pH confusion

[tackful]

Hello. I have a 29 gal freshwater tank that has just finished cycling nicely after 4 weeks. All values (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate) are zero and pH has been 7.2 for the last 3 weeks. So far so good.
Here's my problem. My favorite dealer keeps his tanks at 6.8 pH and has advised me to do the same so as to make things easier on the tetras that I want to buy. I started using the acid buffer that he recommended, but I have the impression that it will be quite complicated to find the right dose to keep my pH at 6.8. It was very easy to drop it to that value initially, but it does want to return to its normal state of 7.2. I have read many articles advising folks to let their pH stay where it wants to, as fluctuations in pH seem to harm fish much more than having a value that may be close to but not that species exact preferred value.
My inclination is to leave my water alone, except for weekly 10% water changes. I would appreciate feedback from any experienced folks out there. This is my first tank.

Thanks
Tackful

[Weezer]

Ill put in my 2 cents worth in, the difference between the too are minimal..the fish will quickly become used to your slightly higher ph..slowly add water to the bag if possible..I would'nt add any chemicals...What kind of fish do you have ? Also you should be showing some RATES......:dance2:

[Mgamer20o0]

i moved your topic for you so more people can see it.

ph of 7.2 is fine.

this is what i do. came from another member.

"place bag with fish into aquarium, every 15 minutes put 1/4th of a cup of water into the bag or transport container try to keep the temp the Same as the tank. when the bag is full dump water into the sink and repeat seccond time instead of dumping the water the seccond time into the sink, dump it and the fish into the aquarium of choice, total process should take 2-4 hours"
GK

[tackful]

Hi. No fish yet. Thanks for the help. A gradual acclimation process seems like a good solution.
Tackful

[bderick67]

The best thing you can do regarding pH is to keep your tank at the same level as your tap water. Makes things much easier during water changes. Most fish can thrive at a wide range of pH levels, what they have a hard time with is sudden large pH shifts. Just acclimate your new fish slowly and they will be fine.

Noted that you stated your nitrate level is at zero, this is not a normal reading for a cycled tank. You don't have fish in your tank yet? What method of cycling did you do? Without a source of ammonia you cannot support a colony of beneficial bacteria. Your tank may not be cycled.

If you have an established colony of beneficial bacteria consuming ammonia and then nitrites they would be producing nitrates. Your filter will not remove nitrates(the main reason we do water changes) so you should show some level of nitrates.

[tackful]

I used Eco-Start and live plants. Just tested and got Nitrates 5.0, ammonia and nitrite zero. The earlier reading of zero nitrates happened right after a 15% water change.
Tackful

[bderick67]

What are you currently adding to your tank that has been running for 4 weeks to produce ammonia? Without ammonia you will have no bacteria colony. Plants do not produce ammonia and if there was any in the "eco start" it has been consummed already.

I would only add one or two very small fish at first and test water parameters daily, I don't beleive you have a very good size colony of beneficial bacteria built up. Adding a large bio load(lots of fish) at this time will send your tank into an ammonia spikewhich is very unhealthy for the fish. The ammonia spike will then lead to a nitrite spike that will kill most of the fish.

You may want to read this post to help with understanding the cycle process. I is a very good one.

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84598

Good luck with your tank

[TwoTankAmin]

It is a bad idea ever to dump water from another place's tank into yours. You have no idea what may be in it. When uou are ready to move the fish over from the bag or acclimating container, use a net.

[tackful]

My ammonia reading never got higher than 0.50, but the nitrite was at 2.0 for 5 days, after which it gradually dropped to 0 over 5 days. During that time the nitrate ranged from 5 to 10. In the last day the only reading I have
is 5 for nitrate.
I think its time to get some fish.
Tackful