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Im a beginner2007-11-24 23:37:00

Ok so since having my 20 gallon tank i have had 5 goldfish die on me. I am getting very frustrated because I really want to have tropical fish someday but the people at the pet store told me i need to have gold fish first to get the bacteria going in the tank, well my goldfish can even survive. i found out I had a dangerous amount of ammonia in my tank, so i cleaned me tank completly again and added water de-chlorinater and also a bacteria supplement.should i buy some new gold fish again? The water has been filtering for around 4 days now

Answers:

It is important for any new tank to cycle completely. Usually this takes between four and six weeks. The purpose of this is to not only allow the harmful chemicals like ammonia and nitrite to balance themselves within your tank, but to allow a healthy colony of beneficial bacteria to establish within your little ecosystem.

Once again, this is very important to do.

If you are doing a cycle that involves fish, which is what it sounds like you are doing, and its been 4 days without any fish in it, it should be ok to add more. Don't add too many! Overcrowding is one of the major causes of fish death, especially with goldfish. Many people don't realize how much waste one little goldfish produces!

Only get one or two fish to start. Don't be in a hurry to populate your tank or you -will- loose more fish. Let the tank cycle completely (I personally would recommend 6 weeks, which is how long it took for my tanks to cycle), checking the water conditions, and waiting until the ammonia and nitrite levels are at a low level before you add any more fish. Don't do any water changes at this time, or you will extend the time it takes the tank to cycle. Make sure you have a good filter, and you should be fine.