Opinions Needed....please

[albfishin']

Let me set up my qustions with some background info....
Two days ago I got a phone call from my local power company saying that they would be turning off power to my neighborhood to conduct line maintenance for about 3 hours. Here are my questions:
1. What should be done, if anything to my tank to prevent the least amount of stress, etc. to the reef system (3 hours seems to be a long time with no water movement, etc.)?
2. I normally due my tank maintenance (glass cleaning, filter changes, h2o change, etc.) on Sunday morning. Should I hold off and due this Monday afternoon after the power comes back on?
Any opinions would be appreciated. The system has been running for 9 mos. and have never had this problem or a power outtage for this long.
Thanks -

 

[rykna]

Originally Posted by AlbFishin'
Let me set up my qustions with some background info....
Two days ago I got a phone call from my local power company saying that they would be turning off power to my neighborhood to conduct line maintenance for about 3 hours. Here are my questions:
1. What should be done, if anything to my tank to prevent the least amount of stress, etc. to the reef system (3 hours seems to be a long time with no water movement, etc.)?
2. I normally due my tank maintenance (glass cleaning, filter changes, h2o change, etc.) on Sunday morning. Should I hold off and due this Monday afternoon after the power comes back on?
Any opinions would be appreciated. The system has been running for 9 mos. and have never had this problem or a power outtage for this long.
Thanks -

Well....depends on what is in your tank....I would proceed with scheduled maintenance...especially since the tank water will have been sitting for 3 hours. But most tanks do fine up to 4 hours of dead water. If I still had my reef tank set up, 3 hours would be the max I'd leave it, but I switched to seahorses, they don't mind.
Tank size?
Fish?
Coral?
Inverts?
How much LR?
How much LS?

 

[albfishin']

Originally Posted by Rykna
Well....depends on what is in your tank....I would proceed with scheduled maintenance...especially since the tank water will have been sitting for 3 hours. But most tanks do fine up to 4 hours of dead water. If I still had my reef tank set up, 3 hours would be the max I'd leave it, but I switched to seahorses, they don't mind.
Tank size? 55 Gal
Fish? 1 Flame angel, 1 blue gudgeon goby, 2 firefish gobies, 2 purple gobies, 3 gr chromis
Coral? Much...shrooms, zoos, ccanes, toadstool leather, 2 colonies of gsp, frogspawn, sponges, etc.
Inverts? 2 clams, brittle star, assorted snails, crabs, etc.
How much LR? about 80 lbs
How much LS?
about 2 inch sandbed
Should the maintenance be done after the power has been off? Thanks.

 

[puffer32]

I lost power twice last week for 5/6 hrs. I have battery operated air pumps for both my tanks, and it kept oxygen going into my tank. I would invest in one if i were you and run it while the power is off, you probably won't need it for such a short time, but it wouldn't hurt and the cost is only around 10/15 dollars, plus batteries. I would do my normal maintaince as scheduled, nothing should change with only 3 hr down time.

 

[albfishin']

Originally Posted by puffer32
I lost power twice last week for 5/6 hrs. I have battery operated air pumps for both my tanks, and it kept oxygen going into my tank. I would invest in one if i were you and run it while the power is off, you probably won't need it for such a short time, but it wouldn't hurt and the cost is only around 10/15 dollars, plus batteries. I would do my normal maintaince as scheduled, nothing should change with only 3 hr down time.
Yeah, you guys have been getting hammered in Tx.
I will definately look into making the investment. A generator would be nice but that is pretty pricey as well. I will continue maint tomorrow and hope for the best on Monday. Thanks for the advice, I feel a little better now. BTW, do you think I should remove the tank lid for better O2 on the surface of the tankwater?

 

[puffer32]

I prefer open tanks, I had problems with keeping PH normal until i took my glass lids off.
Yeah, Tx has been alittle hard hit in the weather department this spring. I would prefer using a car battery connector over a generator myself. If you have 2 cars it works well. I have used both in the past, and found the battery connector more reliable. Haven't gotten around to getting a new one, old one got lost in a move someplace.

 

[rykna]

Originally Posted by AlbFishin'
about 2 inch sandbed
Should the maintenance be done after the power has been off? Thanks.
Yeah-you should be fine. Just continue maitenance as usual.