Best Way To Cycle My 20 Gallon Tank?

So last night I got my aquarium set up! It's a 20 gallon tank with pool filter sand as the substrate. I have an Aqueon Quietflow 30 running with a pre-filter and Seachem Matrix inside. I've got an old light hooked up right now, but a new one is on its way in the mail.

I've also got some plants sitting in a quarantine right now, since I scrubbed them and gently bleached them to make sure I got the algae off from the old tank. I'll probably be good to add them in a few days. The stocking plan is 9x KuhlI Loaches and 1x Female Betta. The plan is to get the Loaches in there first, but this brings me to my dilemma.

I plan on ordering all nine kuhlI loaches altogether online and then have them shipped to me. The problem is I live in Marlyand, USA, and it's rather cold here. However, it looks like we're going to be getting some warmer weather with 40 degree lows at night and 50 degree highs during the day (Fahrenheit) from Feb 3rd to Feb 6th, which should be sufficient weather for overnight shipping, since they'll have heat packs. If I miss this shipping window, I might have to wait up to a month before the weather becomes that warm again.

So my tank is all set up, but I doubt I'd be able to run a fishless cycle in that time frame (that's what I'm used to doing.) So if I wanted to get these fish sooner rather than waiting weeks or even a month for them, what is my best option when it comes to cycling the tank for these new arrivals? I'm looking for recommendations since I've only ever done fishless cycles before. I've heard SafeStart helps kick off the cycle when adding new fish, but I've never tried it before. If anyone has had any experience with stuff like that, I'd love to hear it :]

 

I use pristine and aquavitro seed when I add new fish. There is no ammonia after a few days. I used it for a fish-in cycle when the fish in another tank started dying to move the other fish. There was 0 ammonia in 3-4 days.

 

I use pristine and aquavitro seed when I add new fish. There is no ammonia after a few days. I used it for a fish-in cycle when the fish in another tank started dying to move the other fish. There was 0 ammonia in 3-4 days.

Interesting! Seems like better quality stuff than SafeStart, although I'll have to see if I can pick this stuff up locally. Is there a reason why you use both? Do they do different things?

 

Interesting! Seems like better quality stuff than SafeStart, although I'll have to see if I can pick this stuff up locally. Is there a reason why you use both? Do they do different things?

They do the same thing. I just use both because someone bought pristine for me when I already had seed

 

They do the same thing. I just use both because someone bought pristine for me when I already had seed

Ah I see, good to know! :] are there any similar products that are worth the money that you know of? Just want to make sure I have a list of potential products I can use if I can't find either of these at my local fish stores.

 

Ah I see, good to know! :] are there any similar products that are worth the money that you know of? Just want to make sure I have a list of potential products I can use if I can't find either of these at my local fish stores.

Safe start is usually recommended and its very easy to find. There is also Dr. tim's one and only, stability and apI quick start. I have never used any of these though

 

I like products from Microbe-Lift.