You will find that most fish stores are in the business of selling fish. We have all had bad advice from fish stores in regard to when you can add fish.
You will really need to cycle your tank first.. get the proper readings, which are 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite and nitrates between 10-20 before it is safe to add fish. Best way to cycle a tank is fishless. You can either add
pure ammonia to the tank water and let that start your nitrogen cycle. Or you can 'feed' your tank with a tiny piece of raw fish/ shrimp or use fish food. This will eventually turn to ammonia which will get your cycle started.
A test kit used as a measure of when your tank is truly cycled is a good idea.
There is more threads on the nitrogen cycle.. and cycling your tank fishless as well. I will pull those up for you.
Normally it takes anywhere from three to six weeks for a tank to cycle.
One of the best reasons I found for cycling a tank w/o fish were number one, no stress on the fish or loss of fish due to toxins in the uncycled tank, but also, you will not have to do any water changes til after the tank has cycled and just before adding fish. With fish, you would have to do at least a 30-50% water change daily to keep the ammonia, nitrites down.. which in turn just slows the cycle, but necessary if using fish to cycle your tank.
Of course, if you can find the product
Bio Spira, and use that, your tank will be ready for fish immediately!
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I was just looking for that thread. Thanks kate!