How Long Can Bacteria Live

[Zachary1941]

Hi,
How long can bacteria live without food (Ammonia) I am now on a qualify period as my Ammonia and Nitrites are on double Zeros at 12 and 24 hours...Just topped up ammonia to 4 this morning at 6 am.... and at 1.30 pm its almosy down to yellow already o.015 approx.. which means it will be about 17 hours before i feed them more ammonia will that cause a problem being so long ? Regards Zac

 

[Zachary1941]

O.k. Should have read more before posting.. Found that can live a couple of days without food But only a few hours out of water Regards Zac

 

[waterdrop]

Right, you figured it out correctly I believe. Its extremely hard to detect what little (2%?) dropoff in population occurs for about the first two days without food (ammonia.)

1) not having food (ammonia)... slow dropoff, gets steeper day 3,4 etc.
2) not having water flow (thus much less oxygen, less ammonia).. not too bad for about first 25 hours...
3) drying out, pretty bad right away (but it can take longer than you think for a piece of media to actually dry out...)

~~waterdrop~~