adding live rock

[yakfishin]

I have a new 215g that I'm just now starting as a hardy reef tank. It will be used to house mostly fish with a few mushrooms, polyps and such. I figure I will use around 180 to 200lbs of live rock- perhaps more. Is it best to add live rock in this amount all at once or to put in about 25% at a time and letting the tank cycle before adding the next batch? Can anyone with about the same amount of live rock tell me what has worked for you? I've had some people tell me that doing it all at once is best, because your tank only needs to go through one cycle. Others have said doing it in stages is better because the cycles are not as hard on the live rock so you end up with more life. I have yet to hear from someone who actually has a large tank, so I hope someone here with a large tank can let me know which way works best.

 

[TNTREEF]

Do it all at once your gonna lose the more delicate animals and plants either way and your tank will be ready faster than doing it in stages. Large or small it does not matter. The rock to volume of water ratio is still the same.

 

[yakfishin]

That seems to be the most popular answer, to do it all at once. I want the system up and running asap so I guess that is how I will do it. Thanks.