Do the cycle at your place or theirs, doesn't matter, you just have to be there every day to check it.
Fish or fishless cycle?
When using fish to cycle it, you have the chance of fish dying (if this could turn off the people you might want to do it at your place).
With fishless you have to be there to test and add ammonia every day at the same time.
OR
Wait for it...
Brainstorm... Use water from one of your ponds!!!
and put some of the old filter material from it in the new filter too to kick start the new filter. (just make sure nothing is sick in yours (or new catches)).
Dye is cheap ($3-$5?) a package, but you don't use the whole package on something like this.
Company site and a bunch of tips
http://www.google.com/search?client...&channel=s&hl=en&q=rit+dye&btnG=Google+Search
I just posted the whole seach entry since there are so many of them
.
There may be a tie dyed pond in your future
.
Dr Joe
.