Is This Reef Setup Good Deal & Worth the Asking Price??? Advice? Thx

[coloagro]

I have a friend of a friend who is asking $500 bottom line for this entire 28g JBJ HQI reef setup here in Denver. I am getting back into the reef game after running a very successful 75g setup but need something relatively small in case of an upcoming move. What are your thoughts on the price? Is the livestock,LR,tank, active running setup etc worth $500 price tag?

I'm also considering buying this brand new setup below from a Phx LFS ( My other home) and having it shipped to Denver.

Current USA Cardiff 24gal Aquarium & Stand (w/o light fixture)
I can get this setup for $326 w/ tax w/o the light from Ocean Floor and ship it to Denver for $112! Total cost roughly $440 delivered. Is it worth it..the price is $200 off Marine Depots price but its in Phx thus the shipping cost. I lovvvee the Cardiff setup and look but the above JBJ Nano is also suitable for my needs. Not sure the extra $112 for shipping is worth it...

Thanks folks!! Appreciate your feedback!

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Here's this initial forementioned offer. Its $500 cash for EVERYTHING! Should I take it? Too much? Thoughts? Thanks!


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4 year established reef tank. Prefer to sell as a whole but may consider piecing it out. Tank is prestine, a real show piece! I get tons of compliments on how much color is in this tank, you will be impressed. Tank alone sells for around $400 new and the coral and livestock would run you about another $700. It has an upgraded 150 watt Radium bulb and LED lighting. Pick this ready-to-go set up for less than half of what its worth, not to mention you could have this set up in your house tonight and not even have to deal with cycling a new tank from scratch (which can take months).

- 2 clown fish, 1 six-line wrasse, 1 royal gramma ($80 for all or $20 a piece)
- large pink brain coral - $100
- birdsnest coral - $50
- Large frogspawn - $100
- large hammer coral - $100
- zoas on a frag cave perfect for adding plugs without using epoxy (orange bam bams, blue hornets, sunny delights) $100 with all zoas
- lettuce coral- $25
- lots of bright blue, green and red mushrooms - must go with rocks their attached to so prices vary from $25-$50
- green hairy mushroom - $40
- good size clean up crew of turbo snails, hermit crabs
- approx 15 - 25 lbs of live rock and sand
- heater
- 150 watt Radium HQI bulb
- 4 LED lights to simulate dusk/dawn
- Ocean Pulse Duo water jet controller (simulates ocean current)

 

[Wicked Color]

looks like a good deal, I just dont like the heat issues created by the HQI in a closed hood on a small tank, I had one, and had to get a chiller to run the lights more than 4 hrs/ day.

 

[coloagro]

The heat is the only thing I'm concerned about if it all looks good when I see it Fri/Sat. thx for the imput

 

[chrislorentz]

I personally would not buy it. I am however cheap. From what I can see in the photos it seems a little over exaggerated to me.

 

[chrislorentz]

I forget what brand they have but Elite Reef has those new sweet AIO's, if you are looking for new.

found it these are sweet if you are intrested in new. http://www.cadlights.com/

 

[coloagro]

Yes..I am obviously going to take a good hard look at this setup before I spend $500 because those pics are a little disconcerting. I am considering new as well....I'd almost prefer it but again I am on a budget here initially. This wont be my dream setup but I'd like it to be well worth the $$. Looked at Elite Reef's site but nothing on those AIO's Got any idea on the pricing? Thanks everyone. Anyone else?

 

[chrislorentz]

I dont but I am sure they will pipe in soon.... I have a 46 gallon bowfront stand and canopy and tons of equipment if you are intrested nothing fancy but on a budget would be good for you.

 

[chrislorentz]

if your intrested http://www.marinecolorado.org/forum...ow-front-tank-stand-canopy&highlight=deal+day

 

[coloagro]

Thx buddy! I would like to go bigger than 28g but due to the fact that I'm potentially moving in the next year to another Denver address....hopefully my final... I do not want to invest in a giant setup unless of course the price was an absolute OMFG steal My old 55g+ tank was a nightmare to break down and these All-In-Ones are more suitable at this point for me. Lord knows I'd do a 90g+ if I owned the home!

 

[nadking]

I guess for me it depends on how many hornets and sunny d's he has on that rock. You could split those off and recoup some $ for the setup easy

 

[kmellon]

I thought the JBJ's with HQI go for around $300 new, but that is new. If i was going to spend $500, i would get the LED version new and start fresh.

 

[coloagro]

Thats an exceelent idea! I may sell off some of his livestock to purchase stuff I want. I'm keeping my fingers crossed this setup is in good working condition and that the corals in the tank are worth something. Guess we'll see Friday! I've been once again bit by the reef bug! Living on the beach and enjoying the tidepools prior to moving to CO didnt help my yearning to get back into this hobby either. Looks like a great group you have here...looking forward to meeting some folks down the road. Thx for the info

 

[Cake_Boss]

I personally would not buy it. I am however cheap. From what I can see in the photos it seems a little over exaggerated to me.

+1, I'm very cheap. If you wanted a used cube, I'm sure you can find one for a lot less on CL. Then again, I really like putting the pieces together. If it were me, I'd hold out until he dropped the price to the $250ish mark, without seeing the coral. I'd go $300 if I loved the coral. My .02

 

[chrislorentz]

I am right on the money with you there Jamie. Coloagro come out to the Jan meeting.

 

[bsharpe]

If I was getting a new tank, I would go to elite and get one of those star fire glass, correct me if that is not what they are called, but they are really sharp. Not that large but great looking with lots of options for lighting. Starting at $400 I think.

 

[MattL]

I just sold a huge tank, lights, stand, canopy, and sump for $300. I say you could do better and make your own reef.

 

[chrislorentz]

Yea that is the CADlights tanks Betsy. They are sweet.

 

[coloagro]

I think I'm going to take everyone's advice and error on the side of...smart and build my own. I too love the building process and was very successful before with my old 55g reef in Phx. I literally got the itch to restart my beloved hobby while here in Phx visting a good friends new 90g setup last week....funny enough I actually got the guy hooked on this stuff and he's more in touch with the new trends than I am now! Pay it forward right! So that being said I have not been to any of the local LFS since I moved here in May 2011. I will plan on attending the meeting Jan 21 for sure and will be making a direct detour to Elite when I get into town Friday )) Thx everyone

 

[mikejrice]

The CADLights are pretty sweet. We can get them in sizes all the way from 4 to 39 gallons with just about any type of lighting you can think of. We are also looking at Innovative Marine's stuff right now and have one of their tanks on display at the shop right now. Their tanks are pretty amazing as well.

Michael Rice
Marine Engineers Aquarium Blog
Sent from Tapatalk so excuse my poor English

 

[Tripple T]

I drilled my 28 gal jbj. It used to be a hqi but I had to run a chiller so I scrapped the stock hood and got led. The stock skimmer is also sub par. If u get it get the tunze 9002 and then u can have sps. I love my 28 gal jbj but it needed quite a bit of custom improvements to be the tank it is today. Cardiff is cool as well. Although when I was at aqua mart they had one set up and the owners pointed out how much the curved glass distorts everything. Once you notice it it is actually kinda obnoxious. I think the curve on the front of the jbj is perfect. Offer the friend of a friend 350 as I don't think he will get a better offer and explain u will need a new skimmer etc to fit your needs. Just my opinion

Remember a brand new solana 34 gal setup is 700 ish and that is with a perfect light and incredible skimmer plus a far superior tank to a jbj.