"Empty" tank and Filter question

[Impudence12]

Since the cories decided it was time to start making little cories all over the place I'm going to set up a 10 gal tank for fry rearing. Sandy bottom, a few anubias and some flower pots as caves. When the fry grow up and get moved assuming the cories don't make more, will the filter be fine and stay cycled with an empty tank or will the bacteria die off? There's gunna be an airstone in there and a plant so if the filter was moved to another tank would the tank get kinda gross, or would the air stone keep the tank from stagnating?

[Hooked Newbie]

Your best bet is to move the filter to an established tank and empty the fry tank.

[jm1212]

leave a sponge filter in the main tank when the fry tank is not in use

also, it will be easier to take care of the fry in a bare bottom tank than one with sand. you can still add a few plants, but just get them a pot with a bit of soil or just use lead weights. the lead weights are used frequently by many fishkeepers and will not hurt the fish.

[Dangerdoll]

if the tank is without fish and you have an established colony, eventually, the colony will starve unless you continue to feed it.

[jpappy789]

I would move either the media or the entire filter to the main tank to keep the colony running. And I agree with jm, a barebottom would be easiest to take care of.