Power Outage: help!

[Temeraire]

My neighbourhood is experiencing a power outage... My tank filters and lights aren't on (obviously), what can I do?!

 

[Sk8r]

Tanks vary in how long they can last---mine will go 8 hours without distress. Overstocking means less time. If you can't get aeration in main tank and fish are showing distress, either go to a store that sells sporting goods and get a battery run bait bucket bubbler or stand on a chair and dip and pour pitchers of water from as much height as you can manage for one or two minutes every half hour or hour depending on size of tank and length of time of outage.

 

[gone fishin]

You can try using a pitcher occasionally to dip some water out of the DT and pour it back in this will help oxygenate the water.

Keep an eye on your temp. If possible get some ice and if needed you can place some ice in a ziplock bag to help keep temp down if it gets to warm.

When I have been in these situations do not feed on your regular schedule but do so very sparingly. Good luck

 

[Sk8r]

Yep, if you can drop the temperature down to 75 it will help the water carry and hold oxygen.
A tank can get as low as 62 without damage.

 

[Temeraire]

Okay! Thank you all so much!

 

[jml1149]

Tanks vary in how long they can last---mine will go 8 hours without distress. Overstocking means less time. If you can't get aeration in main tank and fish are showing distress, either go to a store that sells sporting goods and get a battery run bait bucket bubbler or stand on a chair and dip and pour pitchers of water from as much height as you can manage for one or two minutes every half hour or hour depending on size of tank and length of time of outage.

Just curious, what are the initial signs of distress you see?

 

[JakeK]

Yep, if you can drop the temperature down to 75 it will help the water carry and hold oxygen.
A tank can get as low as 62 without damage.

Sk8r, question about the 62*F mark.

My tank is in our basement where the ambient temperature is about 64*F. Does that 62*F point apply to both corals and fish? I'm assuming it can't stay at that temp for more than a few minutes.

 

[Sk8r]

If the ambient is 64, everything is ok: that 62 is complicated by rock and sand which hold a prior heat/cold state for hours after the water has chilled. You will see your fish gasping for air at the surface if oxy is short, and huddling in the rock caves if the tank has gone too cool.

Never feed a chilled fish: they can't digest without external heat, because they do not derive heat energy from internal process the way mammals do, and the food can hurt them.