I just got my 10 gallon tank set up an wanted to know how long it would take to cycle. I added about 12lbs of supposedly precured live rock. It had some die-off which i scrubbed of and added to my tank. My question is how long will it take to cycle, or do i need to add something like a piece of shrimp to really get the cycle going.

Also when can i add a cuc and chaeto to my sump

Supposedly being the key word. You always need to plan on testing the cycle (ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate) to make sure. One week of undetectable ammonia and nitrite is usually a good sign that the tank is cycled and the rock is cured.

If it had some die-off, then it probably wasn't 'fully' cured. There is no way to predict how long it will take (again wait a week longer than it takes for ammonia and nitrite to become undetectable).

Do NOT add a shrimp or anything to 'assist' the cycle or ammonia production.

You can add a cleanup crew after the cycle has become fully established. If there is little algae, keep the crew small for now. I wouldn't add Chaeto until you have fish and nutrient levels start to increase.

+1 to everything seabass said.

I had the rock shipped to me, so i figured some stuff wouldn't survive the trip. Now my timeline was
1. CYCLE
2. CUC
3. Some corals-really only zoos, mushrooms, and a lps to see if my tank/light will handle it
4. 1-2 fish depending on size and amount of waste.

So Chaeto should be added like between steps 3 and 4 right

Yes, or even step 2 and 3.

if the rock was shipped, or out of water for more than a few minutes I wouldn't call it cured. Its going to have some dye-off and take time for the good bacteria populations to come back and stabolise. I would give it 2 weeks before adding CUC and 3-4 weeks before adding soft corals. Testing will tell you when the Ammonia and Nitrite is gone, but the longer you wait the better IMO b/c of higher good bacteria population and more stable

I never had a real distinct cycle, but wait no less than 3 weeks and then a week of 0 readings. when you get your algae bloom you know your on the right track.

It can take anything from one week to one month or more. It is impossible for anyone to tell and you must check your ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. Once you get nitrites, then you're on your way about a week or 2 from the completed cycle.

Mine took a week but I had very good quality totoka live rock which is very porous and has huge surface for bacterias to colonize. It was fully cured.

If you have non porous live rock and it is not fully cured, it may take longer. Only way to tell is to monitor the tank parameter carefully and go very slowly when adding live and bioload.

My rock is Fiji so i guess a decently porous rock type. Its got a ton of lime green coralin algea encrusted on it. Will it purple come later or is that a completely different variety. Can green and purple exist together? In theory the only way things can be added to a tank is if I introduce it, would other varieties come from frags etc.?

Normally the purple variety eventually appears. For whatever reason, the purple seems to out compete the other colors, but multiple colors are often found coexisting. And yes, a frag with some purple coralline is enough to get it started.

cool Another question. My rock has been in my tank for 5 days now and besides the algea and a couple coral/sponge looking things it has brownish fuzzy stuff that blows back and forth in the current. Is that dead stuff and can it be removed or do you just suck it of during a water change

I might brush off the brownish fuzz in a bucket of saltwater.