Cycling a tank

[The Grizz]

I didn't use anything else, usually if you are using new sand it has some for of bacteria already. Are you using new live rock?

[fooman]

I am using dead rock and dead sand i decided that i don't want any thing to make it harder that it can be already (and expensive) .

[The Grizz]

Using dead rock is ok but I would get some live sand to seed the dead sand and a few pieces of live rock to seed the dead rock, it will help you big time.

[Doug]

I used all dead rock, no sand and the start up. But I cycled my rock in closed tubs for a month first then put it in the tank and used the start up.

[sumpfinfishe]

I sure hope you mean by dead rock that its 100% cleaned and dried rock because if it was recent lr that was simply just dried, then this rock needs needs to cure in a sw bath to clean off all the die off.
Adding a few small pieces of lr or a few cups of live sand will kick stàrt the cycle bigtime or you could add a dirty filter from a friends tank if your really desperate.

[fooman]

I am going to use Marco dry rock and some base rock that is new. Was just thinking that i might be able to speed it up a bit . But i will just do it the right way the first time so i don't screw things up.