Adding a sand bed at a later time.....

[daplatapus]

I'd agree. If it's new sand, I wouldn't "cycle" it. It's not like live rock, there's nothing alive on it to die and give off ammonia. Putting it in a tank to cycle it will create life on it that will possibly create a cycle in the display tank once you move it.
Easiest way to add it to your new tank is get a chunk of pipe with a nice big funnel in one end. Stick the other end down to the bottom of your tank and get someone to slowly pour in your rinsed sand as you slowly move the pipe around the bottom of your tank depositing the new sand where you want it.
IMHO, I'd add it all at once. If you add 1/2" then wait and add more later, the top layer will kill some of what's grown on the bottom layer. If it's all new sand it won't matter if you add 2" all at once.