Power is out and it may be out for a while

[Rocky998]

So I have read through @AbbeysDad's site on power outages and I've covered the tanks with two blankets. But I don't have battery pumps or mylar blankets... So I'm thinking of pumping the water with a turkey baster ever so often.

Any ideas?

 

[connorlindeman]

oof. What happened?

 

[Rocky998]

oof. What happened?

Tons of thunder and lightning. Also was downpouring.
I can't be on here a bunch cause it uses up my much valuable data

 

[jaylach]

I have my filtration and heater connected to a computer battery backup. I do not have the lights connected as they are not necessary. Actually the lights are connected to an outlet that is controlled by a wall switch.

Aquatic stuff does not take a lot of power. The largest draw for me is the 100 watt heater. I figure that the battery backup should keep the filtration and heat going for over a day.

This is similar to what I have:

APC BN450M UPS (Back Up Power Supply) - Newegg.com

Buy APC BN450M UPS (Back Up Power Supply) with fast shipping and top-rated customer service. Once you know, you Newegg!

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This does not help in your current situation but may be a thought for the future...

 

[Rocky998]

I have my filtration and heater connected to a computer battery backup. I do not have the lights connected as they are not necessary. Actually the lights are connected to an outlet that is controlled by a wall switch.

Aquatic stuff does not take a lot of power. The largest draw for me is the 100 watt heater. I figure that the battery backup should keep the filtration and heat going for over a day.

This is similar to what I have:

APC BN450M UPS (Back Up Power Supply) - Newegg.com

Buy APC BN450M UPS (Back Up Power Supply) with fast shipping and top-rated customer service. Once you know, you Newegg!

www.newegg.com

This does not help in your current situation but may be a thought for the future...

Thank you very much!

Luckily power is back and the tank seems to be running well!
But it's a good wake up call

 

[Sgooosh]

Thank you very much!

Luckily power is back and the tank seems to be running well!
But it's a good wake up call

i think getting a nice usb air pump is a good idea, since the power banks are usb, and battery power might be expensive

 

[Rocky998]

i think getting a nice usb air pump is a good idea, since the power banks are usb, and battery power might be expensive

But could be worth it

 

[Rocky998]

Welp... Power is back out again... oof

 

[connorlindeman]

Welp... Power is back out again... oof

Grab a whisk and stir the tank to keep it aerated.

 

[Rocky998]

Grab a whisk and stir the tank to keep it aerated.

I don't want soap residue in the tank but thank you for the recommendation!
I used my turkey baster to jet the water a bit

 

[connorlindeman]

I don't want soap residue in the tank but thank you for the recommendation!
I used my turkey baster to jet the water a bit

It was meant as a joke lol

 

[Rocky998]

It was meant as a joke lol

Ohh ok lol... Sorry Im not in a joking mood right now so I didn't get it... Its been... Its been a bit crazy tonight

 

[itiwhetu]

You only have a couple of fish in your tank, don't panic, they will be fine.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

You just need to roil the surface to promote gas exchange. A battery powered air pump does not have to be on all the time. You can run it for 10 or 15 minutes and then turn it off for 30 -60 minutes. I used to rotate mine between tanks before we installed a backup generator. I have also simply used my hand tow swish around the surface water some as well as created some movement below the surface. Hust a few minutes is fine for tanks which are not very big.

A battery powered air pump with an air stone on the bottom of the tank will create circulation as well as roiling the surface to get air in and excess co2 out.

If it is very cold, battery power will not keep a place warm and a tank heater can only fight so much cold. I do summer tanks outside but on a screened terrace and shade. I can deal with high temps. But at the start and end of the season it is the overnight lows that are the defining factors. I have 10 wpg or more in every tank. I can handle overnight lows down to 55F (12.8 C) on a regular basis. I can cover tanks with towels and stave off a single night into the high 40s F (8.9ish C). But, when the lows are always under 55 it means the days are also not warm enough for to stay ahead of things. I need daytime temps to be in the low to mid-70s (21.7-24 C)

The same is true for dealing with extended power outages in the summer when temps are in the the 90s or even 100+ (35 and up or even over 37.8 C). There is very little one can do when the issue is the temperature is this hot for more than an hour or two with no power.

In both 2011 and 2012 we had a hurricane come up the east coast of the States and hit us in NY. Both times there was no public power to out house for 13 days. Fortunately, we had installed a whole house back-up generator in 2008. We always have full power as long as the generator is working.

Shorter term power outages can mostly be handled without too much fuss, but when they are measured in many hours or days, it is a whole different ballgame. Depending on the time of year and the available back-ups one has will determine how long one can keep it all safe for the fish. But ususally worrying about oneself and family members can be the greater priority when things get bad.

 

[Colin_T]

It's summer in the USA so the water should not lose temperature too quickly.

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If you have a HOB filter, you can get a container of tank water and pour it into the HOB filter once an hour or so, to help keep the bacteria alive.

If you have an external canister filter, take the return/ outlet hose and put it in a bucket next to the filter. Let the bucket fill up with water and then put the outlet hose back in the tank. Do this once an hour if you can and it will keep the bacteria alive. Pour the bucket of water back into the tank.

If you have an air operated filter or just an internal power filter, blow bubbles into the tank with some airline and an airstone. You can just stick one end of the airline in your mouth and blow. Or you can use a bicycle pump for pumping up tyres and stick an airline joiner in the outlet of the pump. Put the airline on that and gently push air into the tank. Do this for a few minutes once an hour and the oxygen levels will stay high.

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You don't need lights on during a power failure so nothing to worry about there.