thanks matt,
I am going to use 150 lbs of southdown. I lucked out and have a brother with in laws in PA. and he was able to get me some over xmas break. This should give me about 2 inches for a sand bed. I sort of like the less is more idea but, most everything I have seen stresses the large amounts of LR for filtration. But, the aquascape with the live rock spread out appeals to me a little more.
I will definetly post in the wanteds for cured LR as I get things started. I am also going to run a 20 gallon fug with a plenum so this will help with the bio filtration as well.

I think someone asked where I got my base rock from. I bought it from customaquatics.com. They carry the 25 and 50 lb boxes of carib-sea reef base rock and 40lb box of reef bones. The thing that gets you is the shipping. All in all It costs me about 1.70 a pound. Sorry I made it sound like it was closer to a dollar. I exagerated a little.