power being shut off tomorrow

[Lady Hobbs]

Great. I just got done cycling 2 tanks and tomorrow the power is being shut off to install new power poles in town. Infact, tomorrow and Sunday.

No computer, no kitchen range or microwave, no tv and no fish tank pumps! GREAT! It will be for 4 hours tomorrow. I am so not liking my pumps going down after a new cycle for 4 hours.

[Chrona]

Blow into the air tubing for 4 hours :)

[crackatinny]

Maybe you could look into one of them battery operated air pumps?

[gm72]

Rent a generator?

[cocoa_pleco]

Add water to the tanks every 30 minutes?

[RobbieG]

I have big old battery backups on my tanks - I have to because the power is so horrible in my building. I'm hoping they come out with one big enough for my TV and cable box!

[Rue]

Wonder what you could do with an eggbeater?

[Drumachine09]

Wonder what you could do with an eggbeater?


Say what? i dont get it? Hmm, i mustave missed something. Oh well.

That stinks hobbs. Two years ago (i think) we had a huge ice storm and i lost power for 4.5 days. It was terrible, i used a little colman battery powered generator plug in thingy to power my heater, but that was it, and i didnt lose one fish.

[Rue]

...aerate the water...

[Drumachine09]

...aerate the water...

lol, i was thinking more along the lines of a gas powered leaf blower, but whatever floats your boat. lol

[Lady Hobbs]

Cocoa_pleco got this one right. I have 4 tanks so getting portable units is out and the place that sells them is an hours drive away. I do need one good one tho that can move tank to tank.

But several months ago I lost my power for 21 hours. The whole story of how I kept my fish alive during that time is in my blog. Short version: I would drain out a pail of water, stand on a chair and pour quickly back into the tank. Every hour for 21 hours. It was the pits and it was dark and I about had a flooded living room by the time the power come back on. Water, water everywhere. No fish died, however.

[Lady Hobbs]

Say what? i dont get it? Hmm, i mustave missed something. Oh well.

That stinks hobbs. Two years ago (i think) we had a huge ice storm and i lost power for 4.5 days. It was terrible, i used a little colman battery powered generator plug in thingy to power my heater, but that was it, and i didnt lose one fish.

What a mess that had to be. How did they manage to remain alive so long.

[gm72]

Wow, cool stories of success!

[Drumachine09]

What a mess that had to be. How did they manage to remain alive so long.


I feed them uranium and steriods. My fish were incinvible!

Actually, i have no idea. i used a heater, and every once in a while i would plug in the bubble curtian, but i didnt do the filter. I did lose a few fish the week after the storm, so it could have been the stress, but, i dunno.

[Rue]

There has to be an easier way to aerate...

[Chrona]

Well let's hear it then :)

[Lady Hobbs]

Well heck. The bubble curtain was your answer. That gave the added oxygen they needed to sustrain them for a while longer.

I am going to aerate the heck out of my tanks prior to the power going down. They should be fine for that period of time. It's the bottom feeders I worry about more as they haven't enough sense to come to the top for oxygen.

[Drumachine09]

Well heck. The bubble curtain was your answer. That gave the added oxygen they needed to sustrain them for a while longer.


Oh:ezpi_wink1: . Well then.

[gm72]

I don't think 4 hours will be too harsh on them, but 4 hours is what they are telling you. I mean, could end up being a lot longer. I hope all goes well!

[cocoa_pleco]

4 hours isnt that bad to add water. Just hook up a TV and youre set

[Chrona]

Just hook up a TV and youre set

lol. I think you missed the critical issue in this thread.

[Drumachine09]

lol. I think you missed the critical issue in this thread.


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[cocoa_pleco]

GOD, what a dumb post i made. Where you gonna plug the TV in? lol:1:


Grab a ipod video then

[Lady Hobbs]

Oh God. Please help me!

[cocoa_pleco]

Or you could knit or play darts

[Lady Hobbs]

rotflmao, Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Drumachine.........you are absolutely priceless!

[Lady Hobbs]

COCOA-I am not worried about amusing myself. I was worried about my fish!!!!!!

[Drumachine09]

*makes a whooshing motion above my head*


LOLOLOLOLOLOLOOL

[Chrona]

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ROFL :hmm3grin2orange:

[Chrona]

Ohhhhhh dear, needed that laugh. What would we do without you cocoa :)

[cocoa_pleco]

Ohhhhhh dear, needed that laugh. What would we do without you cocoa :)

Too bad you guys cant see me drunk, if im like this clean, imagine drunk me. Anyone whose seen me drunk almost craps themselves laughing. I remember one time i got drunk, and at 3 am i was laying on the couch with world vision poverty ads on tv

[Drumachine09]

imagine drunk me.


Sure you arent already hammered? lol

[Lady Hobbs]

I'm about peeing my pants here. Gee......my fish are dying. Should I go watch a powerless TV or knit?

[Drumachine09]

I'm about peeing my pants here. Gee......my fish are dying. Should I go watch a powerless TV or knit?


Quick turn on the TV! I LOVE that show!

[Lady Hobbs]

cocoa you gave us a good laugh tonight. Sure more fun than talking about meat!

[cocoa_pleco]

or you could listen to the radio. lol

[A340]

Your fish/tanks will do fine even if you don't do anything. I honestly am starting to believe you guys are worrying too much ... :ezpi_wink1:

[gm72]

Oh, we all worry too much about our fish. We are the fish freaks of the world here.

[2manyfish]

You guys been hitting the sauce or somethin??

:hmm3grin2orange:




Go to Wal-Mart (or any tackle/bait shop) and go to their fishing section. They sell battery powered air pumps for bait buckets. They cost around $4 each. Buy one for each tank. The batteries should last about 48 hours so you will have plenty of 'extra' on each one should the power stay out longer. They're good to have for unexpected emergencies too. Gotta warn you though, they are rather loud!!!
When the power goes out for any length of time it's important to throw out any filter media. The bacteria will die if they dry out and they will die without enough oxygen too (their limit is about 2 hours on this). If you don't remove the media, then when the power comes back on, you will be injecting dead bacteria into your tank which can foul the water.
BUT, since you already know about the power outage, it might be a good idea to remove any filter media from the filter, give the media a good little rinse in a bucket of tank water, then place it directly in your tank. This will keep it wet and oxygenated and when the power comes back on you can just plop it back in the filter!

HTH :thumb:

[cocoa_pleco]

Your fish/tanks will do fine even if you don't do anything. I honestly am starting to believe you guys are worrying too much ... :ezpi_wink1:


Its bad. It's like sticking a bag over your head for 4 hours. not pretty

[Lady Hobbs]

2manyfish.......what a great idea. And what a great way to buy fish and transport out of town or when moving. You are gooood!

[A340]

Its bad. It's like sticking a bag over your head for 4 hours. not pretty
Sorry, but I disagree with that. Much different comparrison. Tanks will be fine for at least 24 hours with out any power.

[Brave_Hart_188]

i was at the pet6 store and i saw a back up power supply for the pumps i think it was about $20