The sand and stuff toss it all in there and start kick off the cycle. Snails will not kick off the cycle. If you aren't going to start off with live rock, then just toss in a raw cocktail shrimp (peeled works better) and as it decomposes it will start your cycle for you. You can add LR during the cycle if you want later, it may or may not increase the length of time for the cycle to complete.

Hold off on adding any inverts until after the ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate spikes occur during the cycle... as the nitrates begin coming down they can be added then at the very earliest, though waiting until after the cycle is completed would be better. No sense stressing anything unnecessarily.

Some tanks cycle in a week others have taken up to 8 weeks or more. It's just one of those things. Patience will be the only thing you can't buy, but lack of it will cost you dearly.