Microbes/bacteria

[Stewartb]

I am a bit confused about the beneficial microbes/bacteria that presumably help to break things down.
I recently got hold of someones tank and filter (an FX5, so quite a size), the filter was pretty much full of water whilst disconnected, it was disconnected for maybe 3 hours. I guess this is short enough a period for them to be largly still alive, but how long would it be safe to leave a filter disconnected? I've also read that if you take the sand out of your tank you should leave it in a bucket with water over the top to keep the microbes/bacteria alive, but what is the point if they are in thr filter? Is it just that more is better?

 

[fluttermoth]

The bacteria in filters can easily survive a couple of days, as long as it's kept wet. under 'normal' circumstances, you wouldn't want your filter to be switched off for more than around 12 hours or so though.

You can forget about any bacteria living on the substrate, as that will be a negligible amount compared to the filter, unless you have UG filtration, of course.

 

[Aqua Tom]

The bacteria in filters can easily survive a couple of days, as long as it's kept wet. under 'normal' circumstances, you wouldn't want your filter to be switched off for more than around 12 hours or so though.

You can forget about any bacteria living on the substrate, as that will be a negligible amount compared to the filter, unless you have UG filtration, of course.

+1

The filter is where the party is at & it is jammin. Any bacteria on the decor is just heading to that party.


Tom