I Need Specific Help Please.

[leper]

First off this is my first post here, I've been trolling but too lazy to sign up.  I should of signed up earlier
 
This is my story with my first aquarium and im at a point where I need help, if anyone can decipher my situation and tell me where to go from here I'd appreciate it much.
Here goes.....
 
-bought a 30gallon tank on impulse brought it home set it up and went fishless for a week added bacteria from a bottle and some food.
-added 7 rummy nose tetras and bought a API test kit.  changed water 30% once a week for 4 weeks.
-added 3 julii coridoras and probably overfed. a bit
-I changed the filter in my "BIOWHEEL" penguin filter but DID NOT touch the wheel...
-a week later HUGE Nitrite spike, I changed 50% per time for 4 times, nitrites went down but still high.
-did some research and bought "seachem prime" yesterday and put in 4 capfulls, within a half hour NO NITRITES.
-This morning did a full test on all the parameters and I have 5ppm ammonia, 0 Nitrates, 0 Nitrites
     Now im in the frame of mind that nothing is fixed because i added PRIME, but now what do I do?  How will I really know my tank has cycled???
 
I also put in an air pump and stone,  my filter is a marineland penguin 250 biowheel and i put in a bag of matrix in the compartment before the filter hoping bacteria will grow.  I'm about to do anothe water change but am just confused.  Its like i walked down a wooded path then decided to take a shortcut and now im lost   The internet is contradicting and im looking for someone who is knowledgeable to steer me in the right path.  I will even change my biowheel to another filtration system.
 
Please and thanks...

 

[Chad]

I think the answer starts with some research. I know people don't like to do research but in this case the best way to know if your tank is cycled, and to feel very comfortable with that fact, is to fully understand the cycle.
This article http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/421488-cycling-your-new-fresh-water-tank-read-this-first really goes into it and explains in detail. The short answer is that it's about testing. You will need to test for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. A cycled tank should have no ammonia and no nitrite. If you focus on the information in the one article I linked and ignore the flood of Internet information that is contradictory I feel you will find the direction you need to get off the path. Though it's too late for a fishless cycle the information in the article should still prove helpful in that it lets you know where you want to be.
 
Because it's too late for a fishless cycle, that being the best way to do it, you will have to do a fish-in cycle. The biggest issue with this is keeping the fish alive in a stew of toxins (ammonia and nitrite) which means frequent water changes and testing.
 
This and time is really what's needed. I've been keeping fish for a long time and I have learned that shortcuts are often not worth it. Patience and diligence pay off.
 
There are plenty of good aquarists and fishkeepers on here that will be able to help you out. Be patient and let them work you through this and I think things will turn out well.

 

[leper]

Thanks, I did read up ALOT on this but this step by step article is awesome, wish i would of read in 2 months ago   

 

[ray311]

When you would initially do the water changes, was it with dechlorinated water? Chlorine kills the beneficial bacteria on the bio media, which would put you on the start of he cycle. It accidentally happend to me once.