GouramiGirl1221

I just found out that the power is out at home (I'm 2 hrs away at college). It's been out for 4 hours as of now because of a big ice storm. I've got 29, 55, and 75 tanks that have no heat or filtration. What can I do to keep the cycles from crashing?

Fishies-for-me

I don't know how to help...but I hope you DO NOT try to drive home thru an ice storm to help...what is going to happen will happen. If it is not out to long it will be fine and if it is there is prob not a lot you can do anyhow and it is not worth getting into an accident and risking your life for....good luck.

Amanda

First, I would try to wrap the tanks in comforters or something to keep them semi-warm.

Shawnie

do alot or praying!!! cover the tanks with blankets and see if your pet stores have any battery operated pumps...I had to use a bicycle pump for 4 days ...i hope things work out well!!!!!!!

Lucy

My tanks are a lot smaller than yours but when my power went out I wrapped the tanks in blankets, put hand warmers in ziplock bags and floated them.
After 4 hrs the temp only dropped 1-2 degrees.

GouramiGirl1221

I'm not driving home...my university is actually having classes. My dad is semi-knowledgeable about the fish, so if I can give him some instruction he can do what little can be done. would it help to put the filter media in the tanks where they'll be exposed to the ammonia?

Fishies-for-me

i have heard about floating the media in the tank to keep the bacteria alive ...good call.

GouramiGirl1221

Thanks Lucy, that's a great idea! My dad actually has some at the house, so maybe if we float a few in the big tanks that will help.

agabr123

yeah i'd float your filter media in the tank to keep it wet and make sure the bacteria doesnt die. also, a 25% water change would probably be helpful, since the ammonia will probably start building up depending on how long the power is out

Shawnie

you cant do a water change without a way of warming the water...cold water will shock them too much .....its a scarey thought and I hope your power comes on soon!! not sure about you but we are deffinately getting a generator this summer

pepetj

I've been reading on the icy storm, estimates place 1.4million people without electricity.

Since your father has some know how, ask him to purchase a few battery operated airpumps, take some sponge or bio-media from your filters and place them inside the tank with an airstone below.

If you can't solve the temperature differential, abstain from water changes. Add Prime or Ammo-lock daily only if you get readings of nitrites or ammonia.

Feed as sparingly as possible, let them fasten every two days if needed be.

A gas stove or burner could be used to heat some water for partial water changes.

Whatever you do, stay put, take care of yourself GouramiGirl. We are praying for your fishes, sure, but also for your family (my wife, my daughter, and me).

Pepe
Santo Domingo

MeGustaUnaPez926

Yup, float stuff in the water to warm it. And in regards to oxygenizing the tank, just take a cup and pour water in and out a couple times an hour, I've read that's enough to do the trick. Good luck, my fishies have made it through power outages, I hope yours do too! Also, don't feed the fish, because that will add extra ammonia that can't be filtered out. The fish should be fine without food for a few days.

mjordan

when my power went out this fall from a hurricane it was out for 4 days.
we used a 100 walmart generator 2.4 horse power so it can easily run 3 tanks of its required items no lights but u get the point. anyways wat u do is have your dad go get this lifesaver(not the candy) from walmart which this thing was a great deal. have your dad hook up the filters/heaters to it and let it run for 12 hrs.

given its the winter the tanks will go down temp at night but not nearly as bad.


hope this helps.
it always a good reusable thing for any pupose or outage.
not only for fish tanks
can be borrowed and lended to a neigbor and they look at u like a merical worker.

GouramiGirl1221

Power is back on! Happened late last night...as of yet everything looks fine. Everyone is still alive and healthy from the looks of things. My parents were able to keep the temps above 70*F the whole time, and I think the cycles are okay, but I'll keep an eye on them for a couple days. Thanks for your help...all the stories of fish that lived through the power outages really helped ease my mind.

Lucy

That's great news, thanks for the update.

dancerhas

Probably the same ice storm we had. We were lucky to not lose power. We're on the same line as a Ski Resort though...so it's usually in pretty good shape. Glad your fishies are ok!