new tank dying fish

Question
I want to know what I'm doing wrong. I purchased a 10 gallon aquarium and filled it. I asked the pet store how long I needed to wait to put the fish in there. She said I didn't have to wait as long as I treated the water with Start Right and wait 15 minutes for them to adjust to the water. I did that and put the fish in. I purchased 2 guppies, 2 frogs, albino catfish ana pleco. One of the frogs, albino catfish, and one guppy died already. It has only been two days. The other guppy was pregneant(the store failed to tell me that). The water is really cloudy. It has a filter running aa the time. I feed them twice a day. Do you have any reason why the fish are dying? The guppy had babies two days after I got her. The babies are in a net breeder but I don't want all the fish to die.  

Answer
Hello,

Unfortunately you have been gravely misinformed. Tanks need to run at least 24 hours without fish, and then you should buy a maximum of three fish and let them live in the tank for a week or two to allow the tank to cycle. Your tank was likely overstocked too soon, and you probably have excessive levels of nitrites and that is likely why your fish are dying. It would be best to remove them from the tank entirely (maybe back to a pet store if they will take them) and start again, but if that's not feasible then you'll have to try and help your tank.

First, test the water and make sure it is actually a nitrite problem. Whether its nitrite or ammonia, the steps for ridding the tank of it are the same and it is likely one of these. First, change about 25% of the water, then treat with a double dose of a denitrifier such as Cycle. Check the levels again the next day. If there is no improvement, change 10% of the water and add half a dose of Cycle. If there is improvement, leave it for a day then change 10% and add a half dose of Cycle. Until the levels are safe, repeat this process every two days.

Nitrites take time to rid your tank of. There is a chance that some more fish may die before your tank is stable.

I hope this helps.

Best of luck,
From Stephanie