is there a difference btw Microbacter QuickCycl and DR tims Ammonium Chloride.

[Guss]

i getting a bottle of microbacter start xlm, but i can not get the Microbacter QuickCycl, so ended up getting the dr tims ammonia,
are they the same? , and do i add the ammonia 1st right then add the bacter xlm after the ammonia depending on tank size.

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[KrisReef]

The instructions on the Brightwell product say "ADD one Hardy Fish" (not Dr. TIms Ammonia) and then test for ammonia like you would for a fish in cycle. Dr Tims will provide ammonia much faster than a hardy fish will, so I suspect it may work, but it doesn't match what the instructions say, ("Hardy Fish">).

Some people thing fishless cycles (DR Tims Ammonia) are kinder and gentler, but I think the bacteria might beg to differ? I would use the Dr Tims and then measure the cycle per the bottle instructions, which is ~ "wait until you can't detect ammonia and nitrate is very high," ie a normal cycle process for making a tank safe for fishes.

I think it should work fine.