How dependent are the bacteria that feed on ammonia and nitrite on oxygen

[Martin]

The literature that comes with my filter said that the biological
element of it, ie the bacteria that live on the filter's sponge, will
die within four hours if the pump is switched off because the bacteria
require highly oxygenated water. Is this correct? I know that the
bacteria require oxygen to oxidize ammonia and nitrite but are they
really so sensitive to lack of oxygen that short term deprivation will
kill them? The reason I ask is because I'm trying to get a new tank
started but I've only got one filter and that is still in the old
tank. I'm trying to oxygenate the new tank's water a couple of times a
day by manually agitating it. If the bacteria are so dependent on high
oxygen levels I presume I'm wasting my time.

Thanks in advance for any advice you can give me.

Martin

[D&M]

Couple hinges, the bacteria needs oxygen to live, this is the aerobic
bacteria. If the aerobic bacteria does not get oxygen, it "turns" into
anaerobic bacteria, which is bad, producing bad gases in the water (smells
like rotten eggs).

It's not exactly a science starting a new tank, there's various practices,
such as the fishless cycle, dumping ammonia into the tank with no fish
present. Then there's getting "starter" fish, like a couple barbs, something
that is strong enough to take the tank through it's cycle peaks. Then
there's seeding, taking a grungy filter and mixing it with you new filter to
get it started, as well as adding some aquarium gravel from an established
tank.



"Martin" > wrote in message
om...
> The literature that comes with my filter said that the biological
> element of it, ie the bacteria that live on the filter's sponge, will
> die within four hours if the pump is switched off because the bacteria
> require highly oxygenated water. Is this correct? I know that the
> bacteria require oxygen to oxidize ammonia and nitrite but are they
> really so sensitive to lack of oxygen that short term deprivation will
> kill them? The reason I ask is because I'm trying to get a new tank
> started but I've only got one filter and that is still in the old
> tank. I'm trying to oxygenate the new tank's water a couple of times a
> day by manually agitating it. If the bacteria are so dependent on high
> oxygen levels I presume I'm wasting my time.
>
> Thanks in advance for any advice you can give me.
>
> Martin