get live rock from local reefers, and dont listen to cycle nazis
if you dont get a cycle in a few days you might not get one at all if you are using established rock.
the other way to go is to use a small amount of live rock(1lb) that is very clean, no pests or algae and use it to seed more dry rock, this way you will have no pests but a long cycle.
definateley get a refractometer and dont buy into dosing everything that the lfs tells you to