New Tank/Nitrogen Cycle...am I doing this right?

Question
Hi,

We've acquired a little 3" comet goldfish. We weren't intending on ever being fish owners, but it was kind of thrust upon us, so as long as we have it (him?) I want to give him a happy healthy life. Because we got him in such a hasty nature, I couldn't do a fishless cycle, we had to put him in something right away. (He came to us in a glass beer mug) I have a 10 gallon tank, with a Whisper 10 carbon filter, some gravel and a couple fake plants. We've also put some mugs in for hiding places, they are dishwasher and microwave safe, so i'm hoping they won't leach anything into the water to hurt the fish. (please let me know if you know otherwise!) No other aeration, but the water pours into the tank from about an inch higher than the tank water level, so creates some bubbles and i'm hoping puts some oxygen into the tank. pH level is about 7.6, it fluctuates between 7.4 and 7.8. temp is about 67/68 degrees F. the Nitrite test i've done most recently doesn't read enough to get to the next color level above 0, but i'm guessing it's between 0 and .05 ppm, which is the next identified level on my little chart thing. The ammonia levels are very high, 2.5 (is it ppm?)was the highest, at which point I did a 50% water change so the ammonia levels wouldn't kill our fish. It seems to be between 1.0 and 2.5, which is normal for this stage I guess? We've had him for about 3 weeks. I've been doing water changes of about 25% every 5 days or so, and vacuuming the gravel when I do so. I'm wondering if I should not be vacuuming the gravel so the good bacteria can build up? Is it correct to keep doing water changes while the tank is cycling? I guess I want to know how to keep our fish alive while the tank finishes cycling. Our fish doesn't seem to like to eat much, he won't go near the food when I put it in the tank (we're feeding goldfish crumbles(?) by Wardley and Green pellets, I think the name was, can't remember the maker), but he's pooping, so he must be eating. Everything I've read says you should remove all uneaten food after 5 minutes, but he doesn't eat within 5 minutes. at all. Sometimes he's very listless, and just kind of hangs out mid tank, with his fins tight to his body (clamped?) some times he's very erratic, swimming from one end to the other very rapidly. Not sure if this is signs of illness(ammonia poisoning?) or just a spaz for a fish.:) He's pretty much always done this though, even when we first got him.
Please let me know how to continue to care properly for our fish to get him through the cycling process safely.

Thank you in advance for your time!

Anna-Marie

Answer
Hi Anna-Marie;

Good for you in getting a proper place for this fish!

The symptoms you described are very common during the break-in. He doesn't eat because he is feeling ill from the toxins. Don't feed him for 3 or 4 days. He is fine for over a week without food, so don't worry. Make daily water changes of 25% without vacuuming the gravel. Vacuuming will unsettle the newly developing bacteria colonies that are needed. The water changes will lower the toxins so he will feel better.

Keep up the good work!

Followups welcome

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins

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