OP, some starter bacterias work, others contain nitrifying bacteria that cannot survive in an aquarium. Dr Tim's One and Only is probably the most widely recommended product that I've seen, however I had some luck in a tank recently with a bottle of Tetra's SafeStart. As has been said above, these tend to be very hit or miss. The bottle I had luck with was the second one I had tried. The first had no discernible effect. The second brought my ammonia levels from an average of 2ppm slowly downward over the course of a couple of days, then I registered nitrates for the first time, and a few days later ammonia and nitrite were both zero, and that tank has been stable for 19 days. This was nothing like the assertion on the bottle that the tank would be stable in 24 hours, but it did cycle my tank nonetheless. My guess is that the bottle you got from the chain store was either dead or the wrong bacteria entirely. You can still add bacteria, if you want to roll the dice on it working (there were fish in my tank when I did). Those bottles contain nothing but bacteria in a suspension, and the bacteria are harmless to fish.
Seeded media is certainly the cheaper and most commonly recommended way to speed up a cycle, though. If your LFS has a display tank that's well established and healthy, they may well give or sell you a piece of media. Mine did. The media didn't work for me, however. Your results may vary.
Some people temp match using a spare aquarium heater and thermometer. I simply use lukewarm water and do as coursair does, and my fish seem happy enough.
As for happy, healthy fish, getting your water parameters under control should be first and foremost. After that, feed them right, keep them warm and swimming in clean water and you should have a tank full of happy little buddies.
Seeded media is certainly the cheaper and most commonly recommended way to speed up a cycle, though. If your LFS has a display tank that's well established and healthy, they may well give or sell you a piece of media. Mine did. The media didn't work for me, however. Your results may vary.
Some people temp match using a spare aquarium heater and thermometer. I simply use lukewarm water and do as coursair does, and my fish seem happy enough.
As for happy, healthy fish, getting your water parameters under control should be first and foremost. After that, feed them right, keep them warm and swimming in clean water and you should have a tank full of happy little buddies.
