New Tank.

Question
David, I have a 10 gallon tank that I have been trying to set up.  I started it about 2 months ago and i am still having problems.  The first week I went to my local pet store, and they recommended water conditioner and along with that gave me 6 small feeder fish.  In a process of about 2-3 weeks all the fish started dying one by one.  We had the water tested and the ammonia was always very high.  After about 41/2 weeks the pet store recommended two more solutions, one was for adding bacteria and the other was to balance the water, and gave me 5 more feeders to equal 8 feeders in my tank.  I went home did a 50% water change spring water, added the fish and the solutions.  In a two week span 5 fish died, currently leaving me with two 2 inch feeders and one 1/2 inch feeder.  I went to a different pet store and they tested my water and told me that all levels were perfect except Nitrite and that Nitrite was off the charts.  The recommended adding fresh water salt, not to clean the tank, no more fish.  They said that nitrite would eventually come down.  I am afraid the rest of my fish will die soon and that my tank will never be ready to have fish.  Please help.

Answer
Hello Estrella:  ok... first off... what kind of feeder fish did they give you?  I would deal with the second store and not the first... no reputable fish store should sell you fish if your water has not cycled.  Fish will help a tank cycle but you should first let the water sit and circulate in the tank at least three days.  When I start up a new tank I fill it with tap water, put in all of my decorations, filter, heater, etc and I act as though there are fish in the tank... I feed (fish food) the tank twice a day, I test the water, I gravel vacuumed as needed, etc. after a week I test the water again and if conditions are good I buy fish.  Ammonia is caused by a couple of things in freshwater aquariums...dead fish, over feeding of fish, and fish feces and urine.  If all of your fish are accounted for...including the ones that have died then I would look at the last two as the culprit... feed your fish only what they will eat in about three minutes... I feed mine twice a day... once in the morning when I get up and once in the evening before I go to bed. If you are over feeding then correcting that will help your ammonia levels come down and the nitrite and nitrate levels too.  If you feel like you are not over feeding then the last is probably the issue.  Clean your gravel... if you have not already invested in a gravel vacuum then do so... they are about $12 at the local aquarium... use the local aquarium and not the pet store....The staff at the aquarium are usually more involved with the fish then elsewhere and will have better supplies with more of a variation in products.  Gravel vacuum your tank.... have the sales clerk at the aquarium show you how to gravel vacuum... the is the best thing  you can do for your fish and everyone should be gravel vacuuming... it will save you a world of grief later on. Once you vacuumed your gravel wait a day and see what the chemical levels of your tank are... if they are dropping then wait another day and repeat the water testing... add fish when you are close to the goal values of both the nitrite/nitrate and the ammonia.  Also consider this... feeder fish are sometimes the least cared for fish in the aquarium.  They are not always the most healthiest either... if they are goldfish ... then you cannot add tropical fish since goldfish are cold water fish and tropical fish like warm water.  If you'd like to add some fish to your tank that will help your tank cycle... I always recommend neon tetra's... they are colorful, fun and will do their job.... I hope this helps... and if you have further questions im always happy to help... dave