Is my oscar tank cycled?

[Tony24]

My ammonia is 0 my nitrites are 0 and nitrates 40-80 ppm ( colors are so close )

 

[jmattingly]

Looks like it should be. It also looks like it's high time for a water change with your nitrates that high. They should be under 25.

Joe

 

[Tony24]

its only been like 5 days since a 30% change i also just added some sponge squeezings to it too yesterday. Its been running 4 weeks now with the one oscar he is doing very well and is in great shape

 

[stingray4540]

Nice fish! It looks like it's cycled, usually try to keep the nitrates under 40.

 

[Tony24]

Wow should a fishy cycle realy end that soon even doing a few water changes? Maybee it was the bio-spira when i added hium or the sponge squeezing i added? im happy if its realy cycled

 

[~*LuvMyKribs*~]

A cycle usually takes 4 weeks.

If you just did a water change only 5 days ago and you are already getting such high nitrates it may be a cause for concern. You may need to up the filtration to keep the tank clean with such a messy fish. What size tank is it?


-Diana

 

[cyberbeer65]

That is a beautiful Oscar.As said above though,you might want to up the filtration.

 

[Tony24]

its a 55 and it has a aquatech 30-60 witch is soposed to be the same power as the penguin 330

 

[Tony24]

Im also getting a aquaclear 500/110 for 60-110 gallon. WOuld it be overkill to put that on with the other filter i have?

 

[YuccaPatrol]

Nope, definitely not overkill with a messy fish like an Oscar. You really have to work hard to keep an oscar tank clean to avoid stuff like Hole in the Head disease. I'd try to keep nitrates below 20ppm and do water changes immediately when it reaches 20ppm.

My 75 gallon tank that used to have my oscar (which I had to euthanize due to hole in the head) had 2 emperor 400's and one Emperor 280 on it). I still don't think it was enough filtration. Definitely use your gravel vac every time you do a water change and do LARGE water changes. At least 50% per week, twice a week would be better.