problems with my new planted tank

I have kept freshwater before, but not planted. I just turned my former seahorse tank into a 36 gallon freshwater planted tank. The LFS told me I should plant the tank right away and that I needed to add fish along with that, and that it wouldn't be a problem because the plants would absorb the ammonia and nitrite during the cycle, so the fish would be fine. I, however, am reading about 1.5ppm nitrite and 1ppm ammonia. In the tank there is a platty as well as a school of harlequin rasboras, and they are not happy campers. The tank was started a week ago with live substrate, and I also used SeaChem Stability. Yesterday I used SeaChem Prime to detoxify some of the nitrite/ammonia. I'm now trying to get my fish through the cycle, but I'm running out of ideas. I should have known better having had tanks for 5 years... stupid mistake.

Thanks everyone

 

Water change

 

Ya, that's probably a good idea.

 

You could buy bacteria also.

 

I added bacteria at the beginning. Stability is a bottled bacteria.

 

And you have been using it everyday?

 

Hmm. Thats interesting. Ive had a few planted tanks and seeded all of them from my 55 planted and had no issues with cycling. I guess thats how Ive avoided any issues upon set up. Just give it some time and keep up on water changes and Im sure it will stabilize soon.


Also, Reefbruh, nice avatar. Dr. Dre is a legend.

 

Ya, I'll get some water changed out tonight. Hopefully everyone will pull through. I would hate to lose fish knowing it was my fault with a cycling mistake.

 

stability takes about a week to start working from my experience.
A water change would be good. It is smart to add a bunch of plants in the beginning but not fish.

 

Guess I got some bad info from the LFS. I'll change some water and hopefully it'll help alleviate the stress. They're still eating.