Oh man. I'm going to give you bad news, so don't hate me. Bacteria need an ammonia source or they die. So you probably are back to block one and your tank is NOT cycled. BTW I know you are looking for an answer to your cichlid question, which I don't know the answer to, but if your tank is not properly cycled when you put those fish in, they will die, which sucks.
I would highly recommend you read up on how to properly cycle an aquarium, and get another media seed from your friend (they are great!) Here are some good reads to get you started.
Guide to Starting a Freshwater Aquarium - Aquarium Advice
Fish-in Cycling: Step over into the dark side - Aquarium Advice
Tips and Tricks For Your Fastest Fishless Cycle! - Aquarium Advice