So my new Biocube 14 should be arriving sometime this week, and I am collecting the other materials I'll need (test kits, refractometer, Instant Ocean, etc.). After everything gets here and I confirm the operation I will need to go about stocking the tank with live sand and rock: which brings me to these questions:
Where should I go to buy the stuff? Since I only need about 15 pounds of rock, mail-order is probably not cost-effective. I live in Arlington, and would rather not travel too far. I have been to Wally's World once, though the LR there didn't seem like such a good deal.
What am I looking for with regard to LS? I was figuring on a 1/2" to 3/4" bed, which I gather will be about 10-15 pounds. Are there different options when buying LS? My understanding is that I want fine particles to minimize detreus buildup. Are there any other things to be looking for?
In what order should the LR and LS be put in the tank? I have seen some recommendations of LS a few days before the LR. It seems to me that putting the LR in first would be advantageous because it would be sitting on the tank floor, and thus be less likely to shift and have rock slides.
With the depth of sand bed that I will use, would Nerius snails be good, bad, or irrelevant?