New vs Used

New? or

Used?

The age ole’ question in the aquarium hobby, Do I get new or used equipment? Has to be answered by every aquarist. The answer depends on many factors of which most we will be reviewing today. First and foremost is your budget, though I must say location is also very important. Will the tank be going in a rented space? Is there carpet? How active is the space and is it prominent, like a doctors office. Are you getting it for aesthetic reasons, therapy, hobby, breeding, or as a gift. So many things to consider. This to me is the fun of the aquarium hobby. Once you have the major questions answered, the rest of the equipment must be considered. Not to mention the stars of the show, the fish and plants. The hardscape and decorations must be considered also. Themed tanks are a lot of fun. Maybe the tank will be centered around a certain species of fish or plant. I’ve done several cryptocoryne tanks because I am into the plants more than the fish. Though I have had an Oscar tank which had no plants. I’ve pretty much done all the aquarium styles except monster fish as I just haven’t had room. Lately, I lean more to the planted aquascape, so my tanks are new. New equipment is important for those who have the budget, are going for aesthetics, and have a responsibility to maintain the space in it’s best condition (like renters).

Used tanks and equipment are good for those just starting out, with a limited budget, and a space which can handle a leak, like a basement. Not to say new tanks cannot fail, because they certainly do, it’s just not as likely. The only equipment I don’t recommend getting used is the heater, because they have limited life spans and when they fail it can be disastrous. Filters are fine to get used, as are lights, tanks, UV filters, decorations, and sometimes substrate. Caution must always be exercised with any used equipment. The things to look out for with used tanks are where were they stored? If outside of a temperature controlled space, then they should be resealed. What condition is the tank? Scratches, dents, cracks, broken braces, lime stains, etc. Is the lid included?

Filters cross many categories, homemade, sponge, hang-on-back (hob), canister, sump, wet/dry, fluidized filter, or sand filter. For the average hobbyist I recommend sponge or HOB for tanks under 40 gallons and canister or sump for tanks over this. When buying used check to see if it works before you take it home, make sure it doesn’t leak, and find out if it comes with the filter media. If it doesn’t have media, have a plan to get some and it doesn’t have to be the same brand, often the proprietary replaceable inserts can be replaced with sponge and left at that. Do your research on filters before buying.

Lights are dependent on the plants and fish. If it’s a planted tank then a good LED with a full spectrum of light is suggested. Used lights are fine, just check to make sure they work before taking them home. Lights can fail at any time and so used usually come at a much lower price than new. For the most part you get what you pay for, so if plant growth is important to you get a quality light. If it’s a fish only tank with plastic plants and decorations then a new low cost light is probably best. Frankly, I never get used lights, because I want the full lifespan.

Other equipment like pumps, air pumps, UV filters, powerheads, etc. are usually fine to get used and will save money. Remember UV filters require bulbs, so know how to get replacements before buying. Heaters should be new because they are such an important part of the system, though I do use second hand heaters for non-essential purposes such as water holding tanks. As long as livestock does not depend on the heater, then used is fine. Substrate can be used as long as you clean it well before using and don’t mind picking up a snail or two. I once got a whole tote of aqua soil for free as the person was moving and hadn’t found a home for it yet. Probably the best deal I’ve ever found in the aquarium hobby! Gravel can be bleached overnight and then heavily rinsed and dosed with dechlor. The same goes for sand, though I would rinse it extra heavily. Bleach will kill most everything, except trumpet snails, so just beware.

As far as pricing goes the standard for used working equipment is $1 per gallon on tanks below 80ish gallons and $2 per gallon on bigger tanks and any rimless tank. Other used equipment goes for 50% of retail or less depending on condition. Items with low demand will go for even lower prices, for example, decorations, substrate, odd items. Did you know CO2 tanks are dated and are useless after about 5 years? (state law for refilling) I got stung by this news. We have all been duped at one time or another, so just be aware and do your research by asking questions and talking to knowledgeable friends. When buying new, keep the receipt and know the return policy!

Sequoia Elisabeth