How much is my Live Rock Worth?

[ReefwithMee]

Hey fellow R2R reefers,

Hope everyone is well! Like the title asks, how much is my live rock really worth? My Red Sea Reefer 350 Gen 1 is about to burst. I seen the air bubble over the weekend and now it’s a race against time. I can price everything out, except my live rock. Any ball park numbers would really be appreciated!

I bought it as dry Marco Rock 60lbs from the warehouse in Van Nuys, Ca! It’s 4 years old and as live as can be!

Much appreciated!

 

[Rtaylor]

Really depends on the market. Where I live you’re lucky to get $2-3 per pound. If there are a lot of reefers in the area you can maybe get $5 per pound. You’re not a retail store, most people expect to pay significantly less from private sellers versus what a lfs charges.

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]

Can you buy another tank and switch it over? Too much success to just sell it all off.

 

[slingfox]

Agreed with @Rtaylor that the range here is $3-$5 a pound depending on location and how large the local reefing community is. If you plan to set up a new tank eventually you may want to store the live rock for future use.

 

[Cell]

$3/lb max in my area given its just Marco rocks and not real ocean rock or something unique like pukani or tonga.

 

[Enderg60]

get a 100 gallon rubbermaid to hold it all until you get a new tank.

Much easier, and the rubbermaid can be sold later.

 

[John K]

It's Live Rock now. Market price may be $2-3 / pound, but if someone who appreciates what it is wants it, perhaps a lot more. What's it cost to get natural LR these days?

That 4 years of diversity is irreplaceable. Too bad so few hobbyists appreciate that anymore.

 

[Cell]

That 4 years of diversity is irreplaceable. Too bad so few hobbyists appreciate that anymore.

I think you are off base in terms of the degree of live rock appreciation, at least on this forum there has been a large, very visible push for the use of live rock lately.

 

[Reefing102]

Around here, for mature rock you could probably get $2/lb but my reefing community is quite small and it’d probably take a while. I had mature, but base (no coraline, no corals) rock that sold for $1/lb and that was me looking for people wanting rock on FB groups, not someone contacting me.

 

[fish farmer]

Can you buy another tank and switch it over? Too much success to just sell it all off.

I agree.

By the time you have a buyer, unless they take livestock and rock, you could have a stock tank running with your livestock and rock.

 

[Troylee]

$2 a pound out here in Vegas if you’re lucky lol.. I sold 50 pounds for $40 and that took a good amount of time.

 

[d2mini]

$2/lb should get it sold quick if you have a decent reefing community.

 

[John K]

I think you are off base in terms of the degree of live rock appreciation, at least on this forum there has been a large, very visible push for the use of live rock lately.

That's totally fair. I was referring to newer hobbyists, but didn't want to say it that way as I thought it might come off wrong to some. I suppose I am an example of one of those hobbiests who has been around a bit and IS pushing the value of LR


Edit, just looking at this thread. It seems that the going price for "used" LR may even be less than dry rock. I don't know what to make of that?

 

[ReefwithMee]

$2-$3/lb sounds good! At least now I have something to work with! Thank you so much everyone for all of your input!