Hi Hucks, good to see you here.. And happy new year to you.
Good to know you also have platies. I am into wag tails but blue wags are rare here, though red wags are available. But where we are, few people keep platies as pets, as it is more commonly used as fish feed.
Tank cycling takes time, weeks and weeks, and months. In the meantime, above everything else, it is most important to ensure maximum oxygenation of the water, as ALL life in the tank depends on it. This is best done by ensuring continuous good surface agitation. Make sure your filter water outlet is at the water surface and pushing the water laterally over a large surface area, thus causing agitating action.
You can control the ammonium level by means of frequent small water changes, but not too much as to upset the water's development. Such small water changes will ensure that the toxicity level is kept somewhat under control. Reduced toxicity is a comfort to fish, while increased toxicity is deadly for them. Hope this helps.
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