The 3 neons cycled in a different tank with no problems I've not lost a fish to a cycle ride yet. I've never done a fishless cycle, i prefer to cycle with fish, which can be done successfully, with no harm to the fish, prvided you do it right.

I will definately not be getting anymore neons, they are not really suited to the hard/high PH water that is here. These three are whats left of a school of 20 (that were originally bought for a fully cycled tank) that i will let live out their life here. They school together and there are no predators in the tank to stress them so they will be fine