From What you've mentioned in your post, it sounds like you are in your 9th day of setting up you tank. You will have to monitor three things from here on out; Ammonia, Nitrites, and then Nitrates, and they develope in that order. It's what is called in aquarium keeping as "Cycling a tank." Everyone who sets up a tank goes through it, some longer than others. Make sure you have a good and complete water test kit that will measure all of these things plus pH and water hardness.
Through out the cycling period, which lasts for up to 7 weeks, you will have to take H2o measurements twice a day to monitor these levels, of which the first two can be very very toxic to fish. They are the # 1 killers of aquarium fish.
The only way to lower their levels without the use of chemicals is to do water changes, water changes, and more water changes; as much as needed (I did many 75% changes during my cycling) until the levels of ammonia and nitrites are within safe levels. Many times I did two water changes a day (once in the AM and then one in the PM) to keep my levels safe.
Something that you may want to buy is a Python waterchange kit with a hose long enough to do the job. Yes, the kit can be somewhat expensive, but compared to lugging 5 gal buckets of water sloshing all over the place and the mess and pain in your back and arms from 6 weeks of water changes, plus the cost of lost fish, it's a real bargin if you plan on keeping aquariums for any length of time. The key is in performing water changes until levels are where they should be, at best at zero, or within safe levels. Also remember to add water conditioner to remove clorine and other tap water contaminants.
One thing that helped me was to put a Nitra-Zorb media pack in my Fluval canister filter. I highly recommend them for every person setting up a tank. It did help keep my toxic ammonia and nitrite levels from getting out of wack. Follow the instructions religiously and it will make your life cycling your tank easier.
If you do decide to use some sort of chemical to reduce the toxic levels, I recommend using Amquel plus. It does work.
Remember to keep up with the water changes. Your fish will love you for it.
Best of luck in the next 6 weeks.
