Actually i like the fish food idea as i already had it for my other tanks, and it is not as bad as you think. I have used it to cycle every single 1 of my tanks with no problem. Just added some for the first 4 days and then i stopped. I found the mess was minimum especially if you have a filter running, no problems what so ever. Besides, i am too lazy to go buy ammonia and if there is any mess i would clean it up on the water change you have to do to the tank is cycled.