it worked great. had someone who just got the fish bug and ran out and got the entire set up brand new. terrible thing to have money to burn! when i told them it would take about 6 weeks to cycle his wife groaned. so told them we could try this. worked great and the fish are swimming around with big smiles!
Urban legend I have heard of people urinating in their marine tanks to start the cycle. Even though it sounded a little perverse, I didn't go that route...
I've jump started with ammonia - worked a treat, just have to remember to do a major water change before you put fish in. When I told my lfs owner about it, he said that it's dangerous for the fish. I told him he was talking rubbish, showed him a printout about it and from then on we've been the best of friends.
that is how i did the jumpstart, with ammonia. was ghoing to do it with my old tank water, but had just done a water change and did not want to crash mine. usually do about 50-55% changes once a week.