Cycling with live rock question

[Brenden]

I had originally planned to cycle with live rock but a friend told me I should not because it will kill most of the life on the rock. So the question is: Would it be better to cycle with shrimp then after it completes add the rock and do a couple water changes a few days apart while it cycles. OR tell my friend he is full of %#@#* and cycle with the rock to start with?

 

[quarryshark]

OR tell my friend he is full of %#@#* and cycle with the rock to start with?

BINGO!! lol
LR is by far the best way to cycle a new tank. Go for it.

 

[Brodie]

Cycle with your live rock. Either way your going to have to cure your rock, and will experience die-off. Might as well put it to good use and cycle your tank without subjecting fish to 6 weeks of bad water quality. If you can find some live sand, that'll help too. You only need a pound or two to seed your tank. This isn't necessary, but it will help. GL & HTH!!!

 

[Brenden]

Do I need to do any water changes while it is cycling or should I just let it go?

 

[RLG2182]

Water changes will only prolong your cycle. I would let it go till it's finished.

 

[zach119]

brenden im cycling my 29 gal tank right now with 40 pounds of keys rock from lr.com in 8 days im almost done with my cycle im wating for my nitrites to go down then im good to go i would recommend the live rock. however most of your hitchhikers will die but i did see a crab today in a hole in the rock he was pretty large.