I believe that successfully moving/upgrading a tank is very similar to starting a new tank when it's done with lively LR, LS, Macroalgae and coral. It's my opinion that the algae (including coralline algae and algae growing on the glass) along with the live animals (bacteria, bugs and worms) handles essentially all the pollution created when a tank is moved. When supplemental bacteria is not added, there might be a little bump in pollution, but nothing serious nor prolonged. Maybe Fritz stopped the bump? We may never know. Sometimes these little bumps don't happen until weeks after a move.

When it comes to moving/upgrading, Bob Carlson did it right and wrote about it. His thread about the flawless move of his tank is listed right at the very top of the Reefkeeping Tips list. Dennis' success may be partly due to having learned from Bob's thread?

I'm in favor of using bottled bacteria. A long time ago I edited the Reefkeeping Tips & Quick, Easy Setup Tricks to include my recommendation of bottled bacteria. 

Aloha,

"If you haven't read the Reefkeeping Tips linked below in my signature line, I would highly recommend it."

My answers:

1. However much you want. Tanks with less rock and more open sand can look really cool but offer less hiding places for skittish fish such as Firefish Gobies, which actually do very well where there are caves in the sand or a thick stand of Caulerpa on the sand. (Note: the type of rock used can either make or break a reef aquarium environment, but you didn't ask that question, yet.  )

2. Start with a few snails. As more algae becomes noticeable on glass and rock, add more snails. In the end, one snail per gallon is a good rule of thumb. When fish are added, uneaten food may start to sit on the sand. This is the best time to add one or two hermits.

3. That depends on what look you like AND what type of sand you use. It also depends on what other biofiltration is in the system, like beautiful Caulerpa or other Macroalgae which eats N and P pollution like crazy. Smaller particle sand, Oolitic Sand for example, harbors a larger bacteria population so 1/2" of Oolitic sand does the same job of biofiltration as 1.5" of large chunks of crushed coral. A DSB (deep sand bed) can be unnecessary. I typically use Oolitic on the bottom and larger sand on top, but in the tank pictured below it was about 4" of Oolitic sand for the benefit of a soft sandy beach with ample biofiltration for my all time favorite fish. If you haven't read the Reefkeeping Tips linked below in my signature line, I would highly recommend it.

Aloha,

Mark