As far as the mini-cycle; I can personally attest that moving crap around completely screws up my water. At first I couldn't figure out what was going on, since I thiought my tank had finished cycling, but then I realized that each time I put my hands in there to 'redecorate' I was stirring all of the gunk off the bottom. I have a live sand bed, so that's the real problem, I think. :pooh: (All I have in the tank are 2 hermit crabs right now, live sand and live rock.)
For example: yesterday, all levels were 0, I went to move 1 rock, of course they all fell, and I finally put them back. This morning, my levels are all back up again, not too high, but high enough to make me not do it again unless I absolutely have too...
I'm ready to pay the kid from the LFS to come and set the rock up for me, and call it a day...:frustrat:
Also considering loosing the sand bed, not sure yet...