1yr new, still learning....

Hello! Tara here in nw Washington. I started this fish stuff last year with absolutly NO CLUE!
3reef is so helpful, thank you so much!
So I have a 25gal fw tank. Its been through alot in this last year, my last 3 fishies recently died (killed 10 in my first 2mos) so now I am starting over. The right way, hopefully. first of all, found a fish store instead of the pet store!
Im trying to cycle my tank right now. Fishless, and with no chems! The guy at the fidh store gave me some used filter (big black spunge) to put on my intake. Yay!
I have a 150 penguin biowheel filter, a heater & therm,, I need to grt a new light.
My currant numbers are
Ph 6.8 or more..?
High Ph 6.8
ammonia 2ppm
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 5.0
Officially started cycling 3 days ago.
when I got the used filter. My ammonia was already at 2.
I need to start a qt tank, not sure exactly how.
I still dont know what kind of fish I want, and eventually I want plants in it.
Did I forget anything? Im sure I did! Lol
Any help or suggestions would be so great!
And here I go on my adventure!

 

Welcome to 3reef Tara.

 

Hey there Tara. I am in the NW also. Good luck with your new cycle!

 

Welcome to 3reef tara

 

welcome to 3reef tara. tanks looking good , and good luck

 

Welcome to 3reef. This is a goo place to learn and very one here will help you do it right.
First of all, I think your tank is a little on the small side for that shark. Lol.
Welcome.

 

Ha read the title and thought to myself, "going on ten years and still learning! " well more like 7 right now but yeah. That's the amazing thing about this hobby, it's ever changing. Welcome to 3 reef!

 

Lol thanks guys its funny, ive been upgraded from plankton to an astria snail... I still feel like plankton.
So, I think I need a new heater & thermometer, I think theyre both goin out.
My husband is trying to research the lights.

 

Whats the protocol for starting a qt tank?

 

Did you say this was a freshwater tank? Or are you switching to salt?