How Long Can Your Bacteria Live If....

[MermaidMel]

....established media is removed from the filter and stored in aquarium water in a bucket?

 

[Miss Wiggle]

bacteria with no food source will start to die off in around 12 hrs. add some pure ammonia every day and swirl the water around a bit and you should be able to keep it alive indefinately in theory.

 

[celaeno]

or instead of swirling, you could run an airstone in the bucket.

 

[rdd1952]

You could set the media up with an airstone under it so that the bubbles go through the media similar to a box filter. Adding a little ammonia (or fish flakes) each day should keep the bacteria fed.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

yup, should have been clearer, just ensure that you provide some water circulation and food and it should be ok.

 

[Darkstar]

The bacteria should be able to stay alive for longer than 12 hours imo. Although this does very much depend on the type of filtration being used.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

The bacteria should be able to stay alive for longer than 12 hours imo. Although this does very much depend on the type of filtration being used.

they will start to die off at 12 hrs, the process takes some time depending on the conditions and the maturity and size of the bacteria colony.