Psychlist1972

I'm curious to know what other folks here do when the power is out.

During hurricane season and the winter, we typically lose power a couple times. The power is usually out for a minimum of 2 hours, and sometimes overnight. We don't live in the boonies by any means, but apparently the power company thinks so.

We have a well, so no power means no water. That means no water changes. In the tropical tank, a water change with unheated water would be bad anyway, as right now in the height of August, our well water is about 66 degrees or so. (setting aside enough water for all the changes probably isn't an option anyway. I doubt I'd have time, given I have two very young children)

A generator is on our list of things to get, but that's a long list

I'll have 2 stocked 55g tanks this winter. One with tropicals and the other with goldfish. Any suggestions as to what to do when the power goes out? I've seen battery operated aerators, but I know oxygen isn't the whole story.

Do you aerate and dump something in that takes care of ammonia/nitrite/nitrates?

Pete

pepetj

I experience regular energy blackouts at my office. I have a 20gal low end brackish tank there and a small 3gal fry tank. What I did was to install six airpumps: 2 standard that run on AC (with dual output) and four battery operated that come with an AC cable only to "sense" when AC is gone (there are better ones that work with both, switching between AC and DC but are not available locally).

I use three filters in the 20gal tank. The main filter is one AquaClear 50. I placed a small (kind of flat) air stone there, on top of the activated charcoal and below the bio-ceramic media. That airpump only operates when AC is out.

There I also have two dual sponge filters (from Hagen). I used one T connector, one flow control valve to adjust the input of the AC run airpump, and two check valves, one at the output of each airpump for each dual sponge filter.

For the small fry tank, I use one small internal Tetra Whisper filter to which I introduced a standard airstone inside. That airstone only works when the power to the filter fails.

I replace all batteries by the first week of each month no matter what. I have not detected a single disruption in the nitrogen cycle of both tanks.

Pepetj
Santo Domingo

joy1125

yep, before you know it, we'll be freezing out butts off once again !

With the fish, aeration is always my first concern. A suggestion is the Penn-Plax B 11 battery air pump, it works great. It takes two D batteries, you turn it on, plug it into the wall, and it automatically comes on when it detects a power outage. You get it at Petsmart or Petco, most pet stores have it. I have two for my goldie tank.

Second concern is temperature drop. Being you have 2 55gallon tanks, you won't need to worry too much about a rapid temperature change, if it's a brief outage. The more water, the longer it takes to drop. For longer outages, you'd need to wrap the tank in blankets, or insulate with whatever you have available. Warm heating bottles work good, but since you have well water, that nixes that idea for you. Have a fireplace by any chance ??

also, since you do have well water, I'd think ahead, and bottle some in advance, store in a closet or in the garage, just in case.

If it's a long outage, you'd take the biomedia out of the filter and put it in the tank, because you wouldn't want the good bacteria to dry out and die off. You'd also stop feeding the fish, and depending how long the outage, only feed very minimal amounts, to keep the waste down to prevent ammonia buildup.

it's a scary thing, the idea of an extended power outage. If you can afford a generator, that's the best way to go ! I know I can't afford one right now. But I have a fireplace in the room where the fish tanks are, plus i have many back up battery pumps.

joy1125

great ideas Pepetj !!

aquarist48

Great information from Pep and Joy. Not much more I can add there. I would suggest adding Prime or Amquel + every 24 hours to detox the ammonia. Also storing some water ahead of time would be a good idea. I have 2 55g drums I bought years ago for hurricane season, to store water just for the fish. As I mentioned in another thread I have well water also. Luckily now we have 2 generators.
Ken

Psychlist1972

All great info folks, thanks

I'll definitely check out the air pumps.

@joy1125 when we moved in, we had to reline the chimney (previous owners never cleaned it so it was thick with glassy creosote - a house fire just waiting to happen) and we ended up only able to run a pellet stove. (they filled the chimney with a type of cement and ran a stainless steel narrow exhaust up the middle) Pellet stoves won't work without electricity... not exactly a great winter backup plan :P

Pete

Red1313

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/power_failure.php
maybe this'll help?

sirdarksol

My addition to this discussion would be to be sure to keep the filter media wet. Pour water into the chamber of the filter every couple of hours, just to keep the nitrifying bacteria going. If it looks like it's going to be an extended outage, pull them out, put them in a ziplock bag with a bit of tank water, and refrigerate them to slow the bacteria's energy use. (careful not to open the fridge too often, though, since it's not working, either )