Will live rock thrive in this system?

[Tobman]

If I put live rock into an aquirium that just has 96 Watt PC lights (Coralife Aqualight), a large cannister filter, and a protein skimmer, will it thrive, or will I lose a lot of interesing life, prior to adding a sump with refugium and higher flow to the system?

[sir_dudeguy]

live rock needs nothing but water at the right temps and sg and flow to keep it "live". Oh and i would think that it needs to have some sort of food for the bacteria.

but rock does not need any light. you could keep it in pitch black containers and the life on it is still gonna be there.

[Tobman]

Right. Let me be more specific. Will the critters that come with the rock (inverts, sea fans, algae, small corals, mushrooms, etc.) thrive in such a system?

I am trying to decide if I can get by without my sump for a couple of months while the tank just has live rock, live sand, cleaner critters, and stuff that comes with the rock, prior to purchasing any fish or corals.

[nmprisons]

well the sump won't really matter for the health of the hitchhikers. if your lights are strong enough, temp is fine, calcium, alkalinity, ph are stable, and you keep ammonia and nitrate at zero I wouldn't worry.