water, lr, ls.. what order

[Myka]

IMO, put the water in first, then add the rock. Wait for your tank to cycle. Siphon out any detritus off the rocks and bottom of the tank. Set up your rocks the way you want them, and make sure they are stable without sand. Then add sand, just be sure to add the sand after your cycle is over since your live rocks will be dropping a bunch of detritus off them that you don't want all mixed up in your tank. By making sure the rocks are stable without sand, then when you have critters that move the sand around they won't cause an avalanche of live rock!

[cwickham]

my rock has been cooking for a few months.. so hopefully i wont have too much die off, i was thinknig to go with 2 inches of sand, how much sand is good?

[Myka]

If your rock has been cooking that long, then you can add it all in one go. Water, rock, sand. I like to have about 1-1.5 inches of sand. Have you tested the water your rock is cooking in for phosphates and nitrates?