Also if you have friends with mature tank, you could use the water. If you trust your lfs you could also use there water. Just a suggestion
Test on first week with shirmp? What test kit are you using? Cycling takes time & patience. Purchase ammonia(ace hardware) just above mentioned. Set up a qt for your first fish:beer:
No,two weeks shrimp still has not rotted away. The shrimp still looks about the same since I put it in.