2nd time around

[b1igrh65]

i am just starting over my whole 35 gallon tank due to apparent dropsy syndrome with my last batch.
i am a real newbie.
i have live plants and will be getting 3 gourami followed by 3 full sized angel fish of 6 inch in a few days.
i did my tests 2 days ago and noticed ph at 7.6 yet am told fish must be at 7.4.
is this cause for concern, and if so, how do i rectify prior to introducing my fish?


Help...

[OrionGirl]

Ammonia/nitrites are a bigger concern than pH. Having a stable pH is important, but you're not off by that far anyway.

Dropsy isn't a syndrome--it's the result of poor water conditions, and bacterial infections. Make sure your tank is cycled for such a heavy bio-load before dumping the fish in.

[Sharyl C]

by starting over - do you mean from a dry tank? Has you water had time to cycle?

Even if cycled 3 gouramis and 3 X6" angels seem like a lot to be adding to a 35 gallon all at once. You may want to start with the gouramis, wait 2-4 weeks, check your water, and then get the angels once your tank is steady.

Also typically gouramis do better is male/female pairs or in large group. I believe this holds true for angels as well, but I don't have as much experience with them.

good luck

[Richer]

OrionGirl is right, don't be too concerned with your pH. I've kept angels, neons, etc. in tanks with a pH of about 8.0. They've all survived till this date, and are currently living in a 70 gallon tank (pH of 7 with CO2 injection). What is important is that you keep your pH steady. Products that lower your pH will work. However, they only work for a short period of time. After that, your pH will bounce right back up to where it was before. Which translate to constant addition of chemicals to your tank. This gets expensive, and isn't healthy for your fish.
If your starting from scratch I would be much more worried about ammonia and nitrite levels in your tank. I assume there is nothing in your tank right now? Take this opportunity to do a fishless (http://www.tomgriffin.com/aquamag/cycle2.html) cycle. You'll be looking at an empty tank for a couple of weeks, but it is well worth the waiting time. The article more or less speaks for itself.

I would also strongly recommend rethinking what you are going to put into your tank. What kind of gouramis are you looking at? I wouldn't suggest angels in a tank of your size, especially when there are other fish in there as well.

HTH
-Richer