Do I Really Need More live Rock?

[ReeferTCG]

Hi all!

Question which I know will get opinions on both sides so ill tally them up

Ive had a tank running for almost 1.5 years. I started with dry rock and added a lot of bottle “bacteria” as well as corals from different sources. Half way I added a bit of TBS nano live rock.

As I plan my 250 gallon build, I plan to transfer everything, should I get more live rock in the sump or will it eventually colonize the new 200 lbs of dry rock from my current rock.

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

should I get more live rock in the sump or will it eventually colonize the new 200 lbs of dry rock from my current rock.

I think there are two different questions wrapped up in this.
Starting with the second, yes, the current rock life will eventually colonize whatever else you put in the new tank.
I will answer the first with another question: How much time have you got?

 

[ReeferTCG]

I think there are two different questions wrapped up in this.
Starting with the second, yes, the current rock life will eventually colonize whatever else you put in the new tank.
I will answer the first with another question: How much time have you got?

Answer your question with a 3 question. How much time I got for what? Fill the tank? Keep the tank?

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

Answer your question with a 3 question. How much time I got for what? Fill the tank? Keep the tank?

Fair enough!
Time until your tank can support the livestock you intend to keep, and time you spend trying to control phosphate. Time really depends more on your intended stocking list than anything.
I guess you already know the upside and downside of real live rock from your current tank. How long do you wish to wait for those benefits to take hold fully, and how open are you to new, unknown hitchhikers? Since you are talking sump rock, I'm guessing many types of hitchhikers could be tolerated.

 

[keagan]

Personally if I had the option (I'm jealous they don't ship here) I'd budget for as much live rock as I could afford to speed up the process and have more biodiversity. So +1 on what's said above, it depends on how patient you are.