I have done it in a few tanks now and find it reduces the intensity of the Ugly Duckling stage.
If using Aquasoil, or Safe T Sorb, I dose frequently with phosphates to 10
ppm and test every other day residing as necessary until the substrate is filled up and stops. absorbing.
With inert substrate I dose to 2 ppm phosphate as it helps the bacteria grow. Also add declorinator and if
kh is below 3-5 I dose baking soda as well to raise it to that temp. Finally I dose ammonia to 2 ppm. Then I wash out the media from a canister filter in the tank water.
Note ammonia loses potency even if it does not lose smell. Even in a sealed bottle. I got a bottle of Fritz Fishless fuel that had no ammonia present in it. I hold tank at 80 degrees until cycle is completed
So yeah test your ammonia levels a few hours after dosing after it has mixed.
I test daily for ammonia and nitrites. 2 ppm of ammonia makes around 5 ppm nitrites. If ammonia has been cleared more than3 days and nitrite is still present I drain to substrate and repeat everything.
A couple times every day I stir the substrate with a long handled spoon to respond mulm and let the filter take it up.
I keep draining and repeating until I get to the point where I can dose 2 ppm ammonia and it converts to0 Ammonia, 0 nitrites in 24 hours.
With good seeding this takes me about 2-3 weeks. Then a drain and refill, dechlorinate, add
GH if needed and turn heaters down. I do not bother adding GH when tank is cycling.
I am not as concerned about fish bioload as I am about bacteria maturity in the tank for less algae issues.
No lights on other than when working in the tank, but no effort to black out ambient light.