Cycling Before Adding Live Rock..Any Advantage?

[WhiteCloud]

I will be setting up a 40 Breeder FOWLR tank soon. I was thinking about the cycle process.

Most people cycle their tank AFTER putting in the live rock, or have the death from the live rock do the cycle.

I was wondering if it could be benefical to add substrate (in my case SeaFlor and Agaramax) and cycle for 4 to 6 weeks with a dead grocery store shrimp, then add the live rock.

I am sure I will have another smaller cycle after I add the live rock..but I would guess less severe.

I am thinking that with a less intense cycle..more life may stay intact when I add the live rock.

Also...gives me the added benefit of waiting 4 to 6 weeks before buying the 50lbs of live rock...like spacing out the payments.

Thoughts???

 

[KMyers18]

As long as there are no fish when you put the LR in your fine! Yeah LR is a lil'' over prised IMO. I want to convert my FO to a FOWLR but my God I need like 200lbs. I will have to sell some organs or somehting

 

[darb2]

The advantage is that more of the hitch hikers will survive. I used 50% base rock ($1/lb instead of $5-6/lb) and started the cycle with a shrimp. then added the rest in lr after the cycle was almost done. After 6 months you can barely tell the difference.

 

[supafreak]

i'v heard of the grocery store shrimp thing working well for some people! Makes sense to save as much of the live rock as possible, and not letting it die in a nasty cycle period......who knows?

 

[Brad]

I agree with your plan completely! Your LR will thank you for it.

 

[WhiteCloud]

Thanks for the encouragement!

With Darb's sugestion....I think I will also start the cycle with some base rock. It will give the bacteria more place to grown on...and it is SO much cheaper than live rock. I will add my 40lbs of Live Rock after the cycle....which over time will add life to the base rock.

Hirocks.com has 30lbs for $30 shipped. Can't beat that! Not a bad way to start the tank going, eh?

WC

 

[Iccemaan]

Yes as said above I would cycle with the shrimp and your base rock, then after add the LR. This way many more beneficial things stay living on the LR due to a much smaller ammonia spike, if any, due to LR die off. I have also read to leave a few days after the LR is added as well as there may be a mini cycle sort of. Then add your cleaning crew then fish. Everywhere I read patience is KEY.