Mixing TBS with others

[Liquid Hobby]

So, I love TBS stuff. However, I'm thinking about having various rock types in my tank. Here's my seemingly dumb question: can I just get the sand and some base rock, part 1 of the package including all it's start up content and then forgo part 2. I would then just add additional dried rock of my choice. Seems this would be a great way to quickly populate all the rock and cycle the tank.

 

[craigshup]

Not a dumb question at all!
The quick answer is yes. But!

Richard don't send base rock on the first order of the package, He chooses 1st class rock for the first part of the package and the second part also for everyone! The first part looks so good that when you get the second half then you have to choose which will be covered up and it will all be covered in live stuff, I have as much of my first part on top as I do my second part! Was hard to choose, I didn't want to place any cup corals or biger clams, etc.where I couldn't feed them with my turkey baster.
And I you look at my pics. of my 90 Gal. you can see I do have some FIGI,Tonga, and Walt Smith that I had for about 13 years under there, i used it for my base, because after all that time the only thing you could call alive was the bacteria, and the purple coraline alge.
From my experiance with the other types of so called live rock they are just dead coral chunks, I wish I had bought TBS REAL LIVE ROCK for mine 13 years ago but nobody told me the difference, and I still didn't understand how Real Live Rock looked till I got my first on 08/13/10 from TBS .

IMO, if you like dark purple coraline alge, find you a small piece and place it in the tank with the TBS Live Rock and the dark purple will start small spots on other rocks and even on the back glass, pumps, etc. and all the rocks will get more Coraline Alge after the cleaner crew cleans the rock, it seems to grow faster then. TBS rock has pink,dark red, green, purple,etc. coraline on it already plus all the live critters.
Also he does sell dry rock, you can purchase and use as base.
If you do get some base rock or dry rock, put the TBS rock on top so the live stuff gets plenty light and water flow so the TBS stuff don't die! And I will seed the base rock too.
If you get the TBS first you won't buy the other
Good luck on what ever you decide! And post pics. We like to see them!
I turned in another order today and will post pics. when I get it set up

 

[Liquid Hobby]

Thanks for the reply. I did not mean to disparage the rock! Maybe base rock isn't the right term, I'm looking for seed rock. I understand that his rock/sand comes teaming with life, that's what I'm after - all that life. However, I do like the look of plates and the dead/tube coral rock, after all, that's the backbone of all reefs and many atolls.

I guess my real question is about the cycle. Can I start with part 1 and then just add dry rock on top of it? What are the implications of doing it that way? Will that mess up the cycle process that Richard explains in such detail with out part 2?

 

[Liquid Hobby]

Answered my own question using the good ol search function.