If you want to cycle the tank in a modern way and have 100% control of the cycle.
Then do this.
You want to have 3 ppm ammonia in your tank.
Add 4 drop of Ammonium Chloride Solution (I use Dr Tim's Aquatics, cheap) per gallon of aquarium water.
Wait till you get 0 ammonia, 0 Nitrite.
Repeat above, but this time, the cycle needs to be in 24h, if not then you keep doing it till you get within a 24h cycle.
Ammonia > Nitrite Happens fast.
Nitrite > Nitrate Takes forever.
I do not use the skimmer or a sock, I do not want any beneficial bacteria growing in there at this point.
You can dump a bottle of Nitrifying Bacteria by Dr Tim's Aquatics (not so cheap) for a faster cycle.
This is what i do, it goes fast and no mini cycle later on, getting a tank to cycle 3 ppm of ammonia in 24h makes a tank very stable for a good size livestock bio load right off in the beginning.
This is 100% control. You cannot control how much ammonia your going to get with a dead shrimp.
Too little ammonia, you will not have a full cycle done.
Too much ammonia, you might not even cycle for a long time, it will not allow the bacteria cycle correctly.
No stress to the fishy.