[leebca]

I have found using ammonia alone isn't enough. What adding just ammonia products does is launch the nitrification bacteria. But if the person is aware of what's really going on, they realize that there are thousands of other kinds of bacteria at work.

So adding ammonia AND another organic source, such as the thawed fish food is a very good idea. Don't short the thawed fish food. In fact you can slightly overdose it in the unoccupied QT and then clean it out before using the tank.