Okay so I know I got two other forums open but both have pretty much lost in translation and no-one really knows my concerns or questions anymore. My equipment is 2 Tetra Whisper 10-30i Power Filter, 1 Tetra Heater 10-30 (fully submersible), 1 Aqua Culture: 20-60 Gallon, Double Outlet Aquarium Air Pump, 1 Aqua Culture Bubble Aquarium Stone, 25' of Aqua-culture standard airline tubing, 1 Seachem Ph Alert tab, 1 Magnetic Algae Scraper, River Pebble (small) gravel, Assorted wal-mart fake plants and decorations, and API Freshwater Master Test kit. Chemicals include Tetra algae control, Tetra Aqua- safe, Small bottle of Seachem Prime. Not in use chemicals are are Tetra Start Zyme, Tank Buddies Fungus Clear, and Aquarium Salt.

I have a 25 gallon aquarium it's been set up for 5 weeks, it's been cycling for four of those weeks with shurefine pure ammonia. I bring my ammonia up to 4ppm as that's the closest number to 5ppm with out being over (using API Fresh Water Master Test). My ammonia is dropping to 0ppm in 12 hours and nitrites dropping to 0ppm in somewhere around 24 hours. Test results right now 13 hours from dosing to 4ppm show 0ppm ammonia 5ppm nitrite levels. I have not seen any algae blumes during fish-less cycling, I run my lights anywhere from 12 to 13 hours a day. Normally as long as Im awake they are on. I'm planning on getting a timer for my light and setting it between 10 and 12 hours of light.

As for stocking options, I'm really open for anything, but as for now my list is 3 Gourmis(1 male,2 females), 5-6 of some type of Tetra's or schooling fish that can handle my ph, and 6-8 Panda Cory's. I'm open to any suggestions, but please be kind.

As for questions. If my ammonia is showing 0ppm at 12 hours and my nitrite levels are showing 0ppm at 24 doesn't that mean my ammonia producing nitrite in 12hours and nitrite producing nitrate in 12 hours? If this is true then how many days should I test just to make sure its not a fluke? Now on to buying fish. What should I look for when purchasing fish? Should I just absolutely avoid buying fish from a supplier that has linked filtration? All three of my fish stores around here have linked filtration( petsmart and 2 locally owned ones). Petsmart and one of the locally owned (well not so locally owned) are out of state in Slidell, La. The other locally owned is in my home town Picayune,Ms. I rarely ever get a chance to go to Slidell. I'm worried about the fish I last bought from the one in Picayune, Ms. they all (one by one) started bleaching out and catching swim bladder, and then dying idk if they was just stressed out severly from tank not being cycled (as it was not) or if her tanks or sick what do ya'll think? I would like to get fish soon as I'm a really impatient person, but I think I done well with cycling my tank properly this time.

Ps. For any nazis out there that say my ph will kill anything (as this has happened on utube). I'm questioning and finding out if fish are farmed raised and anythat are (if I buy) will be going thro a very long (3-4hours) drip acclimation. Also I will be adding 2 smaller internal filters to handle any over stocking issues, if it is a tiny bit over stocked.
Problems Day 33 cycling
Day before yesterday(9:30pm) I tested my ammonia and it was 0ppm so I dosed it back to 4ppm, my nitrite reading was around 2ppm. Yesterday morning (9:30am) I tested ammonia it was at 0ppm so I dosed back to 4ppm and my nitrite reading was 5ppm. Last night I tested and my ammonia was at 2ppm and nitrite was at 0ppm. This morning ammonia was at .5 and nitrite at 0ppm. So why is my ammonia dropping so slow ? I also experienced (sometime between last night and this morning) a super Ph drop 8.0 down to 6.2. Did major water change to get ph up now its around 8 again (normal tap ph) and tested ammonia .5ppm nitrite .5ppm.

Not to sound like I'm criticizing, because I'm not, but it sounds like you are kind of over thinking things a little. You are doing fine and so is your tank. Testing water chemistry is important and It's nice to know you are paying attention. Have you been testing nitrates? ammoia is cnverted to nitrite nd nitrite is converted to nitrate. I would be willing to bet your nitrates are right up there.

If you can dose your tank with ammonia and it is consistently gone in 12 hours. and nitrites are dissapating just as fast, I would say you are safe to put in some fish. The nitrite spike is the longest and most aggrivating part of the cycle and it sounds like youve got it licked.

