new fish tank with ammonia problems

Question
Karen, I am having trouble. Out of the blue I decided to get a fish tank. So, I bought a 10 gal kit. I set the tank up and had the tank running for a week before I ever put any fish in it. Then I got 4 gold fish...ornada, pearlscale, calico telescope, and then another calico goldfish. I put them all in the tank. My telescope was hanging out in the corner a lot so I did some research on the web...lots of talk about this fish possibly needing special food or feeding help because maybe they don't see so great. So in an attempt to make sure he was getting food...I was feeding all of the fish quiet often. Never saw any info on over feeding. Lots of talk about how delicate their eyes can be (now I'm worried about some of the stuff that I have in the tank). Lots of talk about swim bladder, but no info came up on ammonia poisoning when I did my search. Then three days ago the water was so foggy (the fish had been in the tank only 5 or 6 days) that I thought it would be a good idea to change all of the water...100% water change and I rinsed everything off. Filled the tank back up....let it run for several hours, then put all of the fish back. The water was so clear...I put food in and was relieved and satisfied to see my telescope eating and getting some of the food. I was feeding them several times. 2 days ago I noticed the water getting foggy again. I thought maybe it was the light on the cover...so I have been keeping it off. Then my regular calico goldfish started acting really tired. Hanging out at the top and by the filter. Then today I came home and he was laying on the floor of the castle. I scooped him up in a glass bowl and took him to the pet store. They said that I have dangerous levels of ammonia. Maybe 4 fish was too many for my tank. Currently he is still alive, but back at the pet store in more capable hands. So I came home to my three guys with some ammonia tablets that are supposed to help the levels. I dropped the tablet in. I watched. Then I was looking in the water and my ornada was looking tired. I smelled the water and it smelled of ammonia. I felt terrible....so I changed the water...100% again. Rinsed everything. Cleaned the filter....it was so gross!!! While removing the water I is very obvious that I am over feeding the fish. Now I have been reading about ammonia cycling. I do not know what I am doing. I really do want the tank and I mean well but I need help. I think that I probably need some sort of tester kit at home. I don't currently have this but I can get one. I really did think that you bought goldfish and put them in a tank, feed them, and then change the water every now and then...I didn't realize that there was so much more to it. I am willing to do the work, but I need some help please.

Thank you!!!!!!!

Answer
Hi Heather,
Well, you are doing great by doing the research and finding these important things out.

What happened is you stocked your tank too quickly and didn't allow for slow, gradual stocking that's needed to prevent an ammonia spike that most often kills. Also, overfeeding was making the ammonia level spike up even more. And goldfish are big waste producers anyway, more so than tropical fish, way too many goldies for a 10gallon.

But this isn't meant to beat you down. Just overviewing the mistakes you've made so you can do better. You already are doing better by not giving up and doing research and asking questions.

The most important thing you can do now is water changes. It will help save your fish and hopefully they aren't too far gone. I would do 50-75% whenever the ammonia reads above 'safe bounds'. Always making sure the new water is dechlorinated and equal in temp to your tank.
Since you don't have a test kit. I'd do ahead and do these water changes daily just as a precaution until you can be sure of the safeness of the water quality. Which just means getting a test kit and testing everyday for ammonia and nitrite. You could also get a water conditioner that neutralizes ammonia as well as the chlorine and chloramine. This can be Amquel-plus or Prime. There are others, but just check that they also neutralize ammonia. This can help relieve some stress on the fish. *Keep in mind most ammonia neutralizers can produce false readings on your test. Most say on the label what test kit reagents they are compatible with.

If you need help on cycling, this article breaks it down quite easily and simply-
http://www.firsttankguide.net/cycle.php

I really hope this helps and feel free to write again!
Karen~