frustrating cycling

Question
Thanks so much, Karen for the quick reply!  I did do about a 50% water change when I woke up that morning seeing half of the fish sick.  I just want to do it right and stop losing so many fish in such a short span of time!  I read somewhere that gravel vacuuming might lower the bacterial load.  I did do vigorous vacuuming during that period.  I will just do water changes now.

My 50g is fishless, yes.  I made the 50% water change and the reading is the same. :(  I am almost tempted to start all over and just use biospira on this tank.  Any experience with it?  Will adding an Aquaclear filter help my 50g's situation?

Thanks so much again.  I've read your other responses to the others' questions and I think your experience has greatly helped a whole lot in newbies like me! ;)
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Followup To

Question -
Hi! I set up a 10 gallon tank about 5 weeks ago and didn't read much about starting one until I was 2 wks into it.  Since then 6 of the 12 fishes in the tank have died.  5 of them (all 4 danios and a guppy), got sick and died all at the same time.  I tested the water recently and I'm getting an ammonia reading of 1.0 and 0 for both nitrites and nitrates.  I know ammonia has to be 0, but how come I don't have any of the nitrite/nitrate readings?  I failed to test the water when the water started getting cloudy a few days after setting up the tank and when I saw the danios and guppy getting sick.  I just kept making frequent water changes (10-25%) almost every 2 days to keep the water clean.  I did not put any chemicals other than a dechlorinator (Stress Coat).
I am now trying to cycle my 50 gallon tank and I believe I placed too much ammonia.  I've been getting a reading of 8.0 the past two weeks.  I finally got frustrated and did a 50% water change, the reading I'll know tomorrow.
We have very soft water.  Does that matter in the cycling process?

Answer -
Dear Maria,
Sorry to hear about your frustration...
It sounds like your 10gallon may be slow to cycle. The high fish load before the aquarium was established most likely is causing the terribly high ammonia levels. Actually, it would be MUCH better for the fish when you get harmful readings to change 30-50% as these are much more effective than smaller frequent changes. High ammonia water needs dilution fast when aquatic life are being exposed to it.

All aquariums are different in their cycling and invidiual situations. Nitrite should appear next alongside ammonia soon. Just be patient--that is most important when cycling. Be sure to change 30-50% the water should ammonia or nitrite go above the safe level. With your 10gal, all you can do is test and wait. Some aquariums take two months to cycle. You'll get nitrite readings soon  I know it.

Now about your 50gallon. So it appears you are fishless cycling. If not let me know. But your 50gal is likely just going through it's natural cycling process. Unless aquatic life is present in, I would leave the ammonia to what it is. Changing water in a cycling aquarium with fish is essential for their health, it also slows bacteria growth down but must be done for the sake of the fish, however, aquariums fishless cycling may cycle faster because ammonia levels are not a worry and water changes usually aren't made so indeed the bacteria may reproduce and colonize the aquarium faster and hence, your aquarium cycles quickly! But I can't say how quickly, however, there are no rules, just general guidelines.

*Soft water has no affect on the cycling of your aquarium as far as I know of. ;-)

So basically, I think you'll have to pull out more patience and just make sure your little fish aren't subject to horrid ammonia levels. Just be patient and your 10 and 50gal should cycle before you know it.

I really hope this helps! Feel free to write with anymore concerns...

Best wishes and Happy fishkeeping!
Karen~

Answer
Hello Maria! It's good to hear i've been some help!
Okay, good, 50% water changes are best when your fish seem sick. As long as you insure your replacement water is equal in temperature and is dechlorinated with a water conditioner these large changes are safe.
Yes, I prefer not to disturb the gravel bed by too much vacumming during cycling. It's best to kind of leave things alone to insure you do not disrupt the bacterial colonies growth.

Honestly I do not know too much about fishless cycling. But I do know the reason why your ammonia could have still been high was if the it was at the top of the scales--you have no idea whether it was that exact reading, or way past beyond it since that may be the maximum reading for that test kit. And the 50% water change is very likely possible that it wasn't even enough to dilute the ammonia down. I believe if it was my aquarium, I would just continue testing everyday and note any changes in the ammonia level. It is said that too high of ammonia levels may hamper some bioligical bacterial growth! But I do not know that first hand or if it is actually true. Ideally, when fishless cycling that you add enough ammonia until the test kit shows a reading of 3ppm to 5ppm and during the next several days, you will test the water and check for drops in ammonia, if that happens you will only add enough ammonia to bring it back to 3ppm or 5ppm. Your nitrites will remain at zero for a while. At some point they will start rise,and ammonia should start to fall,  but it just depends on the individual aquarium. Once nitrite is visible, start adding less ammonia to your 50gal cut it to half the dosage. Overall, it is good to do water changes to bring levels or ammonia or nitrite down to a good level for the bacterial colony. Water changes will not disturb the bacterial colony's growth as long as the gravel bed and filter material are not bothered. Be sure to always add some ammonia back into the the water after the change.
Remember once you have cycled your aquarium, that a very large water change is recommended because very likely, all that ammonia that has just been added is now converted to nitrate which level is probably too high for your fish.

As for your current high ammonia problem. You'll just have to keep doing large water changes until you get the levels down to the recommended range. Continue to moniter ammonia and check for nitrite also and add more ammonia if needed.

Well, I really hope this helps! You can also try adding an bacterial additive if you like to help out the situation. But patience is your best bet now.

Thank you very much for your nice comments. They are well-appreciated!!! ;-) You're very welcome. ;-)

Feel free to write with anymore questions or concerns...
Best wishes and best of luck with your fishless cycling!
Karen~