Hello, Now I Need Help :)

[johnwp]

I have a 208 liter (55 gallon) fish tank currently cycling.  Only i had no idea that i had to cycle a tank or anything about bacteria.  I bought some tropical freshwater fish from a local pet store, and they never once mentioned the cycle process.  So i took to the internet and I have a grasp of what i should of done now (too late).
 
I have had a few tetras die, but i still have 15 different fish and i am trying to stay on top of this problem so that they will live.  I have been changing the 50% of the water daily and adding Seachem prime to the new water.  
 
I have read about tetra safestart adding a biological filter and helping to cycle a tank faster,  I was wondering if I should try this instead of the big water changes and hoping my fish will be ok.  I have read that in order for safestart to work you have to wait 24 hours after dechloring the water, so 24 hours after dosing seachem prime.   Is that right?
 
I realize I have made a big mistake, i just don't want my fish to pay for it and I have no friends in the hobby so i am stuck with a fish-in cycle.
 
Any opinions and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
 
Thank you.

 

[attibones]

The problem with Safe Start is that it is very rarely kept in the conditions required during shipping or at the store for the bacteria to survive. The shipping trucks are usually too hot or too cold and the stores don't have the bacteria properly stored, so there is a gamble with the bacteria. However, Safe Start used to be owned by Dr. Tim's aquatics company. Dr. Tim's Aquatics developed the correct strand of bacteria (called it biospira) and bottled the product for hobbyists. Then the company split up. Dr. Tim's carries One and Only which, I believe, is the original product, but most fish stores only carry Tetra products. Dr. Tim's provides correct storage of the product and is believed to be, over all, the superior product. You can order it online for about fifteen dollars.

I've used One and Only with success. I cycled a ten gallon in about a week and a twenty gallon in about eighteen days. I recommend you get that to help your fish. If you can return the fish and continue with a fishless cycle, this would be even better for the fish. Also be sure to invest in a liquid based test kit such as API freshwater master test kit, if you haven't already.

 

[johnwp]

I have the API master kit and i do test at least twice a day.
 
My amonia is at 0.50 and has not moved since.  I haven't done a water change yet today but it always seems to be .50 not sure if seachem is making that so.
 
PH is 6.4 or 6.6
nitrite is 0
nitrate is 0
 
On day 5
 
temp is 77

 

[attibones]

Try increasing your heat to the highest range for your tetras. 
 
What is your full stock, by the way?

 

[johnwp]

2 neon tetras
1 black neon tetra
7 guppies
1 dwarf neon gourami
3 GBR
1 Pleco
 
I added some tetra safestart and read not to change the water for a week and test in 48 hours.  I also turned up the heat a little, set heater to 82 water is at 79 right now but it should get to 80 soon.
 
I have also noticed a lot of fish poo everywhere.  I am not sure if this is normal until the beneficial bacteria forms, should I just leave it or try and net out as much as i can?
 
PH is 6.4 
Ammonia is 0.50 
nitrite is  0
nitrate is  5.0