Letting tank sit for 2 months: Order IPSF vs cheap rubble?

[HPark]

Hi all,

Jumping back into the hobby with a small 20g. I'll be gone all summer teaching and my roommates have graciously agreed to top off the tank in my absence.

My question, to seed the tank, should I order something elaborate like Indo-Pacific Sea Farm's 9 for $99 or just buy $20 worth of rubble? I know just a few pieces of reef rubble would have more than enough life to jump start an aquarium, but the guarantee of getting some mini-brittle stars and positive stuff I've read on Strombus snails makes me think it might be worth it.

Opinions or experiences?

Thanks!

 

[SushiGirl]

In the past I ordered the 9/99 a few times & loved it. I haven't ordered anything online this time around because I lucked out & got the same stars in some chaeto & found some strombus @ a local store. Personally I'd do the 9/99 over rubble any day. The only thing I can't find locally that I miss are the banded trochus & the black nerites.