How to keep bio media alive during a move?

[Natalie]

So I'm preparing for this dreaded move. I'm going to break down my tanks at least 4-5 days before the move because I need time to sell them here, since I'm setting up new (acrylic-- yay!!) tanks in my new place. In the meantime, my fish and turtle will live temporarily in 10 gallon tanks.

I have two large Eheim canisters with mature biological media, and those canisters won't be in use during this time. Once I get to my new place, they will be set back up for the new tanks.

I know biological media dies within 24 hours if no ammonia source is present, so... how should I keep them alive? I had two thoughts:

- Option 1: Put the media in one or two 5 gallon buckets and dose ammonia accordingly. I'm not sure this will be enough... should I put a powerhead in each bucket to provide good flow and make sure the ammonia reaches all of the media?

- Option 2: Lay the bio media (ceramic rings) out on the bottom of the temporary 10g tanks as substrate. That way, they're dosed by the fish and turtle themselves.

What do you all think???

 

[Addikted2Cichlids]

Run those bad boys a the 10 gallons and turn the flow down.. Haha Fish whirlpool..

 

[Natalie]

Run those bad boys a the 10 gallons and turn the flow down.. Haha Fish whirlpool..

Not an option unfortunately, unless I want my turtle to drown or fish to get banged up (which I don't).

 

[lipadj46]

keep your cannister running in buckets dosed with ammonia while you are in your old house. Then when you move just add a few drops of ammonia to the cannister and set them back up when you get to your new house. To be extra caustious you could can put them in a bucket with an airstone in the bottom when you are in the process of moving.

 

[Natalie]

keep your cannister running in buckets dosed with ammonia while you are in your old house. Then when you move just add a few drops of ammonia to the cannister and set them back up when you gat to your new house. To be extra caustious you could can out them in a bucket with an airstone in the bottom when you are in the process of moving.

Okay that sounds like a great plan, thanks. I guess ideally I should elevate the buckets on chairs or a countertop so that the canisters are at a lower level and working properly. I think I can do this...

 

[GhostShrimpMan]

I see either option working out. GL!

 

[gomezladdams]

Id lay them out as substrate. Even better see if you could pick up some ugf plates for cheap.....

 

[Spiritofthesoul]

I've go with option 2

a win-win situation for both fish, turtles and bacteria

But if it were up to me, I just get a bottle of Stability and use it on the new tank.

 

[KaiserSousay]

I know biological media dies within 24 hours if no ammonia source is present, so... how should I keep them alive?

Hmm,
That`s interesting, not quite right, but interesting.
Where did you ever hear that?
Bacteria can live for quite awhile without food, but die off quickly without oxygen.
Maybe that is what you were thinking?

 

[Natalie]

I know biological media dies within 24 hours if no ammonia source is present, so... how should I keep them alive?

Hmm,
That`s interesting, not quite right, but interesting.
Where did you ever hear that?
Bacteria can live for quite awhile without food, but die off quickly without oxygen.
Maybe that is what you were thinking?

I learned that BB die within 12-24 hours without an ammonia source. Not all die at the same rate, because there are different species at work (not just Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter like we're commonly told), but once they start to die then you risk a mini- or full-cycle when you add back fish. Could you tell me what you heard differently? I'd love to know if I've been wrong this whole time!