People used to use the shrimp, but you have a lots of Live Rock already in there. It will cycle your tank, I would stay away from the shrimp. The point of the cycle is to get everything balanced, and once the shrimps gone, you'd have another cycle as things settle out. best just to leave it be and once every thing is settled, you'll be good to go.
Salinity with a hydrometer is a pain, i used one for 5 years though without problems, just gotta flick it a couple times for the bubbles to get out. I've actually ended up having more problems going to a refratometer because the damn thing needs calibration so often. It shouldn't swing unless you have lots of evaporation, but if you have an auto top off with RO you shouldn't notice anything.
|