I agree. "Cycling" is bull. Dirty sponge filter or some goopy media is what I use for new tanks. I have two canister filters running for that reason, wash one out and wait a few days and wash the other one. I got the best bacteria in alaska no doubt about it. Stinky goldfish and dojo dookie provides an excellent home for bacteria. Fully riparian there's not and inch of surface that isn't covered in duckweed, or elephant ear, or spider plant. And throw the nitrate tests in the garbage. Literally just taste the water. It's free and you get good at it. Your body is equipped with a super sensitive chemical sensor called your tounge. If it don't taste right, it ain't right. Fuck paying money for some piece of paper that tells me what I already know, tells me my low maintenance tank is doing fine hur dur. And yea I may be super drunk but God damn it if I don't love this hobby and the people in it. I just wish more people would stop falling victim to the "cHeCk YoUr niTRatEs" scam. Taste or smell the water, if it's got the bad bad niTRatEs you can tell. And enjoy yourself. It's a hobby to have fun not to stress chill the fuck out and have some fun.