power outage

[trice]

Can anyone tell me how long my aquariums will be ok, while the electricians turn off the power to the house while they fix something. I have heard you can let a bunch of dead bacteria go when the power goes back on. Will the bacteria in the biological filter be affected? Thanks.

[Scrappi_tt]

I don't think that the bacteria in the bio filter will be affected. Once it stays in the water.

The length of time in which you tanks will be OK when the electricity is out all demends on the surroundings.

If you live in a cold place, they may not survive for more than an average of 20 mins(Try to get more professional advice on this area since I live in a tropical climate and don't have to worry about power outages).

You can keep filling some plastic bottles with tap water and warm it up in the micro wave. But not too hot and not too cold. Do a test before they take off the power so you can see how many bottles of water you have to heat up and how often you have to replace the bottles. All this to keep a constant temperature in the aquarium... Sudden increases or decreases in water temperature can cause stress to the fish and increase the chances of being affected by ICK/white spot disease.

[Symphony]

Hello,

Do you remember when that major power outage hit Canada and US? It was still warm outside but my fish went with out power for approximately 32 to 36 hours. All i did was monitor the water.

[GoodMike]

to help keep the tank warm you can wrap it in newspaper then a blanket. Or you can buy some heat packs to put on the sides of the outside of the tank.

[Carol_Roberts]

IF you have a canister filter the bacteria may quickly begin to die for lack of oxygen. Totally rinse the canister and sponges before you turn the canister back on to avoid a disaster.

Hang on the back filters and sponge filters can go all day without power as long as they are wet and do not dry out.

[Scrappi_tt]

to help keep the tank warm you can wrap it in newspaper then a blanket. Or you can buy some heat packs to put on the sides of the outside of the tank.


Oh ok the heat packs are a really good idea... I just typed the first idea that came to my head....LOL ;)

[GoodMike]

Im sure your fish will be fine...My friends house partially burnt down over christmas (i live in idaho) and his house temp got down below freezing, but we wrapped his tanks up and they didnt get below about 70 degrees. We soon moved his tanks to my house. Every fish is fine

[trice]

Thanks everbody for all the replies!!