Help

[kagal]

I set up my 55 gallon tank and let set for 3 days before adding fish. I added 2 corys and 3 zebra danios. and was getting ready for to add a few cichlids the next day and when i awoke i had dead and dieing fish. i did a test of PH and it was fine ammonia was detected but was just above normal. but the nitrites was way off the graph. what could have caused it?. i have gotten the nitrites back down but am worried about the nitrites going wacko again.  and to add another question. will i be able to keep3 rams and 3 apisto. the tank has driftwood and is half rock and half planted. should i add more rock for this combo?

[clothahump]

Your tank is not cycled.
You should wait until the nitrite reads zero before adding any other fish, and then add them in small numbers, there is an article on this site giving an easy to undestand breakdown on cycling. 8)

[ryanp15]

I agree. Your nitrites spiked because your tank isn't cycled. I would wait until they are nomal until you add any fish. And as cloth said wait and add them slowly. Good luck and enjoy the cichlids. ;D

[kagal]

ok thank you guys very much. figured after that amount of time it would be fine....my LFS said i waited long enough. he wanted me to redo the whole tank break down and clean everything and start over. i still have the tank running because one of the danios and 1 cory is still swimming and doing fine by the looks of it...kinda hesistent in doing that and possible having to do all over again