Transporting live filter media

[SarahBravo]

I've corrupted a friend over to the fishy side!!!! I'm taking down some filter material and helping him set up his tank this weekend. It's about a 3 hour journey, plus add 2 to 3 hours to get the tank washed, sand washed and added, filled.... so I need to keep the bugs in the filter sponge alive for about 6 hours. Should I treat them like a fish - bag them up with 1/3 water 2/3 air, add some oxygen tablets and try to keep the temp stable?

Any advice appreciated, thanks!

Sarah

 

[leafs]

Thats a good question. I think it should be ok as long as the sponge stays wet. I'm not exactly sure how long the bacteria can last without fish and at what temp.I'm sure someone else can clarify this.

 

[fishwatcher]

From what I've heard it needs to stay wet (in dechlorinated water of course). Putting it in a bag with air should be great.

 

[OohFeeshy]

Yep, as above, you won't need much air but oxygen tablets would be good. As an added precaution you can add some ammonia to the water to get a concentration of 3 or so ppm, just to give the bacteria something to feed on.

 

[SarahBravo]

Cool, thanks! OooohFeeshy - I guess I could always get one of the cats to pee in the bag??

Actually, I'm taking down some guppies to keep the tank turning over till he gets his fish - could I put the sponge at the bottom of the bag with the guppies, and some oxygen tabs? At least that way some ammonia will be there for the sponge, and some ammonia munching bacteria will be there for the fish. Or do you think the sponge might squish the guppies if it sloshed around?

 

[yvez9]

i doubt the sponge would hurt the fish.

what i wonder is about keeping the water clean enough for the fish in that bag

those sponges usually get really really dirty and cloud up the water in a few seconds.

it is still worth a try though. just put the sponge in, shake it a bit to see if it gets dirty and go from there

 

[smithrc]

when we moved our tanks we just left the filters wet (external) or in a bucket (internal) and they were like that for a good few hours (3 or /4)

You dont need to add ammonia - the dying bacteria will feed the rest for a while.

we stocked straight away (as the fish were in bags for that time too)

didnt loose a single fish across 6 tanks