New tank...dead fish

Question
I have a new 10 gallon tank for my 7 yr old son. Cleaned the gravel like I was supposed to, put in the special "new tank" chemical...let it sit. Got 4 neons...all dead in 2 hrs. Temp was 80 degrees. Went to local fish store....ph was high so they sold me a test kit, the stuff to bring the ph down and some bacteria to help growth. Got ph down (temporarily) and put in 3 tetra things. (not sure exactly what they are) ph keeps going up and I have to add the stuff 3-4 times a day. 2 fish are now dead so I have a 3/4 inch fish in a 10 gallon tank! I expect he will probably die too, so my real question is what type of fish do best in a high ph water?

Answer
Alicia,                                                      Number one you never cycle a tank that small with live bacteria. You are introducing it in perfect amounts with the fish you are adding. You should add them slowly a couple at a time. Neons wouldn't have been my first choice. I would have added a couple Platys. You are going thru new tank syndrome by 3x's right now your best bet is wait about 2 weeks to add fish ... since you already did this it will run thru the nitrogen cycle by itself with no fish. Don't add them they will prob die. Your water is going to be toxic since your nitrites and ammonias are going to be high as a kite since they told you to add bacteria. It is running thru the same cycle you would have with fish but at a much more rapid pace. Just hang in ther for a couple weeks then add your four first fish.Add like 3 at first wait a couple days then a couple more then a week... then a couple more. Then after a couple weeks after adding your first fish add your catfish... a couple of chubby corys and an algea eater... not a pleco he will out grow your tank fast....like the chineses algea eaters or ottocinclus cats..Good Luck,Tina