It seems that my method of using goldfish that has worked for me for years in all of my tanks, is not a good one. What is a better method and I'll try it.
What do you use to begin cycling your tank?
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You should use old media from an established tank. Get the bioballs from your old tank (or whatever you use as bio) and put that in a woman's stocking. Then put that stocking in your filter or in the tank to quickly cycle it. The good bacteria on the old bio balls will cycle your new tank fast. Add some small tough fish (I used black skirt tetras) and their poop will help feed the good bacteria and then you'll be cycled.
Also, try using Seachem Stability. It works in my experience.
Also, try using Seachem Stability. It works in my experience.
I use a combination of used filter media + fishless cycling. Squeeze out an old sponge, or leave old biomedia in a mesh bag near the new filter intake. Add ammonia to maintain a concentration of 2 to 4ppm, and monitor your water chemistry. You may see a nitrite spike, and you may not, depending on how bacteria-filled the used media was. Once the ammonia disappears overnight, and you have detectable nitrates and no nitrites, do a big water change and you're ready for fish. Takes less than a week. By using ammonia, you create a biofilter that's instantly ready for any size bioload you throw at it. If you use a few little fish, you only create a biofilter that can handle those fish, and you still have to add fish gradually to prevent causing a mini-cycle.