Need some help on my starting rock

So I have a thread running in the show your fish tanks off forum, all about a 180g tank I'm setting up. One of the larger expenses is in rock. I've gotten a few different qoutes from a few different LFS's but after seeing some very inexpensive rock on www.reeftopia.com I'd like to get some other's opinion. Here's where I am at:

LFS offer - I'm looking at 200 lbs of dry rock, at $3.25 per lb. I think this is all I will need as I'm trying to have a slightly more open look, but will probably still need more. Still not 100% sure. I think I have read here that you will generally need 2 lb's for every gallon of your tank. But since it's dry rock and weighs less than live rock, I'm thinking it should be a decent start. I'm also looking at 20 lbs of cured live rock, which they will give to me at $8.99 per lb. This rock will go in my sump to make it easier to add/remove as needed.

Reeftopia offer - These guys have great lot prices. They are selling Atlantic Aquacultured Live rock in bulk. 80 lbs for $150 or 200 lbs for $360. Both of these prices include free fedex ground. Based on the shipping, probably wouldnt be live rock anymore when I got it though, right?

So here's what i am asking. Would it be smarter for me to buy the live rock, dump it all in a giant bin with bleach and water, kill it all... Rinse it and dry it, and then use that as my dry rock? It'd essentally save mre $300. The negatives would be I don't get to hand pick the rocks, and I have to go through the hassle of killing the rock.

What do you all think? Is it worth the hassle? How long after killing/rinsing/drying the rock would I need to cycle the tank with the dead rock in it before I can start adding livestock? Thanks in advance for your help.

Scash

 

just a thought, But have you checked craigslist for live rock? i found 7 or 8 ads all within 30 miles of me and wound up with over 150# of live rock for under $1 / pound. granted the one great deal i found was from asking someone with an entire setup for sale and i asked if he would sell me the LR alone, just goes to show you it never hurts to ask.

~Will.

 

If you got it shipped, why would you kill everything on it? I'd use it to cycle the tank with the die off. The cycle is usually the same duration, regardless of how much rock or how much ammonia. The nitrogen cycle is like clockwork. Usually if left undisturbed, you're looking at about 5 weeks +/- a week.

 

Go with your LFS, odds are they've tried many of the suppliers of liverock (if they are a reputable dealer) and have what's in the shop for a reason. You can inspect the rock shapes and look for any bad hitchhikers to avoid, online you can't. The rock from reeftopia looks more like baserock, not very porus or interrestingly shaped. Maybe order 1/2 needed from them if you are interrested in saving money. Perhaps top it off with the 8.99/lb rock, your 20lbs seems reasonable.

I recently ordered what looks to be the same type of rock from a recommended online dealer and was dissapointed, all of the LFS near me had better rock/prices. Lesson learned, KEEP IT LOCAL.

 

Thanks, I appreciate the advice.

Scash