I Need Some Biofilter Help Please

I was given an established, mature aquarium.

I had to break it down to transport it and wasn't able to set it back up right away.

I have the filter cartridge and sponge in a 5 gallon bucket full of aquarium water and a bunch of live plants (wisteria, elodea, amazon sword, dwarf hair grass). I have been doing pwc to the bucket daily.

My question is how long will the biofilter last?
Obviously there will be some die off of nitrifying bacteria but would it be better to use this biofilter when I set up the aquarium or start fresh with a new biofilter?

 

Bacteria needs oxygen to survive so I'd throw an airstone in there or start running the filter in the bucket. It also needs a food source so you'd need to feed it pure ammonia, fish food, etc.

I couldn't tell you if they're still alive now; I kind of suspect they're not if it's been days without oxygen and food. I don't see the harm in trying it once you're ready to go but I'd be prepared for frequent water changes until the colonies reestablished. Starting with the potentially dead filter is no worse than starting with a new filter.

 

I was given an established, mature aquarium.

I had to break it down to transport it and wasn't able to set it back up right away.

I have the filter cartridge and sponge in a 5 gallon bucket full of aquarium water and a bunch of live plants (wisteria, elodea, amazon sword, dwarf hair grass). I have been doing pwc to the bucket daily.

My question is how long will the biofilter last?
Obviously there will be some die off of nitrifying bacteria but would it be better to use this biofilter when I set up the aquarium or start fresh with a new biofilter?

It's tough to know for sure. It being outside of its established environment may have disrupted it. I have heard they can live without a food source for up to a week AS LONG AS IT'S GETTING OXYGEN. I would try to put it in as soon as possible to preserve any bacteria. However, even if much of the bacteria is alive, I doubt enough have survived to handle a new system. A shorter, less intense cycle may happen. I sound like a broken record, but Dr. Tim's nitrifying bacteria has been the best additive I've experienced to try to get a quick cycle. The only downside I've had is that too many stores ship it warm. This drives me crazy. By the way, I love the photo. Peacock gudgeons are my favorite freshwater fish. I have too much trouble keeping them alive for more than a year though.

 

Just my experience:
I broke down one of my cycles tanks, emptied the canister of water and set it aside. About a week or so later, much earlier than I originally intended, I set up my new 75. I added the said canister and started cycling. I had a small amount of biomedia from a qt tank which was cycled to 8 small tetras. I added that to the canister.
I was cycled to 2 ppm in the 75 gallon in one week. Definitely much more than what was being produced in the 10 gallon qt. In the past my fishless cycles had always taken 6-8 weeks. I don’t know if any bacteria was still alive, but I have read they are tougher than we give them credit for.
I’d say give it a shot. Put in an airstone and dose some ammonia. Or you can set the tank up and see what happens. It may work, it may not. But if it does, you never know until you try. (I am one to try things just to see...)

 

It's tough to know for sure. It being outside of its established environment may have disrupted it. I have heard they can live without a food source for up to a week AS LONG AS IT'S GETTING OXYGEN. I would try to put it in as soon as possible to preserve any bacteria. However, even if much of the bacteria is alive, I doubt enough have survived to handle a new system. A shorter, less intense cycle may happen. I sound like a broken record, but Dr. Tim's nitrifying bacteria has been the best additive I've experienced to try to get a quick cycle. The only downside I've had is that too many stores ship it warm. This drives me crazy. By the way, I love the photo. Peacock gudgeons are my favorite freshwater fish. I have too much trouble keeping them alive for more than a year though.

Thanks! I love my Peacock Gudgeons, they're such cool little fish.

I have some SeaChem Stability on hand that I'll use, but I've heard great things about Dr. Tim's formula.

 

Just my experience:
I broke down one of my cycles tanks, emptied the canister of water and set it aside. About a week or so later, much earlier than I originally intended, I set up my new 75. I added the said canister and started cycling. I had a small amount of biomedia from a qt tank which was cycled to 8 small tetras. I added that to the canister.
I was cycled to 2 ppm in the 75 gallon in one week. Definitely much more than what was being produced in the 10 gallon qt. In the past my fishless cycles had always taken 6-8 weeks. I don’t know if any bacteria was still alive, but I have read they are tougher than we give them credit for.
I’d say give it a shot. Put in an airstone and dose some ammonia. Or you can set the tank up and see what happens. It may work, it may not. But if it does, you never know until you try. (I am one to try things just to see...)

Thanks...I'm the same way as I like to just try things and learn from them.
I tend to agree with you that bacteria in general is much more resistant and resilient than we tend to believe.

I'm going to set it up today and go with the previously established filter. Like the previous post said it can't be any worse than a brand new filter and may give me a jump start.