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Filter bacteria

john arnold

Member
Joined
28 Jun 2018
Messages
363
Location
Somerset
hello

How long would a canister filter have live bacteria in if unplugged/ turned off but water left in it, as im going to rescape a tank but donr want to rush it
 
Hi, if you put some tank water in a bucket or tub, you can keep the filter running so the bacteria get a flow of oxygenated water. Then they should be good for several hours.
Where will your fish be during the rescape? Get a big enough tub and you could keep the fish, filter and heater in it for as long as you like.
hth
 
Hi, if you put some tank water in a bucket or tub, you can keep the filter running so the bacteria get a flow of oxygenated water. Then they should be good for several hours.
Where will your fish be during the rescape? Get a big enough tub and you could keep the fish, filter and heater in it for as long as you like.
hth
Im giving them to a fish shop apart from a few putting in anothervtsnk and making whole fresh start
 
Could you put the filter on the other tank too? If not, do the bucket thing. Without oxygen the bacteria will start dying off quite quickly. Without fish waste to feed on the population will drop if you're going to take a few days to rescape, but it will pick up again if you restock gradually.
hth
 
No
Could you put the filter on the other tank too? If not, do the bucket thing. Without oxygen the bacteria will start dying off quite quickly. Without fish waste to feed on the population will drop if you're going to take a few days to rescape, but it will pick up again if you restock gradually.
hth
it connects underneath the tank fluvsl roma240, its ok need a complete fresh start
 
Hi
If U not cleaned the filter put it on a bucket of water.It has mulm in it that will feed bacteria.It can go for weeks on it.If U cleaned it put a little fish food in the water and it will be fine.Just make sure hoses are secured in place as can slip out from pump pressure.
Regards Konsa
 
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How long would a canister filter have live bacteria in if unplugged/ turned off but water left in it, as im going to rescape a tank but donr want to rush it
One Christmas whilst we were away our estate had a neutral fault at the substation which tripped the house RCD on virtually the whole estate. The fault was cleared pretty quickly, apparently, but no one was at home to reset our RCD. We got home about 10 minutes after our house alarm went off due to internal battery being flat. Looking at the alarm logs our house had been without power for 3 days !!!! and was F'ing freezing, about 12'C as no central heating.

Fish tank was about 15'C with fish all there, but moving slowly. Anyway power returned, tank filter came on, tank warmed up and inhabitants appeared no worse for wear after 3 days.

So if you can probably safely leave your filter & tank for days without issue.
 
The anoxia in the filter will make it a mess en when started again toxic sludge will exit. Maybe in a very clean filter (little media) this will be less dangerous, but in general it will
If you empty the filter and leave the media moist bacteria will survive longer ( not all but a portion will survive) , keeping it running on a bucket or so will increase longevity.
 
Ok thanks all guess ill put it in bucket and run with food feed now and then and take my time on the rescape,
Thanks everyone again, its great having this place to come too
 
Or you can take the easy route
- drain filter
- rinse debris out
- add few cm’s of water to bottom of filter for humidity

You can replace the filter lid etc, just leave the taps in open position for air exchange
A few filter “friendly” bacteria may die but most will just enter a static phase (normal bacteria lifecycle)

I often store my (canister) filter for a couple weeks while rescaping without noticeable negative impact
 
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