Please don't misinterpret my response. I did not intend it as a criticism of you or what you have done in your tank, and I certainly didn't intend to give you a hard time. I read that you added the fish at the end of the cycle, which, in my opinion, probably does very little, if anything, to harm the fish. I also understand that you chose the specific damsel because you wanted that damsel in your tank long term. That's how I chose cycling fish when I used them to cycle tanks. I've had fish that I used to cycle tanks live happily for years. Was it animal cruelty? I don't know. They did not seem to be distressed through the process. The main reason I don't use fish for cycling now is that my tastes have changed, and the fish that can survive the process are not generally ones that, for aesthetic reasons, I want in my tank long-term.
I really just wanted to tell the story of what I overheard. Some hobbyists--certainly not all or even most--judge others for what they do without thinking about their own practices or the fact that there are viable alternatives. Clearly, there are many ways to cycle a tank. If your method is working--and it sounds like it is--then go with it. In the end, we all want our tanks (and each other's) to be successful.
