I really appreciated this article! THANKS!!!!!
I am a noob, but trying to learn really fast. It IS complicated, but not as hard to understand as I first thought.
I made the mistake of getting a tank and whacking fish in it. I lost 2 gouramis before I thought I better find I WHY I lost them. That's when I found out about the 'cycling' and 'over feeding'.
Sigh.
I made BOTH mistakes.
HOWEVER! I am happy to say that since I found this site (and all this FANTASTIC info) I have NOT lost another fish!!
I HAVE just about put all my ribs out carrying buckets of water to do lots of water changes
but its worth it.
No dead fish.
Nitrites DOWN to under .5 (more like .2) and still dropping with each change.
I am getting another 4 footer in the near future, but I am going to be more prepared this time. I am DEFINITELY going to cycle the tank before I start stocking it with fish. I LOVE my fish and I cry if I lose one. Yeah Yeah I know Im a sucker. But I can't help it.
The info here on this site is just INVALUABLE !!! And I appreciate it SO MUCH.