Hello. I'm so new to this. I bought a 5 gallon aquarium for my kids to hold goldfish in June last year. It has a pump and filter and I read up on the nitrogen cycle. Every time I tested the water, even though there were no fish in it, ammonia was high (at least 1ppm). So I waited (hoping the cycle would start) until my kids bugged me enough to go to a local aquarium shop and by some fish. We bought 3 small (less than 1 inch) goldfish 1 1/2 weeks ago. I tested the ammonia last weekend and it was WAY high (4ppm). I added some stuff called Prime (2 drops per gallon) and the next day replaced about 10% of the water with WalMart brand drinking water. Yesterday (Monday), I changed out another 10-15% with the WalMart water. Tonight, the smallest fish died. I tested the ammonia and nitrite levels and ammonia is still way up (4ppm) and the nitrite level started to climb (.50ppm), so I added more Prime. What am I doing wrong? Should I be checking for something else? I don't want the others to die too. I appreciate any help.
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Help with new aquarium - one fish died
Replies (1)
Welcome to the boards, and to the hobby. 
The cycle probably did start, but it takes quite a while and usually you should be adding food or something to the water to help it along.
A 5 gallon is a small tank for goldfish. They produce a lot of ammonia (their waste product). It can take 4-6 weeks for a cycle to be complete, and if it gets interrupted it can take even longer. You should also be using spring water not drinking water. I don't know the exact difference, I just know you should use spring water or if you use tap water (which I guess is the same as drinking bottled water) you should be using a water conditioner because of the chlorine in the water. It kills fish.
In my opinion you shouldn't add any chemicals used to lower ammonia, nitrite or nitrate during the cycling process because that will mess the cycle up. There is a bacterial additive you could try, well two you can try if you can find them: biospira or cycle. Cycle is sold at most pet stores.
Hope this helps.
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