Cycling Using Moist Media

[BrockYoung]

Hello all,

I'm an impatient person haha. I purchased a 50G tank yesterday. I do understand a bit about the nitrogen cycle, so I thought by keeping some buckets of cycled water, I would be able to kick start the cycle after I moved the tank. I've read up to find that this isn't the case so much. Now, when I unplugged the heater and filter, I didn't really ring the sponges out or anything, I just left them in the filter and placed it in a bag with some decorations and stuff. It took me about 2 and a half hours to get home and get the filter drawing water again.

I'm wondering if you think the bacteria would have dyed in that span of time? Im going to take some of my water into a pet store tonight to have it tested, but I'm at work right now and I'm curious. Can the bacteria live in "moist" conditions? I can't see the media drying out completely in that span of time...

Presuming the bacteria survived, how long will the tank need to be fully cycled and ready for some fish. Currently there are none in there, but I might add some zebra danios tonight to keep my ammonia up.

Ideas?

Thanks,

Brock

 

[ellena]

Yes, most of your bacteri will have survived as they won't have dried out in a bag in that short time.
Where are the fish that it was filtering up to you unplugging it?

 

[BrockYoung]

Yes, most of your bacteri will have survived as they won't have dried out in a bag in that short time.
Where are the fish that it was filtering up to you unplugging it?

They are in their new home here in the goldfish tank at work. It was a goldfish tank, with a heater for whatever reason...

I've got the tank up to 78 degrees. Had I been thinking, I would have left the substrate in, but it was that weird mardi grad colour and I took it out when we moved it.

I've been told my tank may do a mini-cycle. How long do those last on average? Do you think that is the case or will the filter media cycle the tank immediately?