Current FTS (10/5/2019):
Well, I've paid my deposit to the reef gods and they provided much gear. This thread will chronicle my first tank in 12 years. Things have come a long way since then.
I picked up a Red Sea Reefer 250 on eBay for $500. I had to drive a couple hours to pick it up, but no biggie. It's kiddo approved! Both of my kids are super excited to start a tank after a recent trip to Mote Marine over Spring Break.
All the stuff is there. The plumbing is in good shape, and everything is super clean. The cabinet has some screw holes, but no biggie.
This thing is a beast compared to any tank I've had. My last reef tank was a 20L with no sump. I've had freshwater aquariums in the past, but nothing over 30 gallons. I've also never had a rimless aquarium. It was one of the must-haves when I was obsessing over which tank to buy. The stand tore down easily for transport, and somehow I squeezed everything into my Subaru Impreza!
It's going to be awhile before I actually get saltwater, rock, and sand in it, but there's still plenty to do in the meantime.