I also did not do a fishless cycle. When I started my tank, with live sand and live rock, I ghost feed for 5 days. 50% water change on the fifth day, measure ammonia on the seventh 7. Ammonia is 0, did a 30% water change and add 5 damsels. all of this damsels survived, then I added 2 clowns 3 weeks later. You'll get there, the bacterias are just not yet enough to process the ammonia quickly.