How to keep beneficial bacteria alive during move

I'm moving at the end of the month and my main concern is keeping the beneficial bacteria alive. My last move took 8 hours to get my tank setup and I ended up having to re-cycle my tank. This move fortunately is just across the street, so there maybe more of a chance to keeping a good portion alive, hopefully.

 

Hi, just keep it wet & it’ll be fine.
Good luck with your move

 

I'm moving at the end of the month and my main concern is keeping the beneficial bacteria alive. My last move took 8 hours to get my tank setup and I ended up having to re-cycle my tank. This move fortunately is just across the street, so there maybe more of a chance to keeping a good portion alive, hopefully.

A few hours should not be an issue at all. Just keep the filter media in a container of tank water.

 

Also whenever you have access to an electricity outlet run a air pump if you have one to keep the water circulating incase some thing happens and you dont get round to setting it up.

 

I moved mine a few years ago without killing the beneficial bacteria. Just keep the filter media and substrate wet and add some tetra safestart (or seachem stability) for peace of mind.

 

I have a canister filter. Will the bacteria be safe while in the canister?

 

Yes, just keep it in a bucket or container of some sort to keep it wet, mind the plug doesn’t get wet though

 

I have a canister filter. Will the bacteria be safe while in the canister?

The canister will hold water so just make sure you do not leave it off too long. I cannot tell you how long is too long, but 8 hours should not be an issue. Over time, the aerobic bacteria will use up all the oxygen inside the cannister filter and die. then anaerobic bacteria will start to develop. You do not want that to happen. Thus, if you expect the time to be much longer than 8 hours, you would be better off tanking the canister apart and exposing the filter media to air so the bacteria can access the oxygen they need.