The tank will cycle fine without fish. Give it time, serial test the parameters to see levels rise and fall. I am not a big fan of using any fish as guinea pigs. Big or small, cheap or expensive, all fish were created equal.......with all due respect, IMO, I dont think there is such a thing as a cycling fish
Having said that, I would take it slow on the fish and wouldnt start with a $300 fish. But IMO, I wouldnt put a $5 damsel in there and if it died say "oh well" try again in a few days".