ohhhh noooo guess what

[akhtar]

my filter was off for about 6 hours!!

my plug was taken out , and i forgot to put it bak in, what do i do now?!?!!?!?!

have all the benificial bacteria died? !

 

[Alien Anna]

The chances are your tank will go through a mini-cycle, but some of your beneficial bacteria may well have survived. What you need to do is exactly the same as the first time you cycled your tank - regular water changes and keep an eye on the ammonia and nitrite levels.

An air-stone would be beneficial, just to get that water thoroughly oxygenated.

 

[Cate]

This brings up a good point, excuse me if this has been discussed, I haven't come across it, but how long can a community tank survive if there is a power outtage? Being an unexpected participant in the "largest black-out in US history", this is something I probably should be prepared for. I realize the tank will most likely have to recycle, but how long will tropical fish survive? Thanks!

 

[akhtar]

i meant 8 hours, and thanks u guys, keep them cumming

 

[Alien Anna]

It entirely depends on your set-up, species of fish, size of tank, stocking levels, ventilation of the room, temperature of the room etc. how long a particular tropical fish can survive without a filter or heater.

If you've got discus, probably not long, although I did hear of a discus breeder who's fish were fine after an 8 hour power outage (he didn't feed them and did several water changes with RO). If you've got goldfish, possibly months before they finally succumbed. People have rescued bettas from the bottom of a rotten lily vase and they've survived.

Planted tanks would probably survive longer, provided there was a light source, as plant excrete oxygen and use up ammonia.

So, there isn't an easy answer. I personally don't like to have my filters out of the water for longer than 20 minutes, less if I can help it, and I wouldn't have the power out for longer than half an hour at most. However, the oxygen levels and ammonia levels in my tank would probably be fine. I recently had a 4 hour power outage and even my heavily stocked tank with delicate fish was absolutely fine.

 

[ed946]

I turned the filter off the first night I had my fish, and both Guppies dies. Needless to say I have now learnt from my mistake and haven't done that since. Now my fisg seem fine and a week ago I braved my concience and bought two more Guppies, who have so far survived.