How to keep bacteria alive?

[thecoolguy]

ok, so i obviously don't want to have to re-cycle a tank from scratch and want to know if my plan will work......

currently: person i am buying my 275gal from has a sump going with media in it and fish in the tank - presumably the media is cycled right now

my plan:

take all media into a large cooler and fill with tank water - battery powered aerator, and put in 2-4 goldfish

car ride to my place + setup time = 6-10 hours

will the bacteria survive?

 

[SiApA2]

yes the bacteria will still survive within the hours you have mentioned as long as you dont put tap water in it as the chemicals from our tap will kill the bacteria.

good luck buddy

 

[bigspizz]

I don't think you need the goldfish. It will be o.k as long as you keep it wet with fish water as you said. I would run a hob in the cooler for the dissolved oxygen though. The stone will just drive co2 out with oxygen, while not adding any dissolved oxygen. The hob will "cascade" supplying the cooler with dissolved oxygen. Good luck.....

 

[beex215]

im very sure the gold fish are not needed.i would just keep the media from drying,but adding an air stone would help.

 

[Mystix212]

Skip the goldfish. So long as the bacteria have oxygen and the tank water they'll survive.

 

[DasArab]

Yep oxygenated water is all you need.

 

[guppy]

The bacteria should survive for a couple days if not overheated. Using a battery powered airpump with an airstone in the sump should be all you need, no goldfish.