Dry rock preperation

[DarrenCar]

Received my dry rock yesterday and would like to begin the process of getting it ready for use. I wanted to lay out my plan and check its validity.
So I found this article, http://www.reefaquarium.com/2013/curing-rock-for-marine-aquariums/
Cliff explains the process of curing dead rock with just regular dechlorinated water to rid it of nitrates and phosphates. Once this is done I can either start to cycle it in the same container using saltwater mix, a powerhead and a heater or put it in my display tank and start the cycle there. Being new to the hobby I am having trouble seeing advantages and disadvantages to some of the processes. In my thoughts I see cycling the rock outside of the tank in a Rubbermaid pail as an advantage because it will limit the sight of the ugly stages from cycling the rock. After the cycle is complete I can put the rock in the main tank and its ready to go with a minimal cycle process. The disadvantage I see on cycling it in Rubbermaid over the tank is switching over to the display and aqua scaping will expose it to air and cause the cycled rock to die off again thus creating the need to cycle it again.
I think it may be best to cure the dry rock as Cliff has described in the article, once it has stopped its nitrate and phosphate cycle it is now officially dead rock. Now I can transfer it to main tank without fear of die off due to air exposure and start the cycle in the tank at this point.
Any thoughts on this process would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Darren

 

[virtual reality]

You could do it in a Rubbermaid container. Just make sure the transfer time is fairly short. The bacteria are not just going to all die because they left the water for a small time. Your choice, but you will fine either way.

 

[Mjrenz]

Personally I cycle the whole system with the rock right where I want it in the tank. It's one less thing to do and it's best to put your rock in the tank before sand and water. The rock should sit on the bottom of the tank and not on sand because the sand is going to move around, you don't want anything collapsing. It's also really hard to see what you're doing if the tank is already full of water