Chickybabe Posted August 31, 2005 Report Share Posted August 31, 2005 I had a power cut yesterday from 10.30am to 8.30pm!! I watched nervously as my temperature decreased in my tank, thinking "what the hell do I do now!!!" I rang several fish shops to get advice but they werent very helpful to say the least, any way by teh time the power cam e back on the discus were at the bottom of the tank slightly slanted over, not quite on the side, I did a 20% water change when it came back on and heated the water slightly, is there anything else I should have done/could have done in this situation? I am off shopping for a UPS today as well!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted August 31, 2005 Report Share Posted August 31, 2005 The temp would have dropped slowly, the lack of filtration would have caused more problems. Covering the tank with a blanket, polystyrene or other material will have helped keep the heat in. Water changes would help as you could use warm water and it would help keep the pollution levels down while the filter was out of action. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jude Posted August 31, 2005 Report Share Posted August 31, 2005 That's a long power cut - where in NZ are you? I agree with Caryl and I think you did all the right things. If it happens again, cover the tank to keep the heat in though. Cheers Jude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted August 31, 2005 Report Share Posted August 31, 2005 You should have rinsed out your filter and it's medium using your tank water. That gets rid of the purtrification that starts when off for that long. If it is turned on without doing that, the tank COULD have a bad reaction. Another reason for having air operated filters. Just need to connect a car tyre to the system and the filter keeps working. Alan 104 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pegasus Posted September 1, 2005 Report Share Posted September 1, 2005 Chicky said: I am off shopping for a UPS today as well!! Don't be led into thinking that a UPS will run your tank/s... Not really sure how long it would keep a pump running.. but it certainly wouldn't keep the heaters running. I have one here sitting in the hall that is a 1.02kva .675kw 4.4A unit and it will only keep the computer running for around ten mins on a power cut. Also have a 3.5kva Genny sat in the barn, and that even goes on "groan mode" if a couple of tanks are hooked up to it. Newspaper and blankets are the best option, and the money you will save from the UPS... buy a couple of battery operated air pumps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klaymann Posted September 1, 2005 Report Share Posted September 1, 2005 That is a very long outage .. do you live in the wops? ... temp won't be a major .. dived over in asia fresh and salt .. been caught in monsoon rains and I mean "RAINS" temp drops real fast in the water but the fish seem to not give a rats a.r.s.e. ... toxin build up would be the one to worry about in your case .. especially keeping Discus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted September 1, 2005 Report Share Posted September 1, 2005 Over 12 hours oxygenation's going to be the biggest problem, not toxins or temperature as long as it doesn't cool off too much. My pearl gouramis had the heater fail and the temp was about 16 when I noticed it probably a few days later and this was in the day so it was likely cooler. No losses at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klaymann Posted September 1, 2005 Report Share Posted September 1, 2005 full gouramis ( non dwarf) can handle room temp no worries and grow and breed too ...... up in northern north island .anyway. think not south of the bombays ... sorry guys down ====> there ... been to countries where these guys live and the water temp is not always tropical there... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted September 1, 2005 Report Share Posted September 1, 2005 Yeah, pearls are tough little guys. They've survived temps likely down to 12°-34° and having all the water siphoned out of their tank for 15 minutes. All without a problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klaymann Posted September 1, 2005 Report Share Posted September 1, 2005 Dr "Ira " mengele" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickybabe Posted September 1, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2005 so I need to worry more about oxygenation than temp? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted September 2, 2005 Report Share Posted September 2, 2005 Yup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted October 24, 2005 Report Share Posted October 24, 2005 Sorry for bringing this old post up...but its the only one I could find. We are supposed to have high winds tomorrow so possibly a power outage. The temp I'm not worried about, I'll put blankets on tanks if needed. You should have rinsed out your filter and it's medium using your tank water 1) Do I leave the filters both bio and carbon in the filter? What else do I need to know in regard to the filters? Water changes would help as you could use warm water and it would help keep the pollution levels down while the filter was out of action 2) How long once the power goes off would you start water changes? How much? How often? oxygenation's going to be the biggest problem 3) How long does the power need to be off before this becomes an issue? Anything else I need to know? This time I will copy and paste into word so I can have this on hand :-? As always, all help would be appreciated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caserole Posted October 24, 2005 Report Share Posted October 24, 2005 ) Do I leave the filters both bio and carbon in the filter? What else do I need to know in regard to the filters? Yes, you may want to give them a rinse in tank water today. this will remove any mulum build up that can rot in a long power cut. when the power comes back on, run filters in a bucket of tank water before connecting to the tank again(or rinse agian). 2) How long once the power goes off would you start water changes? How much? How often? do a water change after the power comes back on, not during the power cut. 3) How long does the power need to be off before this becomes an issue? ISSUES , 1.Temp dropping ,2. lack of O2 in tank , 3.lack of O2 in filter 1.Temp dropping, it all depend were the temp is now and how quickly it drops and what fish you have ?? for run of the mill com fish 16C I would start to be worryed. 2. lack of O2 in tank, this would only be a worry if you tank is over crowed.you will know you have a problem if you fish are gasping at the surface. how many fish do you have in your tank and how long are they also what is the water surface area(dimentions, length left to right and depth front to back) of you tank. 3.lack of O2 in filter, I really don't know but if the bacteria cant breath they will start to dye and the anarobic (spelling ) bacteria will grow creating toxic water in you filter-hense why you need to rinse the filter before connecting to you tank. hope this helps just a little. p.s turn your filter off at the wall so it wont come on and pollute the tank before you rinse it. An other ideas people ??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted October 25, 2005 Report Share Posted October 25, 2005 Thanks Caserole Hopefully, the power won't go out...I'm just trying to be prepared just in case. Have copied and printed what to do! When I can, I'm going to get a couple of battery operated air pumps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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