Macro rock cycling with raw shrimp
 

Im starting a 150 with new macro dry rock, trying to avoid pests and I'm in no rush. Is the raw shrimp thing a good idea to get the ammonia cycle going? I have a rubbermaid with about 90lbs in it, bacteria starter and now a piece of shrimp. Should I pull the shrimp out after a period of time or just let it stay in there for the next month and rot away?

Yes.

Test nitrite until it drops to 0, then test nitrate.

I simply use fish pellets. For a 180 I'd use about eighteen 1 mm pellets per day (1 pellet for 10 gallons) until I see ammonia, the stop adding pellets until the ammonia is gone. Nitrite isn't toxic in saltwater like it is in freshwater so I don't even own a kit. Just check nitrate once ammonia is zero to mmsee if you need to do a water change to lower nitrate or not.