Help setting up a 55 gal Tank

It would help you out. You don't really need that much though. I was just answering your question as for what you asked, not as to the preferred method. You could also seed the dry sand with a cup from an established system as well. ;D

 

No, all you need is a food source for your bacteria to grow. A simple piece of krill or raw fish will do the trick. Simple add to your tank and let the bacteria grow on it.

 

Doesnt that method take longer for the cycle to complete, also doesnt live rock bring benefical bacteria and critters? Just asking.

 

Yes it does. If you were to start with 100% live rock and sand your cycle would only take a few days. BUT, that can get very expensive. Either way youll need to throw in a shrimp and watch the params.

 

I could be wrong, but I would have to disagree with you on needing to add the shrimp anyways. If the OP used all live rock, he should be able to almost instantly add live stock assuming that they put enough live rock in the system. The reason I say this, is because there would already be enough BB to eat up whatever ammonia would be introduced from the new livestock.

 

I agree. Personally, i would add some fish food and test the parameters 24 hours later just to make sure that there wasnt an ammonia spike. Your completely right, a shrimp would be overkill, i would just add food and watch.

 

I can see doing that. That way you could make sure that you enough BB to break down the ammonia introduced. ;D

 

Exactly