Live Rock Help

[Chago09]

ok I have some more questions for the experts..... I am setting up my first reef tank. I am going to be starting it out as a FOWLR for about 6 months to make sure everything is stabalized and matured then I will be buying the proper lighting before bringing my water garden. My questions are about live rock. I am going to be setting up tomorrow a 65 gallon with dimensions 36"x 18" and its 24" tall. I have bought 50lbs of crushed coral. I think that should be enough substrate for that foot print. I will set it up tomorrow with substrate, water, salt, heater, aqua clear 110 and 70 which will be the filters. I will let it run for about 2 or 3 days and then want to add my rock. I have found this stuff really cheap on bigals

http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ctl3684/cp18314/si1379470/cl0/caribseareefrock50lbs

this stuff is really cheap and is surprising me how cheap it is.... if I buy this with about 15lbs of already cultured and good fiji rock, will it culture on the bigals rock aswell???? will my tank still cycle the way it should??? Will algae and inverts grow on the bigals rock??? or will it just be a ordinary rock and not act as a filter and such??? I am trying to fill my tank with atleast 70lbs of rock to start and I don't want to spend a enormous amount. My local pet store sells half decent fiji rock for $10/lb so 70 lbs will cost me $700 ahahaha i'm in university and can't spend that much. I have found some deals online like dr. foster and smith and so on. Is there any good sites that the experts recomend... and that deliver to Canada???

Thank You so Much

[roader247]

For a quick answer yes it will culture but it will take much longer to fully cycle I would also think about not putting crushed coral on the bottom ether I will give you my choices for live rock the first on is the best. Good Luck

Mark

http://www.reefermadness.us/

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/scateg.cfm?pCatId=393

[Chago09]

well how much live rock (cheaper quality) is required to cycle a 65 gallon tank??? and keep it going with only a few fish??? maybe two clown fish???

[roader247]

I would let it cycle for a minimum of 8 weeks testing for ammonia and nitrites. Add fish very slowly live rock is live rock because on the bacteria and life on the rock. It can be amazing the things that come out of live rock, some are great and some are pests Good Luck you already know a lot about aquariums so I think you will do fine Good Luck

Mark