Add you live rock along with the sand. This will start the cycling process. Adding the live rock later can prolong the cycling period.
Buy test kits for ammonia and nitrates. As the cycling progresses the ammonia should rise or spike then return to zero. Similarily the nitrogen will rise and then return to zero
When this has occured(3-5 weeks) your tank has completed its first cycling phase.
Curing is a process of cleaning off the debris and dead mater from live rock. Since it is this dead mater that cycles the bacteria in the tank obtaining partly cured rock is probably the best way to go.
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