Question about Bacteria

[FishNoob]

the bacteria live without fish being in the tank? All of my upside-down cat's died and there is nothing in my 5 gallon tank, so I took the filter media out and put it into my 29 gallon. My 29 gallon isn't cycled, so I'm hoping that the bacteria is still alive. It was 2 days before I put the filter from the 5 gal. into the 29 gal.

Also, I think the catfish had ich, is it possible to infect my 29 gallon with the filter media? There is salt in the 29 gal, and the temp. is kept at 80 degrees.

Thanks,
Ed

 

[Moe]

The bacteria will begin to die without any fish or some type of ammonia added. They need ammonia to eat. So with no fish they will begin to starve. I think I read something like Ich can only live for something like 48 hours without a host (fish) I'm not too sure about that one. Maybe someone else has more info.