Thought tank was cycled, now I'm not so sure... please help

[Domaranel]

I'm obviously new to saltwater aquariums! I read a ton of stuff before setting up my tank, but it wasn't enough. Here is the break down of it.
55 gallon
dry aragonite sand
dry live rock
added distilled water with salt 6 weeks ago.
have HOB filter for 55 gallon tank, HOB protein skimmer that's working correctly, and HOB clear plastic refugium with a few plants in it.

After 4 weeks I tested ammonia, nitrite and nitrate with API saltwater kit and got zero for everything and between 8.0 and 8.2 pH. So I added some caulerpa prolifera and grape algae red and green. I waited another week. Tested ammonia, nitrite and nitrate and got zero for everything. I added 1 clown fish, 3 banggai cardinals, 1 striped blenny, and 1 neon goby. It's been another week and everything seemed fine until today. Fish seemed sluggish today, and not swimming like normal, so I tested the water and ammonia was at 1, nitrite zero, nitrate zero. I read today that nitrate should be present to show cycle is done? Is that right? I thought waiting 4 weeks would be enough time to cycle, but today I read that you need to add ammonia to feed the cycle, if you don't have fish in, or add a table shrimp to rot.... Does this mean my tank didn't start cycling until Last Week?
How do I not kill the fish that are already in my tank?
A lot of people say do water changes but this article says don't.... https://www.thespruce.com/ammonia-toxicity-reduction-in-aquariums-2924171
Any suggestions and reading sources would be much appreciated.

 

[moseley75]

I'm not an expert but made a similar mistake. There is quite a bit of information on what to do after adding fish w/o first cycling.
The best advice I've seen is to remove the fish to an established tank for holding and then cycle the tank.
You could also find someone who has an established tank and get some live rock from their tank. Do a 50% water change and reduce the amount of food you're put in your tank. Then frequent water changes to keep the ammonia down. The benefits of reduced ammonia out weigh the risk, IMHO. There is also "Dr Tim's one and only" as a source of nitrifying bacteria.
Good luck.

 

[ciscomania]

So you just added water and didn't ghost feed the tank at all?
you can add Prime to bring the ammonia down

 

[cloudisback1997]

Since you didn't ghost feed you most likely didn't cycle your tank correctly.

 

[cloudisback1997]

You should do as moseley75 suggested. Also In my opinion you added way to many fish at once. Definitely add a nitrifying bacteria asap. You should also look into brstv how to start a saltwater tank series on YouTube. Great info!

Doing water changes during a cycle usually prolongs the cycle. But since you put fish in already if you don't do water changes. Your fish will likely die. Adding live rock and a nitrifying bacteria will help a lot, and increase your fishy chance of survival. Good luck

 

[Reef man 89]

IMO you definitely add to made fish at once that's a big bioload for a new tank.

 

[SPIREEFER]

Agree you need to add fish little by little so the bacteria population increases with them and is able to handle waste accordingly, get some live bacteria and dose your tank with it it should help catch up on the toxin removal.

 

[Vahanyos]

I would use something like dr tims right away since you have fish in there already. Yea I don't think your tank was cycled with all the dry stuff.