What Happens When There Is An Electricity Cut?

[Cool-Katz]

What will happen to the fish if there is an electricity cut? Last year (i didn't have any fish) we had a day long power cut because of the snow. What will happen to the fish? Can you buy battrie powered stuff? And what if it's just a short power cut?

 

[mike455555]

a short power cut shouldent effect anything seeing as the temp of the tank would slowly decrees and unless your filter stops the bacteria wont die (long if its not off longer than an hour)

a longer power cut you can put a blanket over the tank. and i think there are battrie filters... but unsure...
water changes often if theres a long power cut... and pore water over the filter every now and again (i guess) its what id do

 

[Akasha72]

I asked a similar question about a month back. I was due to have a new boiler fitted and I was worried that the electric would be off all day.
I was adviced to put blankets or a duvet around the tank and not to worry about the filter as the bacteria take a long time to start dying off

 

[BigbruiserAl]

I asked a similar question about a month back. I was due to have a new boiler fitted and I was worried that the electric would be off all day.
I was adviced to put blankets or a duvet around the tank and not to worry about the filter as the bacteria take a long time to start dying off

correct lag the tank with some heavy blankets to keep the heat in, the filter will lose approx 12% bactera per 24 if kept wet and they will recover that in a day again when everythings on. If you have access to gas you can put a hot water bottle in the tank if is going to a a long time and winter

 

[CezzaXV]

I know you can get battery powered air pumps to keep the water aerated. I know you can get oxygenating tablets too (my LFS puts them in the bag if it's a long journey/alot of fish in the bag), but I'm not sure how good they are.

I know my Fluval 205 filter has a self prime function, a little lever you pull up and down to get water going through it manually, so give that a go every so often if you have one on your filter.

If you suspect your electricity will be going off for long periods of time over the winter, it may be worth investing in a power strip with a battery backup. They're expensive, but so is replacing all your fish.

 

[ShinySideUp]

What will happen to the fish if there is an electricity cut? Last year (i didn't have any fish) we had a day long power cut because of the snow. What will happen to the fish? Can you buy battrie powered stuff? And what if it's just a short power cut?

I once accidentally switched off my filter and it was off for 36 hours, instinctively I turned it back on and within a day almost all my fish were dead, poisoned I presume by dead bacteria releasing toxins into the water.

A while ago my electricity was scheduled to go off for about five hours for mains work in the road and I was determined that I wouldn't have the same problem as before.

Since I fly electric helicopters and planes I have a 7Ah hobby battery for field charging. I used this to drive a 150w inverter This one from Amazon which easily powered my filter for the five required hours but ran for nine when I first tested it and even then it was still going strong so I stopped the test early. I cut off the car cigarette lighter connector and attached a couple of spade connectors (or whatever you need for your particular battery). You connect the inverter to the battery then just plug your mains-powered filter into it just like you would plug into the mains (as effectively this is now what you have).

A bigger battery, like a car battery would allow the filter to run for days without mains using this method.

Cheers

Martin

 

[micko]

Shouldn't really be a problem. Even 24 hours. Like al said, hot water bottle in the tank, or glass jam jars filled with hot water etc. Plenty of blankets round the tank. I'd have the tank in complete blackout. Fish tend to move less when the lights are out (depending on species, but most do) so they will think its night time, sleepy time.