You are definitely going to need the rodi. You have two options until you get the unit to make your own. You can buy the rodi or you can buy premade saltwater for water changes. Remember you have to top off your evaporation with rodi not saltwater. As for adding the snails, you can probably add them now as long as there is no ammonia. I had hermits and snails survive a month long cycle when I upgraded to a larger tank. Ammonia wasn't present for more than a day or two, but nirites were high for awhile.
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