Should I be topping off tank during initial cycle?.

Yeah that will definately be enough. Wait till you see it start to break down, then take it out.

 

Thanks again

 

I have a shrimp in the tank since Monday, but still no ammonia spike? It's a constant 0.6.
Nitrites have just started to appear today at 0.1 and nitrate is at 5. I am using a nutrafin test kit. How long till I see the ammonia spike you think? It's been setup for about 10 days now. I am using all live rock and " live sand" from a bag

 

If you're getting nitrite and nitrate, you have ammonia, it's being converted......that's a good sign imo. I'm not sure what constitutes a "spike" in ammonia......

 

Well it's been a constant 0.6 and hasn't changed so I guess I was expecting it to creep up some before I saw nitrites is all

 

If you are cycling with live sand and live rock you may not "see" the spike, its happening but the bacteria are doing their job. I just set up a new tank and am topping off during cycling, getting into the good habits I guess.

 

Might just be the quality of your testing kits.

For the most accurate results use Red Sea test kits or Hanna Checkers.