Question: Can I get media mailed to me? Someone offered to mail me media via the USPS from Queens which is around 1 - 1 1/2hr away from me. I thought that the bacteria started to die after around an hour or 2 of it being taken out of the filter and would completely die if left out of the filter in around 24 hours. This is something I read on a post so I'm not sure if its true. The person that wants to mail it to me stated this in an email:



Its very generous of this person to help me out and I'm very grateful..I just don't want them going through all the trouble of mailing it if the bacteria is just going to die anyway. Thanks a lot!

get him to put the filter media in a bag(or non leakin container) of water that wont leak.. dont they mail fish online??

I've shipped cycled media before, standard ups. Triple bag 1/3 water 2/3 air, same as you would fish, cooler weather such as we have now is better for shipping media. The nitrifying bacteria need a food source, I toss in some frozen bloodworms. These deteriorate over a couple of days, creating ammonia, the food source. Bloodworms are easy to see thus easy to rinse out.

I've shipped media a couple hours drive away, and down to Texas or something as far as I remember. I've also received some cycled sponge filters from upstate New York, to quar some rather expensive potential breeders. The receiving parties of my media had good results, and I had good results with the filters I got.

The nitrifying bacteria will not die if kept wet. They will start to die back, this will take several hours of not having a food source. Nitrifying bacteria are capable of doubling in 24 hours, it takes about 24 hours for them to die back by half. Adding in an ammonia source for shipping slows this die back even more.

Ummm..yes they do mail fish online but I'm confused as to how that relates to live bacteria??. Wouldn't mature media need the same treatment as something like Bio-Spira which contains live bacteria? The Bio-Spira needs to be kept refrigerated and if mailed needs to be shipped overnight with an ice pack....

The nitrifying bacteria in your filter media are not refrigerated. They have a constant ammonia source, and water circulation. The movement of shipping creates water movement, deteriorating food creates ammonia.

Live bacteria NEED oxygen, and NEED food.... stop the circulation and both these are removed, they will be dead within hours.
Postage is out of the question, even "next day" will be too slow.



As for the additives and miracle cures... well I look at it in the same way as Star Treks Scotty... "You cannae change the laws of physics" , or in this case chemistry.

This post has been edited by Rooster: Apr 1 2008, 12:39 AM

I've shipped mature media, it works. I've received cycled sponge filters, for acclimating some expensive potential breeders that are now breeders, that worked as well.

If you've encountered problems shipping or receiving cycled filters or media I would like to know any specifics about it.

O2 is added through surface disturbance. Do you think that package with the post office is going to be handled so gently that there won't be any dusturbance? It will be bounced and bumped enough that the water will have plenty of O2. And as mentioned, adding a few blood worms will allow for a food source. I don't see any problem with shipping media as long as it's not a 2 or 3 day process. Across town will be overnight and shouldn't be an issue.

A little research into this courtesy of Bignose;