Filter Media/bacteria

[friedegg45]

hi all i got a jewel rio 125 from a nice man in stirling. the media was in transit for approx 2 hrs.but was still in filter and wet. the question is will the good stuff be dead? i left it in the tank when filling it with safe water if not how long will i have to wait till i can add the fish again? i never brought any cycled water from the tank home with me.cheers in advance brian

 

[mattlee]

the media will be fine and the tank will be able to house fish, as long as you dont add more fish than the seller had in the tank and just to be safe go a little lower on stocking. the water wasnt/isnt cycled as the bacteria grows mainly in the filter so dont worry too much about that.
however if you dont add fish soon then without am ammonia source of some kind then the bacteria will eventually die off and the filter will need to be recycled im affraid.

 

[fishyfeet]

to be sure why dont you test the water once the fish are in, if there is any sign of ammonia or nitrite just carry out a seris of water changes and within a couple of days you should be fine, i would leave the light off for 24 hours and not feed for the first day to let things settle and you should be ok. di