Little help please, new owner *update*

[Txpuff]

Hey all, I am a new puffer owner. I am actually a new aquarium owner and I am in need of a little assistance. I bought a 20g aquarium 3 days ago and set it up with water, tap water conditioner and tetra beneficial bacteria additive. The next day I added some live bamboo (that were from a small koi tank in a local pet store). Yesterday I went to the store and was told that my tank should be ready for 2-3 fish so I picked up two red eye puffers. I took a sample of the pet store water and tried to Ph match my tank before I added the fish. I woke up this morning and it had shot back up to the high 7.8-8.0 region. I got online and started doing research and now I know that the store didnt correctly instruct me on how to cycle my tank and I am a) worried about my fish dying from being part of the first cycle in my tank and b) them dying from the Ph being too high. What can I do to keep this from happening? Would it cause more harm than good to try to drop my ph with a ph reducer while the fish are in the tank ?
Here is the local water quality report: http://www.robinsontexas.org/2006%20Water%20Report.pdf
Here are pics of my guys, the tank and the reading from my ph/ammonia reader.





*Update* Pulled out the bamboo and decided to plant 8 fake plants in the tank to give them hiding places (+ a real background). I also picked up a 6 in 1 kit and have been checking all conditions daily.What do you guys think? They seem to be doing well and not bothering eachother. I am trying to figure out how to feed them without starting conflict..

[Pufferpunk]

I'm not sure I trust those pH moniters to be true. I'd get a liquid test kit to moniter your parameters to be sure. With that being said, it seems the average pH of your tap water is around 8. pH really isn't a concerning factor in keeping most FW fish--they can adjust. What you need to worry about right now is ammonia & nitrite. If you added Tetra's Easy Balance, then you should be good to go as far as cycling that tank & all you need to watch should be your nitrate but test all your parameters regurlarly for the 1st month to be sure.

[Pufferpunk]

The other thing I'd be concerned about is if you have a pair or not. They don't do well if they are not paired & may fight--even kill each other. You need much more decor in there, breaking up the lines of sight, so they can establish territories. I also believe that bamboo will rot if submerged like that.

[marksrush]

I used that Tetra Safe Start stuff to cycle my 20, and it seemed to do a real good job of it (much to my surprise). If you're worried, try some out.

[Pufferpunk]

The only misatake I see is if you added the Safestart to the tank the day before the fish, much of the benefitial bacteria may have died off by the time you added something to feed it--fish waste. That product should be added IMMEDIATELY before adding the fish. Doesn't it say that on the bottle?

[pinkfloydpuffer]

I plan on using the marine kind of biospira, and my plan is to add pure ammonia to keep the bacteria alive, as I don't really trust it enough to put my puffs right in. But if the puffers are already in the tank, then it couldn't hurt...

[Txpuff]

I bought the petsmart kit and in the instructions it basically tells you to put water in the tank and then dump the water conditioner + bacteria in there and add fish after 24-48 hours. Ill watch the bamboo and it shows signs of going bad ill just take it out. I guess it wouldnt hurt to put some cycle or other bacteria supplement in there now?

[pinkfloydpuffer]

No, don't add cycle. Those sort of things will starve your good bacteria.

[Txpuff]

Also, how often should I be changing the water for the first couple of weeks?

[Pufferpunk]

Keep testing your parameters & go from there. Generally we do 50% weekly WC around here. The directions on that tank kit is wrong. Do you still have the bottle of Safestart? What dose it say?

Cycle is garbage & only contains DEAD bacteria, which is like adding extra fish waste, stressing your new bacteria.

[Txpuff]

It came with a trial little packet for one use, so I threw it away after using it. (The safestart)

[Txpuff]

bump for update

[marksrush]

The only misatake I see is if you added the Safestart to the tank the day before the fish, much of the benefitial bacteria may have died off by the time you added something to feed it--fish waste. That product should be added IMMEDIATELY before adding the fish. Doesn't it say that on the bottle?

Here's what it says on the label for a 100ml bottle: "Directions: shake well. Add entire bottle to aquarium up to 30 gallons. Aquarium is then ready for fish. Consult your retailer for advice on type and number of fish appropriate for your aquarium."

Rather vague, unfortunately, as you can see. But I'm sure you're correct, because it's just logical. Plus I believe my boss said that the rep told her you need to add fish immediately.