Sam Livingston

I'm on vacation until Thursday and got call from grandapa who is taking care of my fish while I'm gone saying that storm knocked the power out. How long can the fish last without the filter pumping oxygen into the tank?

Tom

They can actually last for a long time without a filter, During December, we had a horrible storm that knocked out the power for about 8-12 hours and there were no dead fish in the entire tank.
Tom

Isabella

Theoretically, the beneficial bacteria start dying off after about 30 minutes without oxygen (oxygen is supplied to them through filtration, so when filter is off, they have no oxygen). But, I've had my tank without electricity for at least 24 hours during a power outage. And nothing bad happened to my fish. I measured ammonia and nitrite after the power outage and they were at 0, so that means I didn't loose my nitrifying bacteria. Or if I lost them, I didn't loose enough to cause a mini-cycle.

Also, it's better if the power outage happens to be in the summer because then tank water temperature can be warm without a heater. But in the winter, the temp. of a tank can be too low without heating in your house (since your tank heater is not working during a power outage).

SarithaAnn

That brings up a point I have wondered about...I am fairly new to the fish hobby (and I think already an addict)...Prior to me having my fish tank we had some power outages here last year...my power went out for three days in the winter and then 4 days in the summer...was a bad year here...
I am just wondering if there is some sort of backup power supply for fish filters and heaters? I dont have a backup generator...and frankly I dont think I am "technically advanced" enough to know how to hook up a generator even if I did have one. But is there a "generator" that is for fish tanks?

Wolfgang8810

power generators aren't difficult at all to use i live in Florida and am always left without power on account of hurricanes but there also is a battery powered air pump that will keep the water oxygenated. also if its cold and power goes out wrap blankets around your tank to keep heat in and it will also slow the fish's metabolism so they don't use as much energy

Shelby

Another option would a UPS like somepeople use on their computers. They come in many sizes. Just a large battery backup system. Would have to calculate the amps of all important devices and determine the amount of time to be prepared for. UPS = uninterpretable power supply

Amorinthe

I am going to put this to the test at the end of the year. We're going to move from Cali to Brooklyn, so the tanks will be in an ice chest (excellent insulator - not just for keeping your....diet coke chilly) and will run at night when we crash at the hotel. It's hopefully going to just be a 4 day process. I'm a bit worried about the puffer, but we have excellent filters, so all should be well.

Neil

I have my "fish tank power bar" plugged into my UPS, the line filtering part since I dont have any more outlets for the battery back up but the main reason for using the UPS line filter is that brown outs can fry transformers/motors, so i dont want to take a chance. if the power does go out then I can switch plugs to the power backups, mine will probably last on hour but u can get bigger ones and they are worth it, a of a lot cheaper then replacing a power supply ( experience).