New Tank pH questions

I cannot comment on your chemistry as I having similar struggles myself.
(see my post a couple above yours).

However, I would steer away from Neon Tetras until your tank is very
stable. They are sensitive fish.

Danios great ones to start with. They are hardy and provide lots of
movement. If you want to go for bright fish, go for Cardinal Tetras.
They look very similar, but are much hardier. I have had mine for many
years.

Overall (as I am sure you know) patience is the key. Avoid adding too
many fish early and stick add new fish progressively.

Best of luck!

kk wrote:

Hello,

I have a few questions....I've read through the FAQ and think I have
some answers (and some I suspected anyway), but just to be sure...

I purchased my kids a 5 gallon hex tank for Christmas. Yes, I know it's
waaaay to small, but so are the kids and I just wanted to get them started.

The skinny:
Live plants (anacharis and cabomba, probably 5 plants each)
Fluorite substrate, rinsed the gunk out in the tub (no other gravel)
Filter system that came with the tank (new charcoal impregnated pad,
sucks in the mid-bottom of the tank, spills back in the top)
Well water, softened
Added chlorine/chloramine remover (probably unnecessary)
Planted plants and left tank for 5 days

Purchased: 5 black neon tetras, 1 catfish and 1 dwarf african frog
(again, yes, too many fish, pet store didn't say anything and I'm a
fishtank dope, apparently). Also have a snail (hitchiker) whom I'm
trying to catch and eliminate. One tetra died on the way home from the
store, three others have since died. We purchsed 2 more black neon
tetras (bringing the tetras in the tank to 3) and are in a holding pattern.

Tested the water chemistry: pH 7.4-7.6, med. hardness, low nitrates,
nitrites and ammonia. Pet store recommended "pH down" which isn't
working because the buffering capacity of my tank is too high (see I did
read the faq). In fact, very interesting to me as I'm a chemist, as I
added the pH down, the pH stayed stable and the hardness increased. I
understand why now that I've read the faq and seen what the hardness
test measures. I am unwilling to break the buffer to support the tetras,
the catfish and the frog are doing OK at this pH and should continue?

So I suppose my question is....should I get some different fish once the
tetras go, and if so, what kind? I liked the harlequin rasboras (think
colorful for the kids), but I'm thinking I'm at the top end of their pH
range.

Thanks in advance for any advice. kk