Can my fish breathe?

Question
Karen,

 I guess I'm not the only one with questions - wow you get alot!  I think my fish are not doing well.  I have a 7 gallon freshwater tank, with the automatic filter.  When I started my aquarium 2 days ago, I used drinking water with "3 in 1" water conditioner.  I admit I did not run the tank the recommended 24 hours.  I got platies, just 2 - a twin bar & a black coral.  I also got a tiny algae eater, that now has died already.  I put in algae eater food, but it appeared it couldn't find it no matter where it went, so I put in more.  Now my water is cloudy, and my platies are swimming at the surface of the water.  I changed some of the water with tap water but I feel bad, like I'm making it worse for the fish...is there anything I can do now?  

Answer
Dear Angela,
The best thing you can do for your fish now is to change their water. Since this aquarium is newly setup it doesn't have the beneficial bacterial colonies established yet that are so important to have. Without them, keeping an aquarium healthy wouldn't be possible longterm. This is because these bacteria convert dangerous ammonia (byproduct of fish waste) into less toxic compounds, into nitrite (which is still a bit toxic) and then later into nitrate which is the end product and the least toxic of all and is removed by your usual maintenance water changes.

So most likely since your 7gal aquarium is newly setup and since a lot of algae eater food was put in (Sorry to hear about the Algae eater :( then most likely dangerous ammonia levels have built up since there is not yet a sufficient enough bacteria colony. The only way to remove ammonia in your tap water until the bacterial colonies establish is by daily water changes of about 50%
*Do 50% everyday and insure to make the replacement water is equal in temperature to that of your aquarium and insure it is dechlorinated everytime with a good water conditioner like Amquelplus, Prime, or Aquasafe.
~Ideally it would be best to buy a aquarium test kit for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate and test your water daily for the next few weeks to moniter these levels. With time your bacteria colonies will begin to establish and start to slowly get rid of the ammonia and nitrite until there is no trace amount left. This takes time though, up to 4-6 weeks just depending upon the individual aquarium.

Daily Water changes and light feedings for now should save your Platies and keep them well. Try to get a test kit as soon as you can also.

I really hope this helps!
Don't feel too bad, I'm here to help all I can and feel free to write with anymore concerns!

Best wishes and happy fishkeeping!
Karen~