The slowest build thread ever, apparently.

[mmorrison55]

as for the lights, On or off during the cycle?

You want to leave your lights off for a while. Like two months or longer if you can stand it. It will help significantly with avoiding the ugly stage while your good bacteria takes hold.

Unless you add corals sooner rather than later.once you have corals you need the lights. Your fish will be ok with just room ambient light.