New Tank issues, Please help.

[syncro]

Use an ammonia binder ASAP like AmQuel, Seachem Prime or API AmmoLock. Any amount of ammonia is toxic to fish. This article says that in general for freshwater fish, 50% of individuals will die when exposed to ammonia levels of 0.06 - 2.0 ppm for 96 hours. http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-02/rhf/index.php#15

Consider asking your fish store to hold the fish while your tank cycles.

Most of the biological filter bacteria live on surfaces like live rock, sponges, bioballs. Water changes will slow down the cycle (see soft cycling) but will improve water quality which I think is more important right now.

Disclaimer: I'm new to fishkeeping and know little about freshwater.

[syncro]

Also check out this (new to me):
http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/aqu...iatoxicity.htm

Some people make the mistake of performing a partial water change to reduce ammonia levels during the cycling process. Normally, when ammonia levels go up, the pH drops at the same time. By performing a partial water change, the total ammonia levels may drop slightly, but the pH will also rise (the buffering effect of new saltwater), increasing the toxicity of the remaining ammonia. A safer method to reduce the ammonia levels would be to use an ammonia neutralizing product such as Amquel, then perform a water change to "freshen" the water, if you wish.

[reefgirl189]

Originally Posted by syncro

Also check out this (new to me):
http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/aqu...iatoxicity.htm

Some people make the mistake of performing a partial water change to reduce ammonia levels during the cycling process. Normally, when ammonia levels go up, the pH drops at the same time. By performing a partial water change, the total ammonia levels may drop slightly, but the pH will also rise (the buffering effect of new saltwater), increasing the toxicity of the remaining ammonia. A safer method to reduce the ammonia levels would be to use an ammonia neutralizing product such as Amquel, then perform a water change to "freshen" the water, if you wish.

Wow thanks for sharing. That's probably exactly what I would have done, a partial water change at the beginning of the cycle.