You didnt mention what type of gouramis you are interested in. Three spot gouramis are fairly common and come in a range of colors. I like the golds mysalf. They are also fairly hardy. I might try a couple of those first. as far as the "tetras or schooling type of fish" there are lots to choose from. I personaly am partial to tiger barbs. they have a reputation of being a little pesky to fish with long fins or feelers like gouramis but if you keep a good school of them they dont bother the others. They are also pretty hardy fish. Most tetras can be a little more sesitive to water conditions but they can adjust. You might also look into the harlequin rasboras. Its all a matter of personal preference though so ultimately its up to you.
the corys also like to be in a group and there are dozens to choose from.

As far as your Ph drop, I have no Idea. But once you have fish in your tank you will more than likely be doing regular water changes to keep the nitrates down. That will probably stabilize your pH.

As for fish stores, I dont know very many that dont have either linked filtration or undergravel filters. The simple truth is its easier to maintain multiple tanks that way. if you are that concerned about it you could always order online and have shipped direct.

If it was me, I would do a good water change and put in a couple fish. personaly i would start with the gouramis. They have a tendency to be a little shy at times and this would give them a chance to get themselves established before the introduction of any others. keep an eye on the fish, and continue to test. doing regular water changes is also a good habit to get into at this time. If all goes well for a couple weeks then go ahead and add a couple more. continue adding fish, just a few at a time, evry couple of weeks. until you are stocked. and then just enjoy.

welcome to the forum, by the way.

If you are dosing and ammonia and nitrite go to 0ppm after 12-24hrs, then it sounds like your tank is cycled. You need to do at least a 50% water change before fish go in there.

As far as ph, it should not drop like that and something had to cause it. Water that is stable will have buffers in the water that will hold the ph steady. You need to watch it. Usually a high ph is hard water and will have adequate buffers, but yours doesn't sound like that. If it were me, I would get a kh (carbonate hardness) test kit and see how much kh your water has.

I would also recommend you stop adding any chemicals and either use Prime or Aquasafe for dechlor, but not both. Not sure what the ph alert tab is, but if it is something to alter your ph stop using it.

I think its actually an indicater that hangs in the tank to alert you to a change in pH.

I tend to agree with Dante and just maybe you are overthinking this a little. I would put a couple Gouramis in there and wouldn't add any chemicals except the stuff for chlorine, etc.....as far as PH I think your tank would hopefully stabilize after a bit too....not sure there. I have high PH and my tetras look and acta amazingly great! I change water regularly and that is what I would do to start with after getting fish, change daily 20% for awhile. I just cycled a 15 gallon tank in 17 days with fish.....I did add live bacteria and that was all intermittently. I changed at least 20% water daily until the readings were in line. Some of the "old hands" you might say at this don't even test the water parameters. Just practice regular water changes and that will take care of 99% of everything.......my opinion.

And yes!!!!! I want to WELCOME you to this forum.....a lot friendlier than another one I have frequented for sure! I would just add a couple fish at a time and watch them and enjoy them. Stay away from chemicals as much as possible. I would do a major water change right now and add fish. Good bacteria is not in your water so don't worry about getting rid of the good stuff. Keep your cartridge in your filter longer than usual the first couple times between changes. Good luck and have fun putting fish in there right away after WC.
I am fairly new here too, only couple weeks maybe!
Jim

I agree with Ben.

Sounds like you're good and cycled, now for the big water change!

For Gouramis, I found the Honey Gouramis to be the most docile and friendly ones. Pearl Gouramis are nice too, but they get much bigger than the Honeys.

For Tetras, most like to be in groups of 6+. I'd do maybe 6 tetras and then 6 Panda Corys, then your Gouramis. Cardinal Tetras are very pretty fish! I've got 6 in my 20g with 3 female Honey Gouramis (the male had to be put down last week due to a wasting disease.)

What is your pH? Most fish will do just fine in any pH as long as you acclimate them slowly - drip acclimation is great! There's a sticky in this section that tells you how to do it too.

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I keep my rasboras at a ph of 7.6 - 8.0 (although I haven't tested for it recently) and they do just fine. Like said before as long as you drip acclimate most fish will do fine in any ph conditions.

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Someone mentioned Pearl Gouramis and I can attest they are a tough fish and to start with probably would be good in a new tank. When I was a young teen about 13 we traveled abroad for the summer and was gone from home almost 2 full months and when we returned I had a 10 gallon tank with several fish in there and guppies that were breeding too.... so there was some food source but that was all......the water was literally about 3 inches deep was all from evaporation as the caretakers didn't take care of fish obviously. The pearl gourami was very much alive as were the guppies. The Pearl Gourami lived for quite a few years after that no problems. I have to say....the Gouramis are a very tough fish I guess after that experience. If it survived that ordeal anyway as the water parameters were probably not the best when we arrived home I am sure....never tested back then anyway as I don't think anyone really did....that was in the 60's.