ynaggo

When adding like 6 Tetra's can they overload the bio-load and cause a mini cycle?

Lucy

It depends on the size tank and how long it's been established.
In a newly cycled smaller tank, it's a good bet it would cause a mini cycle.

eaglescout316

The way the cycle works is that the bacteria grow to the point where there are enough to consume the amount of ammonia available to them. Once you add more ammonia, there will always be a mini-cycle as the bacteria catch up to the new bioload.

My technique is that when i introduce new fish, i use amquel+ every 2-3 days to protect the fish while the bacteria adjust.

Lucy

If you add one or two fish at a time, it won't cause a mini cycle. Adding too many a once is what can cause a rise in ammonia.
Many of us keep extra filter sponges in our established tanks to seed new ones.
Removing that rarely effects the exising tank and often instantly cycles a new one.

eaglescout316

I'm just curious, when you say "mini-cycle" are you meaning any rise (even just a light green tint on an API test kit), or a spike exceeding a certain level?

Lucy

Funny, I guess people have a different definition of a mini cycle, never thought of that.
To me a mini cycle is any ammonia reading in a previously established that takes a week or more of daily water changes to get under control.

A slight rise in ammonia (say a reading of .25) that lasts a day or two and brought under control with a couple of water changes isn't a mini cycle.
This is just my opinion.

An example is around mother's day I added 15 small fish to my 30g. (Not recommended btw lol) My ammonia rose to .25.....after 2 days it was back to 0. (Of course I did water changes). The bacteria quickly caught up.
My thoughts were...whew, I'm glad I didn't go into a mini cycle.

What do you consider a mini cycle?

ooibhuskyoo

To me, a mini-cycle is when the tank literally goes through the nitrogen cycle again.

For example, you start seeing a spike in ammonia (maybe from 0 - .25+), then the ammonia goes back to 0, then nitrates..etc.

Usually, if I see a mini-cycle, it would last about a week-ish, like I said, literally a mini-cycle.

LOL was that confusing?

MizRamzi

hmmm and I thought a mini-cycle had 3 wheels

Lucy

Craig-D

I agree with Lucy's definition. My experience with a mini-cycle was this: after safely cycling my 12 gallon with 2 fish, I got impatient and added 6 more fish at once. That would likely be no problem in a 50 gallon tank, but in a 12g it created a mini-cycle. 72 hrs after adding them I had an ammonia reading of .25 that persisted for a week. After 7 days of daily water changes the readings finally went back to 0.

To answer the OP's question, not only will 6 more tetras create a mini-cyle in your 10 gallon, but based on your aquarium info, you will be very overstocked. You're already overstocked with the 13 fish you have in there now. I wouldn't add any more.

eaglescout316

I'd consider a mini-cycle as any bump, just some are more a cause of concern than others. Your definition is definitely reasonable though.

ooibhuskyoo

HAHA... niiice

kristikins

I'm new here and have been browsing the fourms trying to find a solution to my problem before asking! But can't find anything. This topic seems to relate to it.

I cycled the tank and once it was ready..I added too many fish at once. A silly mistake! Therefore, a bio load of course! So I battled the ammonia that was at .50 down to .25 to 0 after a week of water changes! Just when I thought it was over... a couple days later the ammonia went to .50 again. I'm not understanding why its doing that. Any suggestions on things I could be doing.. or something I'm doing wrong or not doing?

The Uke

First off, if you have a question, post your own thread as that would allow more people to see it and hopefully answer your specific questions. As far as your ammonia going up, if your tank is fully cycled, perhaps you are overfeeding and the extra food is rotting on the bottom. The nitrifying bacteria only grows as large as its food source so if suddenly there is more ammonia than it can handle you will have a elevated reading until the bacteria colony grows enough to handle the increased load.
I should have said this first but welcome to the forum!