Okay so its been about 3 days now since I put in my old Marineland BioWheel 280 from my old 10 gallon tank to my new 60 gallon tank. I also have a Aquaclear 300 in my 60 as well. I was wondering if my tank is cycled already. Here are my water parameters from the past 3 days:

Day 1 (3/12):
Ammonia - 0.25
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 0
PH - 7.8

Day 2 (3/13):
Ammonia - 0.25
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - .50
PH - 7.4

Day 3 (3/14):
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 5.0
PH - 7.8

Since Ammonia and Nitrite are at 0 and Nitrates are showing, means that my tank is cycled? Please help me confirm. I have also been doing 30 Percent water changes after every test too for the past 3 days as well. Should I keep doing this for a month or so?

You are cycled... Don't clean your filters yet... But you are good to go.

When your Nitrates hit 40ppm do your 30% water change!

I assume you have got the fish in the 60 gallon tank and you have been feeding them?

Yeah, I have my TO and 2 CP and 1 golden gourami inside my 60 ( Don't worry my gourami is moving back to the 10 gallon soon). Ive been feeding them but, very sparingly for the past 3 days. Do you think its okay for me to start feeding them normally now? I just got some freeze dried blood worms for my TO today, hopefully I can give him a treat if it permits Thanks OFL for your feedback.

Feed as normal... Things are looking great! Keep an eye on your water!

Thanks Nicki

I was checking my water today and I am worried about my PH level. Its 10:41 at night. Here is my water parameters:

3/15
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - between 5.0 and 10
PH -7.8

I'm still new to this hobby and was doing some research on Oscars and PH. I read that Oscars thrive in PH levels around 6.5 - 7.0. I know PH is a delicate matter but, was wondering if its okay that my PH is around 7.8. I do have two small plants and a large piece of drift wood in my tank as well.

My LFS told me that driftwood and R/O water can lower PH some. Is R/O water and Distilled water the same? Should I use it?

Okay I did a little digging in the forums. Found out that PH 6 to 8 is okay for Oscars as long as its stable. I still have questions about R/O water. What are the benefits of using it compared to tap water and conditioners?

in RO water, you are sure it doesn't contain ammonia nor chlorine, thus no need
for conditioner. however, there are some minerals that are gone in RO water.

Is Distilled water the same as R/O water?

StevieBoarder wrote:

i believe distilled had removed more minerals that RO
because RO is using pressure to filter the materials
through the tiniest pores membrane. i have to review my
filtration files...

edited: distilled water is purely oxygen and hydrogen molecules
with pH 7, no minerals and contaminants. more pure than RO water.

lol. Thanks Paul.