ok, last weekend i stripped down my whole 10 gallon tank, bleached everything, replaced the bio wheel and filter cartridge, got new river pebbles instead of gravel, rinsed everything and then filled it up with ro water monday to start it running. monday or tuesday night i added in a bunch of biozyme which is bacteria to combat ammonia and nitrates, to sort of, help move the new tank syndrome along much faster.
today, the ph is still low, i'm working on getting it up, it's just below 7 right now, the ammonia is at zero, and the nitrates are plenty low. (obviously, i mean, there's nothing in there right now.)
the water has turned cloudy however, and i don't know why. any guesses?
i was just wondering if i could go ahead and buy my new fish once i get the ph straightened out...or if there's something else i should be doing. i was at a couple pet stores today, but none of the fish really jumped out at me, so i'm waiting anyway, at least until i can try a couple more stores, or until a store gets in another shipment.
i don't want to rush, i'd hate it if another one died...but i'm really looking forward to having a fish again...it's so empty and boring without one.
any tips, suggestions or things i've forgotten because i'm dumb? please help.

Hi Opusfish,

Sounds to me like you've thought of everything.... you're not being dumb at all dear.

The cloudy water is simply due to the new tank settling down; most do this in the first few days. Adding carbon to the filter will clear it faster.

Once you've got the pH straightened out and the tank has settled down then there's no reason you can't go ahead and put a fish in there. As long as you keep a very close eye on the water parameters during the cycling then it'll be fine.

Good luck.... and post pics of your new friend when you find him!

thanks a bunch...hopefully i can keep this one healthy long enough to take some pictures.