I like to try to do my research when I am doing anything with my fish, but when I initially set up my tank, I did so using a manual that came with my aquarium kit, followed it very well, but it went through the cycle set up with a couple of fish. I did so with a couple of mollies. Now my tank has been going for about 3 weeks, I don't know whether it has fully cycled, I read the good articles from this page, just wanted a more personal opinion as well. I have 4 mollies and 4 swordtails right now (plus 4 baby mollies in a breed net in main tank and 1 baby swordtail so far). My main question is, my mollies are doing great, but swordtails aren't, one swordtail i bought from LFS must have had ich, and so i have now been medicating for ich (going to do over 2 week period). At same time I recently purchased ammonia and nitrite test kits, and I am having to do far too many water changes in my opinion (sometimes 2 times a week) to keep ammonia levels in check, and nitrites have climbed pretty high too (up to about 3.0). Am I doing the right thing doing water changes and trying to vacuum gravel to remove sporing parasites of ich, or is this depleting natural aerobic bacteria so that my ammonia levels won't go down on own. How long can it take for bacteria to take care of the ammonia and nitrites in my 33 gallon tank (I don't overfeed, do regular water changes, etc., only 8 fish?) My swordtails are acting very sluggish in water and I am not sure if it is higher nitrites or ich that may be in gills that I cannot see.