the set up from one place to another?

Many Thanks in advance

**Cliff** · 05-03-2012, 01:42 PM

I would suggest that you first read up on marine set-up (if you want a marine tank that is) so you know what your getting yourself into before buying one.

As with any type of aquarium set-up you need to understand how to properly care for it and understand the needs of the fish and critters in there before you get a tank. I would suggest reading a few books along with the stickies here before getting that tank.

IMO, the guy selling the tank is starting to have problems. For example, either one of the two ells he has in there needs a tank at least twice that size. That tank is not going to be big enough for one yellow tang, and he has two of them in there. The angle fish he has in there will grow to about 14 inches in size and will soon start eating the soft corals in the tank is he is not doing so already. I'm guess he is starting to have aggression issues. If not, they will be starting soon

**Rue** · 05-03-2012, 02:22 PM

I fully agree with Cliff - you need to do a LOT of homework before getting into saltwater...and it's easiest to ease into it vs. taking over a fully set-up tank...

Remember too - whenever you move a tank...you will have losses. It's rare to have 100% survival - so be prepared for that.

However...you have options: You can see if you can sell the larger fish off...or trade them (even if it's for credit) to the LFS...I'd take them to the LFS directly...vs. taking them home when you dismantle the tank...

Otherwise, if you wish to keep them, you'd need to invest in a larger tank, and that would defeat the purpose of buying this one.