Michigan Cichlid Association

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Jaws22 on January 13, 2013, 04:41:39 PM

Title: Canister filter bacteria ?
Post by: Jaws22 on January 13, 2013, 04:41:39 PM

How long can bacteria live in a non running canister filter @ 45-52 degrees?

Title: Re: Canister filter bacteria ?
Post by: Marty on January 13, 2013, 06:50:56 PM

I don't know that the temperature would be a factor, but non-running is probably the biggest issue. 

I'd guess a day, but that's just a guess.  To be safe, I'd think you'd be better off cleaning out the filter and reseeding your tank with either gravel , a filter from another established aquarium, or a live bacteria culture.

Title: Re: Canister filter bacteria ?
Post by: Ron on January 13, 2013, 06:54:19 PM

I was also thinking roughly a day (24 hours), but can't back that up with experience or a scientific breakdown of why. I think that temperature could matter at a point, but as Marty mentioned, it's a bigger issue that it's not running. The bacteria need a food source (which they may have depending on how clean the canister is) and they need O2 (this is the problematic part). If it's not running the O2 is going to get depleted at some point.