I need some fast (but not ASAP worthy) advice.

Doing water changes will reduce ammonia levels but your bacteria won't be won't be increasing at a rate that would enable them to handle more ammonia since it's being removed,so your tank's not maturing as fast.Your well meaning mom has also just about maxed out your tank as far as number of fish goes.I think I would try to explain this and return the fish unless you really,really want them.

 

wow, three mean fish from a nice mom? Irony?

 

As we stand, the fish are in the tank for now.

So what I'm asking is: Do I do water change, or let the fish ride out the spike? I realize the tank is maxed out, I realize I will be taking some of them back, but I'm asking if I do a water change now. That is my concern at this point in time.

 

If you do water changes it would prolong your cycle, but may save your fish, so it's really your call on that one. Idk about the the cardinal but the other two fishes should be fine without water changes as they are used to cycle tanks sometimes. (not my method)

 

I wouldn't worry about it. People on here are way to over the top. My Dad has a 34 that is only 2 months old and since like day 3 he goes to the LFS and gets like 3-4 fish at a time and just throws them in and never acclimates them. He has like 20 little fish in there now and nothing bad has happened. I try to tell him how to do everything and he never listens LOL. But despite all the wrong its doing good.

 

You can get a bottle of nitrifying backteria. that could help, just dump a bit in and it might lessen the cycle, i have it for destressing my tank if something dies i cant get to