Enough benificial bacteria left?

[Elisabeth83]

I just got done removing all the gravel from my 14 gallon tank and put sand in it instead. It houses 4 bettas and 1 adf. The tank is cycled.

I'm just wondering if there is enough benificial bactera in the filter that it will be ok or if I need to hang a nylon of some of the old gravel in the tank?

Thanks!

 

[modernhamlet]

As long as you didn't leave the filter off for an extended period of time, you'll be fine. Unless you use a UGF, almost all of the bacteria in an aquarium resides in the filter.

Good luck!

 

[Elisabeth83]

Hi,

No I only turned it off for about 10 mins. Yeah I was thinking that there should be enough bacteria in the sponge of the filter for it to be ok. It's good to know that almost all of the benificial bacteria lives in the filter!!

Thanks for your help

 

[Fiddlesticks]

While lots of the beniful bacteria is in the filter every tank is different. In my own experience, when I changed from big gravel to small I did too much at once. My tank had to cycle again. It couldnt hurt to hang some of the other gravel in the tank. However if the gravel has been out of water for any length of time then all the bacteria on it will be dead.

 

[Elisabeth83]

It's morning here now...but the gravel has been sitting in a bucket with some of the old water. Even though the water is now cold..I think the benificial bacteria would still be alive?