dried live rock

[shrimpchips]

Light will promote algal growth, especially with all the phosphates and nitrates that will most likely be present in the water.

Make it "live" by making sure it's colonized by the appropriate bacteria first - covering it with coralline is secondary.

[sphelps]

I'd cure it in fresh water for a couple weeks, changing the water daily. This will remove all the dead matter and built up nutrients faster and cheaper. After that you can begin the saltwater curing process.