Fishless cycle question

[Sivasama]

I'm going to do a fish less tank cycle on a few sponge filters. I use 90% or more RO water for my tanks. Iwas wondering if it matters to the bio in the sponge what the water peramiters are? I would just like to use tap water to cycle the sponges. I will aerate and heat the tank. Also will it affect the bio in the sponge if I move it to a lower ph tank once established? I'm doing this to keep established sponges on hand for breeders and hatches for grow out tanks. I don't want to establish the bacteria just to kill it when I move it to a mostly RO tank. I figure this will be fine but never seen this asked before.

[nc0gnet0]

They will cycle better in a ph at or above 7.0 it is concievable that you get a bit of die off if you move them to a slighty acidic tank, whether or not it is significant would depend on how well the bacteria in the colony are. Just lower the PH gradually before moving the filters, if it is still a fragile filter (newly established).

[csarkar001]

really interesting set of questions.