ammonia levels

Question
QUESTION: I have a 37 gallon marineland eclipse which is heated to about 82 degrees and has a filter. I have been cycling it(fishless)for almost 4 or 5 weeks now. It is decorated with plastic plants, driftwood, and some gravel and small rocks. It also contains some gravel from an established tank (which sat in the tank about 2 days before ammonia was added). I added enough ammonia to raise the level  to around 4-6 and during the past weeks it has only gone down to 2-4. (the water is dechlorinated and i have not added any products to the water) Recently the water has begun to look cloudy.  I am almost positive that my test kits are working...so I'm unsure what the problem is and why the ammonia levels are taking so long to go down.  What should I do?   
(I am planning to stock the tank with a male Betta, neon tetras, and panda corys)


ANSWER: Hi Renee,
While a tank is cycling, it will sometimes go cloudy.  This will go away in time, but it takes time for good bacteria to be established.  Once the good bacteria is established, your water will clear up.   When your water chemistry is right, do not add your fish all at once.  You could start with neon tetras, they are small, and you could add 6, then wait one week, do a 25% water change, check your water for ammonia, if it is safe, add 3 panda corys, wait one more week, do a 25% water change, and check your ammonia again.  If all is okay, add 3 more pandas, wait one more week, etc.  If you add all the fish at once, your water chemistry will change killing off all the fish.  
I don't understand what you mean, when you say you added ammonia to the tank.  Ammonia should never be added to a tank, so I am a little worried.  Could you explain this to me.
Adding a little more gravel may help speed up your water chemistry.
Good Bacteria must be established before you add any fish.  It is better to wait until your water chemistry is perfect.  
You have a nice choice of fish, your tank will be beautiful.
Lynda

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I am using the fishless cycle so i added pure ammonia to the tank (i had read about fishless cycling and this was suggested instead of fish food to create artifical waste). There are no fish in the tank so the ammonia (i read) is necessary for the good bacteria to grow.  Im not sure if my source was accurate and would love any tips on how to cycle a tank.
Renee

Answer
Hi!
I presume you are using "Cycle"   This is okay, but once your tank has cycled, you do not need to use this product anymore.  To cycle a tank there are a few things you can do.  I don't believe in putting a fish in to cycle a tank, poor thing, that would be torture.  A used sponge bought at your pet store would do wonders, but I do not know if you can use a sponge with the type of tank you have.  A used sponge is full of good bacteria.  You buy the sponge, squeeze out the access water, do not rinse it under tap water, and put it directly into your filter so that the water runs over it.  This would bring good bacteria to your water.  If you cannot do this, water from an established tank would also help.  You wouldn't need much.  One liter would do.  Most pet stores will gladly give you water from an established tank, or maybe you have a friend who has a tank who would happily give you some.  Meanwhile, the word is patience.  You are getting there.  It takes time to establish a tank, we just have to wait.  Once the tank is cycled, the worse is over.
Best of luck
Lynda