How do you guys initially cycle your monster tanks?

[aclockworkorange]

I never said without anything... I said fishless (no fish in the tank). My point in this thread is you don't need to buy 'off the shelf' bottled products. There are cheaper ways that are proven.

Wouldn't bottled ammonia from a store be considered "off the shelf?"

You said it takes about the same amount of time fishless with ammonia dosing vs with Stability? So you're saying you can take a brand new tank, add ammonia for 4-9 days, and it will be fully cycled?

And if you can't spend a few bucks on a bottle of Stability, you're in the wrong hobby people.

Seriously, I don't understand your definition of "proven" either? So on this thread alone, you have myself, jcardona, and RD. telling you we've used this product and it works (and those other two alone are some of the most knowledgable members on this entire site). You have threads on MFK by another moderator saying the exact same thing.
So is it not proven until you personally try it out and deem it zoodiver approved?

To the OP, I don't know what else to say that hasn't already been said. You're in a position where you have multiple tanks with potential disease and don't want to transfer media between tanks. You often have to pick up fish on short notice and put them in uncycled tanks. I can't think of a more perfect use for Stability honestly...

 

[Zoodiver]

I didn't say ANYTHING about your method NOT being proven. You are making vast generalizations about what I'm saying and missing the point. There's no need to make this a personal arguement with me (which is all you seem to be doing). If you want to do that, feel free to PM me. I'd be more than happy to talk.

As for the thread... with that much load on a new tank and adding sick fish to the mix, start doing water changes and get more air stones going on that tank. One of the most over looked elements of a new tank is disolved oxygen levels.