How Should I Transport Filter Seeding Media?

[Katty]

Today one of my classmates was lamenting about how him and his roommate researched fish extensively so that they could set up an aquarium, except forgot to look into the nitrogen cycle, which they then researched but after the fact of getting fish and a tank. I think they have two small fish in a 10 or 20 gallon so they're not in imminent danger. I'm sure everyone's familiar with this kind of story. Anyways, I volunteered to help him out by giving him one of my cycled filter sponges.

Problem is, I'm not really sure how to get it to school while maintaining it's "freshness" I guess you could say. Is putting the sponge in a plastic bag with some tank water enough? Is it OK if it's in a bag for maybe up to 12 hours? At room temperature? I don't want to accidentally kill all the bacteria and give them a dud.

 

[Tolak]

That is perfectly fine. I usually ship floss, and bag the same as shipping fish, 1/3 water, 2/3 air. For shipments that take a couple of days I add some frozen bloodworms, the deteriorating frozen food creates ammonia, adding a bit of food for the media. The motion of shipping creates enough circulation to keep O2 supplied to the media.

 

[Katty]

And the shipped media worked fine? I'm not shipping it though, so the oxygen shouldn't be a problem? Is a standard 4x4 inch sandwich bag enough space you think? I have some old fish bags that are bigger and some rubber bands but that sounds like it could be messy since I don't have the bag tying skills of the people at the fish store

 

[Tolak]

Shipped media worked fine. As long as you keep it wet it shouldn't be an issue, I got in a couple of large cycled sponge filters long ago with a fish shipment that were just wet and bagged, not a problem. For a longer shipping duration I like to add a bit more water, as it helps with circulation.

For 12 hours a sandwich bag will work. It's just that I have way more fish bags on hand than sandwich bags, and they work better for aquatic items.

 

[I Keep Fish]

Sandwhich bags split easily!! i speak from experience

 

[Katty]

Maybe I'll go with the old fish bags.

 

[Timmy_Bee]

Dont know if im too late (dont know what time 'tonight' is where you are) but have you tried using elastic bands to tie the fish bag? much easier - just twist the top a few times, fold it over and wrap some elastic bands round (doubling them up until they are very tight)

 

[Katty]

Yeah, it was too late by the time you posted (4am my time!). I did use rubber bands on a fish bag though, all inside of a plastic ziplock. It's been delivered to them safe and sound, now it's their problem