Good Bacteria

[Jayze69]

Hi, just setting up my first aquarium and currently doing a Fishless cycle. Everything going well so far, ammonia added to 4ppm and this morning down to 0ppm. Nitrites greater than 5ppm and nitrates at 10. I have just added more ammonia to take it back to 4ppm. I know that the good bacteria needs to feed on ammonia but how long can they survive without any? Can they survive a few days without any?

 

[raptorrex]

I know that the good bacteria needs to feed on ammonia but how long can they survive without any? Can they survive a few days without any?

thats a $64,000 question.
on balance, the evidence suggests they would.

but here, i think. its not if they would starve. but would they multiply?
which is what you are trying to do, in a cycle.

therefore i would suggest, not feeding for a couple of day, would just delay your cycle.

 

[Gvilleguy]

But, yes, bacteria don't seem to have trouble going hungry as long as the media stays wet. I had an external filter die on me, and it was 48 hours before I could move the media to a new one. I just kept the tank water in the filter and did not have any trouble with my stats once I had the new filter running.