I don't think it matters all that much on when you add what. I started with just live sand (which probably wasn't because I let it dry out), then added Dr Tim's once ammonia started dropping and then added some MB7 in the hopes of increasing "biodiversity". I really overthought the cycling process and I enjoyed doing it. Sampled all the ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and charted my results.
You know what? I could've added fish at two weeks regardless. Ammonia was 0. I didn't learn that nitrites weren't toxic until afterwards and I think biodiversity is less important and mostly marketing when it comes to bacteria supporting the nitrogen cycle.
But it's one of the few times when we can actually see a predictable result from our actions. In the two years since and all the issues I've dealt with, cycling seems like a cause and effect wonderland of certainty.
You know what? I could've added fish at two weeks regardless. Ammonia was 0. I didn't learn that nitrites weren't toxic until afterwards and I think biodiversity is less important and mostly marketing when it comes to bacteria supporting the nitrogen cycle.
But it's one of the few times when we can actually see a predictable result from our actions. In the two years since and all the issues I've dealt with, cycling seems like a cause and effect wonderland of certainty.