Emergency No power

[mudd puppy]

Need advice, Big Ice storm last night no electricity and not sure when it will be back on. How long can my 55gal tank go with no water circulation and what can I do to help or what should I do?

 

[salty rick]

Can you boil water? Like with a propane stove? Boil water and put it in gallon milk jugs. Float the jugs in the tank. As far as circulation I can't help you. Stir with a spoon maybe?

 

[attml]

try to use a big spoon to stir it if possible without too much disruption and do what you can to keep the temp in your hout as close to 80 degrees as possible so that the water temp doesn't drop too much. If you have one available place a (kero) space heater near the tank to keep the temp up. Good luck!

 

[thomas712]

Mudd Puppy - send me an email, I have an article that has a good deal of information that can help you with problems that you have right now. I does however contain, advertisments that make it inapropriate for this site.
Thomas
birdsall12@chartermi.net

 

[michaeltx]

are you using a UPS to get on line if so I would try attaching a power head or air pump to that to help with a little bit of circulation..
hope that all goes well and they get power back on fairly quick.
Mike

 

[mudd puppy]

Hey SammyStingRay I always appreciate your advice where are you need help.

 

[thomas712]

On the way
Thomas

 

[sammystingray]

Mudd Puppy, thanks. I appreciate the comment, but there are definately folks with more hobby knowledge here. Anyway.....I have a gas stove, and I heat water if needed and float it.....as Salty Rick suggested. I also have several 9volt battery operated pumps for gas exchange, and a charger to keep them going. I really never had to deal with it without a gas stove.....

 

[thomas712]

If you can get a hold of a battery operated air pump then get one in there asap, fish can take some cold water but must have oxygen to survive, this will also circulate some of the water. cover the tank with a blanket or at least wrap it somehow to keep as much heat in as possible, and cover the top with cardboard or something. Use the heated milk jug thing for more heat.
During a power outage I lost most fish until I took the sole survivor down to the LFS who was able to baby sit the fish for a few days until power was restored, this may be an option if power is not restored soon.
Thomas

 

[newreefers]

I have had to move a tank across the state and I used battery operated pumps for water movement and floated jugs of hot water for heat. I did it in a large cooler and everything survived for the 7 hours it took to move, so I know that this will work or at least this long and probably longer.
good luck

 

[mudd puppy]

Thanks everyony I going to logout and shutdown lab top to save power on it. Let you all know what heppens. One thing is for sure I am going to invest in some power back up systems and some things that will run on battery power.
Thanks for all the advice once again.

 

[eng50]

probably all gone now, but try to find a small generator, I bought one for $250 just for this purpose yesterday as I remember the last ice storm headaches/heartaches people had. A small investment and a greatpiece of mind relative to the expense and care we put into these tanks..The generator, 1850watts will power both my tanks completely. Hope you can get your hands on one or at least maybe borrow one!!
Good Luck...
Bill

 

[mudd puppy]

Ok got a portable air pump up and running in tank. Water is really moving and churning. Shouls I leave this on all the time or can i run it in spells to save the car battery.

 

[j21kickster]

are you using a power inverther that hooks up to your car battery? but you dont need it on all the time - but if it is a reef tank then i would leave it on most of the time,for fish- i would do like an hr on and an hr off- what size tank and what fish are in it

 

[thomas712]

Mudd Puppy - Any update on your tank?