Base Rock to LR - Filter ?'s

[ohioreef]

I have 9 pounds of LR in my aquarium. I have 10 pounds of base that has been in there for about 5 weeks and 15 pounds of base that have been in there for about a week.
I realize that it will take a while for it to get corraline, etc on it, but I was wondering how long does it take it to develop bacterial colonies for biological filtration?
The same question for sand. I have 100lbs of southdown sand that have been in there for a couple weeks.
I am using an Eheim filter right now with the biological media in it. I am thinking of starting to slowly remove the biological media and use it simply as a mechanical filter until I can get my wet/dry or sump.
What should I run in it for mechanical? I am currently running some "tube" like media in the bottom, followed by the biological media and then white filter floss. What should I keep/get rid of for simply mechanical filtration?
Thanks!!

 

[jlem]

Your base rock is already being saturated with bacteria . Bacteria will colonize any and all surfaces. Granted live rock already has some beneficial bacteria which will mean a quicker cycle, but as far as bacteria's growth rate, both surfaces will do the same thing.

 

[pacopetty]

It took mine about 10 weeks before I saw some good coralline growth on my base rock but it's a very slow process