Fishless Cycle With Food Ph And Ammonia ?s

[FishWishDish]

My 55 gallon tank appears to have cycled, fishlessly. The PH started around 7.8 and now is about 7.6
The tank the fish are currently in is 7.2 It was started out with RO water and gradually replaced with all well water (PH 8.0 from tap) but the PH remained stable at about 7.2 I have not yet done a big water change in the 55 gal, waiting until we buy the decor so I can aquascape and vacuum the decaying food from the gravel.

Should I:

Replace some water in the 55 gal tank with RO water?

Add conditioner(s)? I have NOT added any conditioners to the 55 gal tank because I wanted the total ammonia to be the same as the toxic ammonia so I'd know what was going on, and all my conditioners (Prime, Ultimate) detox the ammonia. Will adding any certain kinds of conditioners bring the PH down?

OR is there another way to get the PH down without PH reducing formulas (which I've heard set the tank into instability and generally shouldn't be used). If so, please tell me what it is!

OR will the difference of .4 - .6 (got to get a new test kit to make sure the numbers are testing right) not bother fancy goldfish and their common pleco friend?

Also, between now and stocking, do I need to add more food to decay into ammonia -> nitrite -> nitrate or will the generous quantities I've already dumped in there suffice until I vacuum/water change/stock the tank with the fish? (Couldn't find any pure ammonia in 40 mile radius!)

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[FishWishDish]

Anyone?

 

[charlie4486]

Go here this will explain fish less cycling better. http/www.fishforums.net/content/New-to-t...shless-Cycling/

as for Ph most fish will adapt to whatever Ph you have. just make sure you take time to acclimate them. i wouldn't worry about lowering or raising your Ph. especially not with Ph up or down that is just a temporary fix and the fluctuation in Ph will actually effect your fish more.