Power Cuts
Unfortunately, we can't control everything and power is one of those things! We rely on power to keep our tanks healthy. We need the water to be driven through the filter media to provide the bacteria with food and oxygen, surface agitation to keep the water oxygenated, perhaps a heater to stop temperature fluctuations and a light for our plants. If the power goes out, we lose filtration and aeration, which are essential for the well being of the fish.
In advance of a Power Cut
If you know you will lose power, or there is a chance you may (inclement weather), try to fill up buckets and tubs with conditioned water, should you need it for emergency water changes. Stocking up on battery powred air pumps is also a great idea, as is a supply of batteries for them. I'd also ensure you have a good supply of Seachem Prime, so you have the means of detoxifying ammonia, nitrite and nitrate whilst you run with out/less filtration.
If you can get your hands on a generator - fantastic!!
If you can get your hands on a generator - fantastic!!
Short term Power Cut
Should your power go out and you know that it will be back up and running within an hour or two, ensure your media is kept wet. Remove it from the filter and submerge it in tank water if there isn't sufficient water within the filter to cover the media. This will keep your cycle. If the media drys out or is exposed to chlorine in water you risk a cycle bump, if not losing the cycle completely.
Seachem Prime, once again, will ensure that your fish remain protected from ammonia which may build up during a power outage.
If you can perform a water change, it certainly won't hurt things.
Seachem Prime, once again, will ensure that your fish remain protected from ammonia which may build up during a power outage.
If you can perform a water change, it certainly won't hurt things.
Long term Power Cut
If your power goes out and you are unsure of how long it will be out for, or it will be out for longer than a couple of hours, we need to take extra measures to ensure the stability of the aquarium.
Battery powered air pumps are an extremely useful thing to have on stand by. Using batteries means that even during a power outage, we can keep the water oxygenated by providing surface agitation by either hooking up an airstone or a sponge filter.
Without power to drive the filter, which will provide a good flow of water to the beneficial bacteria, supplying it with oxygen and a food source (ammonia) for prolonged periods of time, we risk a cycle bump or losing our cycle altogether.
Battery powered air pumps are an extremely useful thing to have on stand by. Using batteries means that even during a power outage, we can keep the water oxygenated by providing surface agitation by either hooking up an airstone or a sponge filter.
Without power to drive the filter, which will provide a good flow of water to the beneficial bacteria, supplying it with oxygen and a food source (ammonia) for prolonged periods of time, we risk a cycle bump or losing our cycle altogether.
(I will get better images of the DIY filter, but this should give you an idea of what I mean)
A simple air driven filter can be created, using a plastic drinks bottle with holes drilled in the base for the input and the top for the output. Cut the bottle in half, fill with the media from your filter and thread airline through a hole to the centre of the base of the bottle and push the halves together. Hooking the airline up to the battery powered air pump, and driving air through the bottle will create a vacuum and suck water through the holes in the base and push it upwards to the output. This filter, containing your established media, will provide filtration to your tank, aeration and surface agitation and will save your cycle. I keep a few predrilled bottles on standby, should I need to quickly convert my filtration to battery operated.
Any clean, food grade bottle or tub will work and you can make them as big or as small as you need them, or run multiple filters. If you dont have a drill, use something to pierce the plastic with - but please be careful!
Prime should be dosed every 24 hours and water changes performed. 50% daily is a good place to start as you will be lacking turnover in your filter if you are running one or have no filtration running at all. The Prime neutralises ammonia and nitrite for 24hours, whilst keeping the cycle in tact and providing a food source for the Nitrosomonas and Nitrospira (Nitrifying Bacteria).
Any clean, food grade bottle or tub will work and you can make them as big or as small as you need them, or run multiple filters. If you dont have a drill, use something to pierce the plastic with - but please be careful!
Prime should be dosed every 24 hours and water changes performed. 50% daily is a good place to start as you will be lacking turnover in your filter if you are running one or have no filtration running at all. The Prime neutralises ammonia and nitrite for 24hours, whilst keeping the cycle in tact and providing a food source for the Nitrosomonas and Nitrospira (Nitrifying Bacteria).
When the power is back on
Once you have regained power, turn on your filters. The sooner we get filtration and water being driven through the media, the better.
Performing a water xhange at this point is always a good idea.
Test your water daily. A power outage can easily cause cycle bumps and even total cycle loss. Perform water changes as required and follow the guide on cycle recovery.
Performing a water xhange at this point is always a good idea.
Test your water daily. A power outage can easily cause cycle bumps and even total cycle loss. Perform water changes as required and follow the guide on cycle recovery.