filter bacteria

[blitzen25bm]

does temp change kill the bacteria on bio balls? i had a lot of already cycled bioballs from the petstore but my tank wasn't ready for it so i just dumped them into the outside pond. so can i just take them out and put them into my filter even though the water is about 25 degrees warmer?

[wetmanNY]

Bacteria aren't so easily killed, but they are slowed down and may not divide scarcely at all til you bring them back in and give them more warmth.

I know that lower pH slows nitrifying bacteria too.