Can bb still survive if removed from tank

**octopus** · 8th Jun 2010, 18:48

Correct me if i am wrong. My understanding is that media inside the Cannister filters of a cycled tank contains BB. My question is, should this filter be removed from the tank and left idle over a period of time can the BB still survive, since it has been deprived of the nutrients it was getting from the tank?. I need to clear this doubt because i am not sure whether to change the medias of a recently purchased Cannister Filter.
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**lucasjiang** · 9th Jun 2010, 15:43

Hi bro, i believe that if you leave the media in aged water from the tank, it can survive.

if you want to change the media, you can put the new media into the filter, then you take some sediment from the old media or the gravel, then you can use it to 'start up' the new media. its like a starter culture.

**eviltrain** · 9th Jun 2010, 16:00

why do you have to change the media in the canister?

**celticfish** · 9th Jun 2010, 17:10

You can remove them into a pail with aeration for a short duration.
But you're right that they will need nutirents if they have to stay there for some time (a few days?).
However, you can possibly "feed" them by dosing some form of ammonia or nitrates into the pail.

Some times its good to change the media after some time and give them a good cleaan.
They do clog up over them in the cannisters.

**octopus** · 9th Jun 2010, 19:39

Dont want to take chances in case the idle stage of the filter might have some harmful effect. Offcourse can wash and clean but dont like the looks of it.

**Fuzzy** · 9th Jun 2010, 23:01

By idle over a period of time, do you mean days, weeks or months.

If it's less than a 12 hours idle in the canister it should be ok, but you should flush the canister with fresh tank water (not tap water) before you reconnect it.

If the canister has been idle for a few days or a week, you should remove all the media and give it all a good wash / replacement, and then start cycling the canister again. It is not just about the nutrient supply being disrupted, they bacteria have also been deprived of oxygen.

**octopus** · 10th Jun 2010, 09:05

I dont know how long it had been idle with the previous owner. But it had been idle for at least a week since i bought it.

**eviltrain** · 10th Jun 2010, 10:26

dead bb will create ammonia spikes.

**Shadow** · 10th Jun 2010, 11:13

Bro, to be save just cycle it again.

**blue33** · 10th Jun 2010, 12:57

Save or Safe?

You cant cycle.

It should be recycle back the old media, wash them clean and reuse them.

Originally Posted by Shadow

Bro, to be save just cycle it again.

Back to the question. If the filter is left too long, the bb sure die, it sure create ammonia. 2-3 hrs still ok, more than that bb sure die and the moment you connect back, those dirts/ammonia that throw out sure kill your fauna.

I would advice wash them clean and start all over again.

**eviltrain** · 10th Jun 2010, 13:10

i guess the TS don't like the appearance of the media inside his canister and wanted to change new ones

**Shadow** · 10th Jun 2010, 13:29

By the way, what type media is in question? if it is good media (biohome, Bio rio, etc), you might want to wash and re-use it. If it is sponge wool, just throw and get new one.

**octopus** · 10th Jun 2010, 16:18

The media in question is those normal CR. I was not aware that dead BB would result in ammonia spike but had a gut feeling that they would have an adverse effect. At least i can now rely on facts. Thanks bros for all your active participation and advise.

**Shadow** · 10th Jun 2010, 16:53

all dead thing will decompose, all that would be ammonia. So be careful, that included dead/roting plants

**stormhawk** · 13th Jun 2010, 23:39

If the canister filter is second hand... get rid of the filter media. I'm serious. You do not know if the previous owner had some outbreak of disease in the tank, prior to selling you the filter. The filter in question, should be given a good scrubdown, and left to dry out totally before being re-filled with media and put into service.

As what blue33 has suggested, restart over with fresh media if possible, and cycle it. There is no shortcut to the cycling of a fish tank, and for peace of mind, just get new media. Paying extra money for a fresh batch of filter media, beats having to keep thinking of the risks involved with second hand media, be it some highly touted brand of media or cheap un-branded media.