Power cut

[Safecookie]

So just had a outage (UK) for half a hour temp dropped next to nothing although a huge tank. Just wondering at how long you would lose power before really panicking about the fish survival? Running around 26.3'

 

[StandbySetting]

I've had 12 hour power outages in the past with no Ill effects, what I tend to do though is wrap the tank in a duvet and manually pour water through the filter every few hours.

Your biggest enemies during a power outage are the temperature dropping and your filter bacteria starving and dying back, anything you can do to mitigate these circumstances will buy you time.

Fish are pretty tolerant of mild swings in temperature, a drop of a few degrees Celsius should cause no real I'll affects provided it is gradual and when the power returns it comes back up to temp gradually too.


Fortunately here in the UK Power outages are pretty rare, in fact I cannot remember the last one! I do recall them being common when I was a child 15-20 years ago though!

 

[Safecookie]

Yeah I have a generator in the shed but it's first time we had a cut for a amount of time I can remember. Thinking if was the same in a few hours would have to get the fuel can out... Haha

 

[AbbeysDad]

Power Failure
It's always good to have battery operated air pumps on hand to ensure that the water remains oxygenated. For external filters, you might suspend any bio-media inside the tank (although not so necessary in a well established tank). Temperature is only an issue if/when it's cold out and the room temperature drops...so you might wrap the tank in a blanket to reduce heat loss.

 

[shell_lou]

Just had a 4 hour power cut in UK notified by text so no one was in

Temp usually runs at 25 degrees Celsius sorry I’m British lol and just home power on but temp at 23

I only have temperate fish but I know even a degree change can cause shock

Not ran a water check yet but it’s an 8 month old tank with regular safe water changes - did t introduce fish until it had cycles but I’ve learnt a lot these last 6 months

I have turned heater down 1 degree as to not shock the fish again

I’ll do a water check am

What else can I do ?

 

[GaryE]

I start to be concerned at 24 hours in summer, and at 12 in winter.

 

[AbbeysDad]

I only have temperate fish but I know even a degree change can cause shock

I think it may depend on the species and other health related factors. Truth be told, tropical fish can probably tolerate a fair range in temperatures especially if the change is gradual. Of course I have no idea how much of a change can be tolerated but I can say that my swordtails seem very resilient. As an example, I have a little 5 foot kiddie pool turtle 'pond' in my unheated basement (55°F in winter). I have had swordtails survive in there even when I have done water changes with cold well water. Now I surely wouldn't recommend temperature shocking fish, but I wouldn't panic if/when the power goes out... I think a bigger issue than temperature just might be oxygen depletion for both fish and beneficial bacteria (but this is just my impression). ;-)

 

[GaryE]

Power cuts affect the filter, but mainly if you're overstocked. Temps drop quickly in the first few hours, but a drop of under 3c isn't a stress, and a slow drop less so. I learned how long it takes for fish to begin to die when I had a full fishroom in an 8 day power outage, from a January icestorm in Canada. Even in that level of cold, most of my fish could have been saved up to 2-3 days. After that, carnage.

 

[shell_lou]

Thanks all - seem to be ok this am nitrite present though so doing a 15% water change