Help Please Fish Tank !!!!! =]

Question

okay well I have an eclipse 20 gallon tank that I have had for about a year now. Well m question is that it has a bio-wheel in it that keeps all the good bacteria and that stuff. well how long for example can it be kept dry and not lose any of the good bacteria. Thanks 4 ur time.

Also lets say I want to but a temporary sponge filter does it need 2 have good bacteria or just throw it it the tank?

Thanks again.

Answer 1

As soon as the bio wheel starts to dry your good bacteria will start to die off.  If you want to switch to a sponge filter I would put that in the tank and let it build up the good bacteria for a couple weeks before removing the bio wheel.