10 Gallon Tank Prep for doubling fish number?

[PurpleFish]

I have 9 cardinal tetras coming - I didn't have a choice on the quantity. They will be put into my 10g tank that has 4 cardinals, 3 ember tetras, a multitude of blue cherry shrimp, some moss, and several plants with a new one on the way. It has been up and running for over a year. I know adding that many fish at once can be hard on the cycle. What can I do before or after they arrive to help? I will of course be watching the water parameters daily and do water changes as needed but can I add more BB to the tank before they arrive or once they arrive to help with the increased bioload? If so, how much do you recommend?

 

[Noroomforshoe]

You could have added extra bio media to the filter, you should have done it 3 weeks ago but do it anyway. A chemical free sponge, kids craft foam,. pillow stuffing, or extra filter cartridge's, anything porous, chemical free and inert works just as good as store purchased bio balls/rings/whatever.

That being said please consider upgrading to a 20 gallon long aquarium. and use the ten gallon as a quarantine tank.

 

[ProudPapa]

I wouldn't add anything. Of course keep a close eye on the water parameters and do water changes as needed, which you said, but I expect the beneficial bacteria colony to catch up pretty quickly.

And I will second the suggestion from Noroomforshoe to get a larger tank. That's going to be a lot of fish in a relatively small tank.

 

[SparkyJones]

cardinal tetras are small. I don't think they will change much as far as your cycle goes. generally speaking if you have 7 fish and a bunch of shrimp already, and it's cycled there might be a small rise in ammonia or nitrites for a day or two but the bacteria colony is going to roughly double every 15 hours or so, and will overcome it in a day or two tops.

It's much more important that the water parameters are right for these new fish, and that you get the temperature close before putting them in so they don't get stressed or shocked, your current livestock has dealt with the changes as they happened slowly, new fish won't have that benefit. so just make sure it's in order first. the cardinals you have might be fine with it, it might not go that way for newly introduced fish.

Worst case you'll do a partial water change to keep it safe for a day or two and the colony will catch up. A cycle spike, you can water change until it catches up, but again, they are small fish, you have a decent bioload already, and they don't create a ton of waste to begin with so you may not see anything.

As was said, I gotta 3rd that 20g long idea, perfect tank for a school of cardinals.

 

[PurpleFish]

Thanks y'all for your advice! I'll put some BB in until the fish arrive in 2 days, for a couple days after, and per the water parameters after that. I'll check the water each day and change it accordingly. I'll think about getting a larger tank; might have to wait for another pay check.

 

[qldmick]

Just keep an eye on things, you can always feed lightly for a few weeks.

 

[PurpleFish]

Well, eight new cardinals (one was doa), are acclimated and schooling with my other four! It’s fun to see more of a real school. Also pretty cool to watch them slowly color up! They aren’t fully colored yet but their blue stripe went from white to light blue and the nonexistent red stripe is now fading into existence - very cool to actually see that happen! Here’s a pic…

Just keep an eye on things, you can always feed lightly for a few weeks.

Will do… lite feed and daily water tests with water changes as needed. Adding BB also.

 

[Sillypickle]

Keep them on quaritine at gradually add the healthy ones