I've never heard of using hermies to start a cycle... they eat waste... I've heard of using damsels to kick off the cycle, but it's kinda cruel. We try to promote using uncured LR, or fish flake food to start the cycle. :joy:
It's also my understanding that inverts (such as hermies) won't tolerate high levels of ammonia, nitrates, or nitrites... but i'm not sure, as i've only had them after my tank was fully cycled, and i haven't had any spikes in ammonia, nitrates, or nitrites after i added them... I'd see if you could possibly return them, though. Having living animals in the tank during cycling is like you being in a room with no ventalation, and having to breath in nail polish remover for 4 weeks... it burns their lungs and guills.
you can't always believe the LFS, because most of the time they're just trying to make a sale. you know, the best LFS i found was in the middle of nowhere in this old warehouse. The place looked like crap, but they had the best help, best fish, and best systems i've ever seen! you could tell they were trying to appeal to the serious aquarists. If you can find a LFS like that (one where you know they're not trying to just get your money), you'd be golden! Even if they charge more, it's worth it in the long run to get expensive healty fish & corals than inexpensive sick ones.
Wow, i've gone totally off topic. I gott learn to keep my replies short, quick, and to the point!
jenn
