Tetra Correct Ph

Sooo thankfully to this site, I have a 29-gallon tank that I am doing a fishless cycle on. I have had a used filter (thanks to a friend) that I popped in a few of days ago... Yesterday I did a 10% water change and a couple of hours later I did a water test on it, and then again this morning. I DID use 5-in-1 easy strips and ammonia test strips. Nearest pet supply is far and this is all I could obtain locally. My readings this morning showed ammonia all good, Nitrite at .5ppm, Nitrate 20ppm, GH 300 ppm, KH 180 ppm, and the pH 7.8-8.4. WAAYY to high for the fish I'd like to get. I know water hardness and pH go hand in hand. I did add a bigger filter (although I left the used one in the bottom of the tank) and some new floating fake plants but I rinsed them really well in very hot water. I do have city water so I'm confused as to what to do to lower my pH. I have these Tetra Correct pH tablets, but when I was setting it up I was told not to use chemicals to correct it...I have yet to get fish because I'm waiting for the right water parameters. What am I doing wrong? How can I fix this?

 

Three things...

1) First, are you adding an ammonia source to the tank? If not, the bacteria in the seeded filter media will starve off.
2) If you are cycling fishless, there should be no need for a water change (unless ammonia or nitrite levels get over about 5ppm)
3) All but the most delicate fish will adapt to any pH between 6.0 and 8.5. A stable pH is much more important than "hitting" a certain number. Altering your pH can lead to pH swings, which will kill fish.

So what fish do you plan to keep?

 

Fancy Guppies, Cardinal Tetras, KhulI loaches and a dwarf Gourami

I am not adding ammonia, I did the water change because when I test the water prior to there were ammonia levels. I did the water change to balance it out and stopped putting fish food in for 2 reasons. 1 it was an inaccurate way to add waste and 2 I added the used filter. I should also note that when I initially set up the tank it was not all "brand new" I had used what was in my 10 gallon that my previous fantail was in, water and all....granted I was uneducated and did a 100% water change and put all new media in there thinking I was doing it good since it had been years since this was done.... I did not at that time know of new tank syndrome. My poor fantail passed shortly (30 mins later) after. The tank ran for 3 weeks empty and when we set up the new tank I used the stuff in that.

Thanks to the kind people on here and lots of internet research and educating myself so I don't murder any more fish; I know that these fish are compatible (as long as there's only 1 gourami) and I know to add the 3-4 guppies first and the Gourami last. I've been told that it'd be ok to pop the guppies in now but I'm scared about the nitrite levels and the pH, which is why I wanted to know, why not use the ph corrector if there aren't any fish in there yet

Three things...

1) First, are you adding an ammonia source to the tank? If not, the bacteria in the seeded filter media will starve off.
2) If you are cycling fishless, there should be no need for a water change (unless ammonia or nitrite levels get over about 5ppm)
3) All but the most delicate fish will adapt to any pH between 6.0 and 8.5. A stable pH is much more important than "hitting" a certain number. Altering your pH can lead to pH swings, which will kill fish.

So what fish do you plan to keep?

The ammonia levels were at .5ppm not 5 sorry I should have read that better

this is what it looks like

 

First, don't add any fish unless your tank is cycled and ammonia and nitrite both 0, 24 hours after dosing the tank to 2ppm ammonia. You say you did a fishless cycle, but didn't add ammonia. An ammonia source is necessary to do a fishless cycle. You want the beneficial bacteria to grow so they can process 2ppm of added ammonia within 24 hours so that ammonia and nitrite read 0. Anything above that can kill your fish.

Get the API master test kit, much more accurate than strips. And an ammonia source (I like Dr tim's). You need to test daily and add ammonia to bring the level to 2ppm anytime it drops below 0.5 until both ammonia and nitrite are 0 the day after a dose to 2ppm. Then you change the water and add fish.

Speaking of water changes, are you adding a water conditioner? Which one? Tap water contains chlorine which will kill the beneficial bacteria (or fish). Need to add that to water before changing and don't rinse the filter in tap water, use dirty tank water when you take it out.

As far as pH, you don't want to mess with that. If you adjust it you will always have to adjust it, and accurately, or risk your fish. Stable pH is much more critical than a certain number.

 

Fancy Guppies, Cardinal Tetras, KhulI loaches and a dwarf Gourami

While most of those fish prefer acidic water I would still try to keep the water moderately hard and alkaline for the guppy. Acidic water fish adapt better to alkaline water than alkaline water fish adapt to acidic water. The guppies would really not do well in acidic or soft water.