New Tank Problems?

Question
The tank has been set up since Sunday, Dec 30.
The tank is 36 gallons.
I have 3 fish. 2 Fantails, and a Shubunkin.
I have a filter than hangs on the edge and cycles the water. It is designed for a 40 gallon tank.
Unknown pH. Ammonia is 'stress' and Nitrite is 'High'
Change the water frequently, as of right now.
Prob about 20-25% water changed each time.

This is what I have sent to a few other Experts. One declined to answer, and I have yet to hear from another, so I will try to ask you now, since you have an opening :)

Hi! I'm not too sure if you can help me, for I am new to this site.
I have 3 fish, 2 fantail goldfish, and one shubunkin. The Fantails are like giant
butterballs, and the Shubunkin is really.. long. I have had these fish for nearly 3
years. They started their lives in a 10 gallon tank, and I decided it was time to
upgrade them to a 36 gallon tank. I set up the tank, let it cycle for 3 days, and
then put the fish in. Everything was fine for the first few days, and then it went
cloudy. The fish became tired, and were hanging out at the bottom. I took water
samples, and it said my ammonia was really high, so I did water changes. Then I took
a sample to PetSmart to get a 'professional' opinion. The girl told me to stop doing
water changes, and to put a lid on the tank, so I did that. Then, within 2 days, the
fish started acting weirder. I have hardly fed them. They're going to the surface,
gasping. I went back today, and took another water sample. She said my nitrates and
nitrites were really high, and that I should vacuum the gravel, so I did t!
hat. Then I did about a 30% water change. The fish are still really acting weird.
Is this just part of the new tank cycling process? Are my fish going to survive.
I'm really worried, because I'm rather attached to them since I've had them for so
long. Is there anything else I can do to help them? Thank you for your help, it's
much appreciated!

Update: This was typed up this morning, and it's not evening. The fish have all been doing the at the surface thing. Now, the biggest shub. has gone back to the bottom, and doesn't move often. I'm really worried about them....

Answer
Hi Emily;

It is all from 'Break-In' for sure and is right on schedule actually. Ammonia comes up and then as nitrite goes up the ammonia starts to drop. Your fish are probably having a hard time getting oxygen right now. High nitrites causes the blood to change and it can't carry oxygen very well. It is known as "brown-blood syndrome". If you add aquarium salt to the tank it will help counteract this effect. Any uniodized pure salt will do. It must have no other additives. There are some brands of rock salt that will work if you can't get to the fish store right away. Grocery stores sell it to use for ice cream makers. Add one teaspoon per gallon of water. Dissolve it in a container of water first and slowly pour it into the tank. (Do not pour it in the filter, pour into the tank) Every time you make a water change, add back only enough salt to treat the new water. For instance, if you have already added the initial dose of salt and then need to change 5 gallons of water, add 5 teaspoons of salt with the new water. Once the break-in is over stop adding salt and just let it go away naturally over time from your weekly 25% water changes.

Unfortunately, you were given some bad advice on how to handle this by PetSmart. If ammonia or nitrite are too high for the fish to tolerate, you have to keep doing water changes, sometimes daily, until it breaks in. It may make the break-in period last a little longer, but it is important to keep the fish healthy as it goes through the process. Their theory is that you are removing the toxins that the bacteria needs to develop. It is true that some is removed, but not all is being removed. Even if you change 25% every day or twice a day, there are still plenty of toxins to keep the cycle going.

Do not vacuum the gravel anymore yet. Vacuuming should not be done until it is fully through the break-in period, and only lightly. It disturbs and kills some of the developing bacteria colonies and can cause the toxins to rise even higher. Change no more than 25% every day. Keep testing to see how it's going and do the changes as needed. Here is a link to my web page about it for more tips;

http://www.xanga.com/Expert_Fish_Help

Just keep at the water changes, salt and testing and hopefully they will get through this and it will be over soon...

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins