Chocolate Gourami Tank

[PumaWard]

Hello

I have set up a small species tank for Chocolate Gourami. Currently the fish are very small, I don't think they are even an inch long, and they were tank bred (so I hope they are hardier than many of the Chocolate Gourami sold in Pet Shops). Here's my tank specs tell me if I'm missing anything.

4Gal tank with 10gal Aqua Clear (think thats the company) sponge filter. The tank currently is only lit with daylight

Water Perameters:

Temp: 75F (hope to get a heater and raise it to 80f)
pH:7.0
GH: 8 Degrees
Ammonia: 0
Nitrites: .25 (Working hard to get them down any suggestions are welcome... I'm doing one-two water 30%water changes a day, tank has been cycling for past 2 weeks w/ water, sand, and some filter media from other tanks)

Substrate:
sand with some gravel. A fine layer of sphagnum peat moss on top.

Plants:
Mainly water wysteria with some elodea and java moss.

Fish:
2 7/8" Chocolate Gourami

Some more questions as well,

Should I get more Chocolates, or is a pair okay? If not more chocolates, should I get some bottom feeders... kuhlis or pygmy corey cats? Or should I leave things the way they are? I welcome any suggestions. The gourami have been in the tank for a day, both are doing well so far. Their exploring in the peripherial plants a lot and pecking on things in search of food.

[TKOS]

I think chocolates do best in groups of three. I have read that in some books, though I have no experience with it. Another chocolate would fit in that sized aquarium.

[PumaWard]

I'll add another chocolate soon.

I also have another question...

I just collected rainwater out of my brothers tailgate on his pickup truck, and I want to use it in my aquarium with my chocolates as my water is too hard (about 10 degrees gH) for them and is too alkaline also for them. I put some aquasafe in the water and some activated carbon. I also tasted the water before I added anything... it didn't taste like it had any fuel or anything like that in it... after I let it sit for a while... is it okay to use this water in my aquarium with my chocolate gourami?

[TKOS]

I wouldn't use it. Rain water is okay if you collect it in a clean bucket but I wouldn't use anything from the back of a truck.

They should be able to adapt to more alkaline water. My parents water is 7.6 or higher and their chocolate is doing fine. If you want to lower it then I suggest going to the super market and buying cheap bottled water to dilute your existing water. That seems to work well for people.

[PumaWard]

Okay, thanks for your help, I appreciate it :)
I bought a gallon of drinking water last night to dilute with the well water, because our water is also too hard, between 10 and 11* gH.