Tank finally up

[fishheadNJ]

Some time ago I joined up looking for some advice on a tank not yet set up, due to some work that had to be done to the house in the area destined for a tank.

Work is done, tank (12 gallon Eclipse) is up. We fired it up yesterday afternoon, we still need some essentials (net being primary!) but nothing that can't be picked up when we get our first fish (likely tomorrow or Monday). Teh tank came with conditioner which has been introduced. Nothing else has been done to alter the water.

My PH test kit goes to 7.6, and that's what it reads (so it might be higher).

If I were to consider leaving the ph "natural" - i.e. stable - what choices do I have as far as fish? I understand I'd have to get a different kit to determine what exactly the ph is.

Just keeping my options open. Regulating ph is certainly not a problem. I understand they have, as an example, 'ph 6.8' which supposedly fixes it to a specific ph. Do they work as advertised?

Pending the ph decision, we were thinking of starting off with 3 Neons or Cardinals, or a couple (male) guppies. I'd love breeding guppies, but not in a 12 gallon with nowhere else to put the resultant brood.

Thoughts/suggestions?

 

[nickmcmechan]

my first thought and suggestion is absolutely do not get fish tomorrow

please please cycle your tank first

 

[nickmcmechan]

read this very very carefully, then read it again, then ask questions

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

 

[nickmcmechan]

and this too

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=42633

 

[nickmcmechan]

and do not mess with the pH, the key is to keep it stable, if you use stuff to mess with it then it will become unstable, which may harm your fish

 

[Ruben Tolon]

definitely don't mess around with that pH, either get very adaptable fish (that have been acclimated to the same pH at the LFS) or those that prefer the water you have.

 

[Cory Keeper]

I concur, fishless cycle. and unless you have ultra low ph and you want snails, dont mess with the ph.

 

[wataugachicken]

unless you are buying wild-caught fish, or plan on breeding species that need a specific pH for the eggs to dvelop properly (unlikely as those species are not beginner fish anyway) there is no reason to adjust the pH, especially when it is within the 7's. store-bought commercially or locally bred fish can do just fine in a pH range of low 6's to mid 8's. any higher or lower and i would be more concerned about your own personal health as well as that of the fish.

 

[erin14]

i have to agree with the fishless cycle. if you don't do this, your tank will go from little or no ammonia (since its only been running for a day) to an ammonia spike and you'll be flushing those fish you bought down the toilet within hours so you'll want to cycle it first!

 

[Druu]

I suppose the main point here is to do a bit of research before doing anything else. In terms of fish, I suppose you could have a small school of tetras.