thanks, i just set up this tank a few days ago...monday to be exact, i got it from a friend who had not cleaned it in a LOOOOONG time, so i took out the only fish he had left (plecosimus (i know thats spelled wrong)) and cleaned everthing very well, i filled the tank with tapwater and treated for chlorine and chloramine. i tested the water for PH and ammonia, no reading on the ammonia and a PH of at least 7.6 (my tester only went up that far) so i put some Ph decreaser in it and tested it a day later with a diff. tester, it read 8.5 i believe, so i got some diff. Ph decreaser and tried it again, this morning it was still at about 8.5 my test kit says 7.0 is desired....is that right?
i also have a live plant in there...and a carbon filter that needs new carbon but im not sure where or what kind to get yet....
any help would be appreciated