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Best Prices On New Tank?
- Thread starter PaulM
- Start date
What I did was that I went to a LFS (Precious Pets in Highstown) and asked them to order AGA RR tank for me. I think (hope 
) that they have made only 10-20$ markup, but I didn't have to pay big shipping charges. And since I work in NYC, that way they kept it in the store until the pickup was the most convenient for me. If you like the AGA models, which I believe, are the least expensive and of good quality (in that range 55-75 gal), find a LFS that you like and arrange with them to order it for you. I think I paid mine (75 gal AGA RR, a year ago) something like 180-200$, though I am not exactly sure about the price.
) that they have made only 10-20$ markup, but I didn't have to pay big shipping charges. And since I work in NYC, that way they kept it in the store until the pickup was the most convenient for me. If you like the AGA models, which I believe, are the least expensive and of good quality (in that range 55-75 gal), find a LFS that you like and arrange with them to order it for you. I think I paid mine (75 gal AGA RR, a year ago) something like 180-200$, though I am not exactly sure about the price.Since a tank is something you only buy once and awhile, shop around. You'll be amazed at the price differences.
If you can make a day trip out of it consider going to That Fish Place in Centerville PA. It's near Lancaster PA. Here is a link to the retail store - (offsite) - http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/VisitUs.web
Here is an additional link to tank prices - http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/GlassAquariumListing.web
This way you have something to compare LFS prices to.
Lastly, I would highly recommend a 70 gal tank over a 55 gal tank. A 55 is extremely narrow, and very difficult to aquascape with live rock. A 75 gal tank is only a little more expensive, and will give you a much nicer looking tank.
If you can make a day trip out of it consider going to That Fish Place in Centerville PA. It's near Lancaster PA. Here is a link to the retail store - (offsite) - http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/VisitUs.web
Here is an additional link to tank prices - http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/GlassAquariumListing.web
This way you have something to compare LFS prices to.
Lastly, I would highly recommend a 70 gal tank over a 55 gal tank. A 55 is extremely narrow, and very difficult to aquascape with live rock. A 75 gal tank is only a little more expensive, and will give you a much nicer looking tank.
I'd recommend against a bow, unless you've seen one in person. If you're into photography the bow is distorting and you're not able to get a clean picture through much of it. I'd get a headache looking at one of those for too long. Maybe there's someone near you with a bow you can go check out, or solicit opinions from those who have bows before you make that leap.
IMO Trop has the best prices on tanks, even more so on stands and canopies
I have a 80 gallon Perfecto bow front tank if you want to see it in person, also if you shop around Trops prices are average at best there is other stores that are cheaper, if you want a AGA or Oceanic check out aquarium center on rt 73 when I called around they were the cheapest for AGA & oceanic.
Looking back over them I can see that the centers of the pictures look more clear than the left and right edges. That might be due to the curviture of the glass, focus issues or shallow DOF. You should have an easier time taking macros through the straightest part of the glass, but you might find that you have a harder time getting a great shot through the curved glass.
When your taking photos through the tank glass it is critical that you're lens is parallel to the tank glass. This is because on ANY angle to the glass you're going to see some distortion because of the properties of the glass. When you have curved glass... you can't get a shot that the lens is 100% parallel to the glass where the tank is curving. You're not going to be able to get good clear, crisp shots through there.
Not sure if that's what I'm seeing in your pictures, or simply the need to play longer with the camera. Your frag tank shots look much sharper, to me.
When your taking photos through the tank glass it is critical that you're lens is parallel to the tank glass. This is because on ANY angle to the glass you're going to see some distortion because of the properties of the glass. When you have curved glass... you can't get a shot that the lens is 100% parallel to the glass where the tank is curving. You're not going to be able to get good clear, crisp shots through there.
Not sure if that's what I'm seeing in your pictures, or simply the need to play longer with the camera. Your frag tank shots look much sharper, to me.