Where To Put Filter Sludge In Cyling Tank?

Hi everyone. Another newbie asking another newbie question
 
I have just purchased a completely new setup, a Fluval Roma 240 tank and stand, filters, heater etc. I want to start a Cichlid tank and fully intend on cycling properly without fish first. I know the photo does not show enough rocks etc for a Cichlid tank but I only decided on one after I set it up!! After 24 hours its all working fine so today I added my first lot of ammonia (Kleen off) to get going. Now here is my question.
 
My dad has a pretty healthy, established tank and everything I have read so far indicates I can help the cycle along using used media. I can get the media and sludge from my dads filter but im not sure where best to put this? My brain tells me it would be most beneficial straight in my filters ( a new aps 1000 and new Fluval 306) but I have read a few people just dumping the nasty stuff straight in the water and letting the filters take their time sucking it up.
 
So which is correct or are both wrong? Also I have a large bottle of Tetrafin Cycle (yes I know lol), it came free with the tank so would this be ok to use in conjunction with the media/sludge and ammonia or will one cancel the other out in some way?
 
Thanks for reading....oh and hello, im Rich

The problem with putting the media directly into the filter, especially when dealing with pads or sponges, is that once in your filter, the bacteria on that individual piece is going to continue to grow on that piece.  Then once that piece is eventually removed, you find yourself with another mini-cycle.   When you just dump it all into the tank water, it introduces the bacteria to several important surfaces at one time, and if you float the extra filter media right in the water, it promotes the bacteria to recolonize into the areas where there is the most water flow, aka your filter media, substrate, decorations, walls of the glass, etc.
 
You for sure can throw some of the sludge right into the filter, just to make sure a good amount gets right in there, but the rest of everything i would float right in the tank.   Another thing you can do, is take a clean sock and fill the end with some substrate from the other tank, then tie off the open end, and hang that right over the rim into your tank water.  You should be able to cycle your tank in a matter of a week as opposed to a month. 
 
Oh and honestly don't worry about the safestart, you have the bacteria you need, it is known that safestart may not even be the same bacteria that naturally colonizes for the nitrogren cycle, and although contains nitrifying bacteria, it may actually be counter productive in the big picture.

Forget the Tetrafin Cycle in terms of aiding with your cycle. Your dad's stuff will help a lot. If he gives you some of his bio-media, put that in your filter. As for the "sludge" or squeezings, those should go into the water. Do not worry about the water looking nasty at first, it will clear up fast.
 
Turn off the tank light for the next day after adding squeezings. Some of these will end up in the filter and some in the substrate or other hard surfaces and the bacteria will establish there as well.
 
When you add ammonia the piece in the filter will usually not be big enough to house all the bacteria and it should spread to your other media. Of course, if the piece you take is large enough to hold all the bacteria the tank might need, then this isn't an issue. Normally, the cycled media one uses to jump start a new tank is allowed to remain in the filter. If you want to pull it out, do so at the end of the cycle and then do another full ammonia addition and check the next day. If you removed too much bacteria, you will get an ammonia reading and likely a nitrite one to follow. Both of these should self correct fairly fast as the remaining bacteria reproduce to take up the slack. Approach this as if you were at the end of the fishless cycle described in the site article. You would be at the 3 ppm dose and test stage to confirm a tank is cycled.

Thank you for your replies. I will put a smidge in each of the filters then and dump the majority in the water. Contrary to what most people feel I think I will actually try and enjoy the cycling process. Gives me time to pick the right combination of fish and know that they will be happy from day one.

You are far more informed than I was!  I didn't do the ammonia cycle, and instead wen't out and bought a tank and fish the same night, and let me tell you safestart surely did not cycle my tank in any way shape or form from my experience, LOL

Safe Start has some very special directions. One is not to change water 1 day prior to adding the product and for 7 days after adding it. What they don't want folks to do is add any type of dechlor/ammonia neutralizer. My impression from the difference between the Tetra and Dr Tim's directions is that Tetra has somehow altered how it packages its version of the product which makes it more susceptible to some things. But I have always stated my bias for Dr Tims.
 
The cycling process is a lesson in patience which is one of the most difficult skills for most fish keepers to master in terms of the hobby.