First 10 Gal. Tank, First post

I suggest getting an API master test kit. You are going to be watching the ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate during the cycle. The temp of the tank is going to depend on the type of fish you want. I think a dwarf gourami (nice and colorful) with a small school fish would be nice

Forgot to say :welcome:

I'd say the average for petsmart fish is going to be 75-7 8 degrees. The real issue is going to be the hardness of the water.

I agree to get a API Master Kit and let's worry about the stock later and focus on starting off

Plants are good to have in a tank. You can get them immediately and they may help you cycle faster.

Don't worry about the PH, or the Temperature right now. You can add plants right away. As stated previously they can help the tank to cycle faster. What are you using to cycle the tank? You need to add a source of ammonia to keep the cycle going if you are doing the fishless cycle. Get the freshwater master test kit from API. When your tank shows ammonia your cycle has started. You want to do water changes to keep the level of ammonia .25 or .50. Once you see nitrites show up you will see the ammonia drop to 0.0. Keep nitrites down to .25. When the nitrates show up the nitrites should drop to 0.0. Keep Nitrates down by doing water changes also. keep nitrates below 40 ppm. Once you have continuous readings of 0.0 ammonia, 0.0 nitrite, and between 5.0 and 40 ppm for one week the tank can be called cycled. Every time you add fish you will need to monitor the water again as you will probably experience mini-cycles as the tank adjusts to the higher bio-load. Add fish 1-2 at a time. While your tank is cycling try to figure out what you want to keep in it. With the size of this tank you are going to need to keep the stocking to small fish and just a few of them. If you like livebearers I would suggest 6 guppy's or 2 swordtails. If you like tetra's they tend to be smaller. You could do a school of Harliquin rasboras, or Danios with a dwarf gourami. You could do a small school of 3-5 tiger barbs (or a golden barbs, green barbs, black barbs.) If you have an idea on what you want to keep in this tank, check into that fish. Some fish eat any plant you put in the tank, some dig plants up. You will want to plant your tank based on low light plants unless you want to invest in better lighting. Which low light plants may change depending on the fish you want to keep. Take your time. You will be happier with the end result if you plan the tank out before the fish are there.

You want to get only low light plants. Your tank's light is probably not very bright. www.plantgeek.net lists some common aquarium plants by various catagories, including lighting needs.
Many chain pet stores sell inappropriate non-aquatic plants, so don't buy one from them unless you know what it is.

jimmak85 said:

Hey this is my first post

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Welcome to AC!

jimmak85 said:

...good tank temp?

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79* F

jimmak85 said:

...the kit came with all the PH levels...

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Came witha what?

jimmak85 said:

...I'm going to get a test kit tomorrow.

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Good idea. And like someone mentioned. An API Master kit would be good. Use this type for your first 10 yrs, then you can graduate to Strips. : )

jimmak85 said:

I plan on adding live plants and I need stocking ideas.

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Gotta mention, that 99% of petsmarts plants don't belong in an aquarium.
I think I've seen Wysteria there? That could work to start with.

Better than most anything. Check out the "Classifieds" Here!
Lots of people sell plants and or critters, that belong in an aquarium, and most likely have been growing in theirs.
It'll be alot better to spend, maybe a couple of dollars more(because of shipping) and get stuff that Will Work. Than go spend 20 dollars at petsmart, and have nothing to show for it three weeks later.

jimmak85 said:

How long till i can add plants?

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When the tank is set up.
IE substrate and water.

jimmak85 said:

and I already know i need the florescent bulbs...

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OK
Read and ask Q?'s around here, for a good idea on lighting.

If you've heard the thing about "Watts per gallon" (WPG) forget that you ever heard it. It's almost as worthless as the "Inch per Gallon" of fish, thing.

Here's a good thread to read...
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=136668

Its a "sticky" at the top of the Planted Aquariums section.

Good luck with everything!

P.S.
Online shopping can be good too, for supplies.

My main two are...
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/shop.cfm?c=3578
http://www.bigalsonline.com/

For some really small fish you can also look to:

invertzfactory.com