I used to take mono and cycle it. I found it worked well, some people retain water.

You should probably look into kre-alkylin it doesn't need to be loaded.

As for mono I never really tested the difference it made, but with the kre-alkylin (Purple K) I am taking now I stopped for a few days and noticed a difference in my lifts.

How much of a surplus are you on? Good call on clean bulk. I am bulking now too and going the clean route as well. Not counting calories, just opening up my eating window (I was intermittent fasting during my cut)