PLEASE help ASAP!!

[mrs.fish]

Can someone please help? I am in charge of a fifty gallon saltwater tank (not mine) and there was a power outage. When the power came back on, water from the tank, A?O unit and refugium started to overflow onto the MANY power cords in the back of the tank. Sizzling noises, smoke, and brief electrocution (of me) followed...so obviously I had to turn off the power to everything tank-related. What do I do about the fish and the TONS of live rock in the tank? I don't want them to die but I can't turn anything back on b/c I don't want to set anything on fire or electrocute anyone. PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!
Sorry for posting this in both the newbie section and here, but I wanted to try and get an answer ASAP!

 

[autofreak44]

Originally Posted by mrs.fish
Can someone please help? I am in charge of a fifty gallon saltwater tank (not mine) and there was a power outage. When the power came back on, water from the tank, A?O unit and refugium started to overflow onto the MANY power cords in the back of the tank. Sizzling noises, smoke, and brief electrocution (of me) followed...so obviously I had to turn off the power to everything tank-related. What do I do about the fish and the TONS of live rock in the tank? I don't want them to die but I can't turn anything back on b/c I don't want to set anything on fire or electrocute anyone. PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!
Sorry for posting this in both the newbie section and here, but I wanted to try and get an answer ASAP!
you should be ok for maybe 2 days tops if you do the following. first off, dont feed the fish too much at all, that will just create unwanted waste in the tank. the best thing to do now is get the tank wrapped up in a blanket or a sleeping bag so it doesnt lose any heat. thats the first priority, and the second one iis to dry everything out and try not to electrocute your self in the process. i would say your first priority is to get your lights and your powerheads running, and let the owner of the tank fix the refugium. if i were you i would run an extension cord from another part of the house to power the lights and powerheads. how long untill the owner comes back?

 

[mrs.fish]

thanks...tank is already down to 74 degrees???? owner won't be back for another one to three days! i don't have the equipment or the knowledge to rig up the stuff you were talking about...i don't know how anything is connected and there are wires everywhere...any other thoughts?

 

[autofreak44]

ok the temp should be at about 78 degrees so i would definately say that the temp is a first priority. for a 50 gallon tank, if you are un comfortable with using the heater you have now go buy a 200 watt heater from a fish store or ***** or something. also make shure: DONT RUN THE HEATER WITH OUT ANY WATER FLOW. you will need at least one power head running if you are running a heater.
basicly a power head is a pump ont the side of the tank that moves water. you will need to get one of these plugged in.

there is a picture of a powerhead, they all look a little different. personaly i think you should just hook up another powercord from a different outlet and get the lights, heater, and powerheads plugged in.

 

[autofreak44]

the powerhead is the big gray thing behind the clownfish and the heater is the black long thing with the red knob comming out of the top

 

[mrs.fish]

Thanks! It's too late here to buy anything tonight...everything is closed except for Wal-Mart...do you think they'll make it until morning?

 

[autofreak44]

hey wall mart wil have stuff
go down and pick up a heater rated for like a 30 gallon just to hold you over till tomorrow
but again make shure not to run it without a powerhead in there. i think youcan pick up a powerhead from wallmart too, ive gotten some cheap stuff from there
go, run to the car, drive, choose some good stuff, and wait in long lines behind crying children and caffine addicted workaholics all in the name of fish

 

[autofreak44]

try not to electrocute your self

 

[ophiura]

BTW, if you do go get a heater at WalMart, you are looking for something around 150W. They should have suggested tank sizes on it...but on average it is 3Watts per Gallon.

 

[socal57che]

When the owner returns remind them of the importance of GFI receptacles.

 

[autofreak44]

Originally Posted by socal57che
When the owner returns remind them of the importance of GFI receptacles.
i think i need to remind my self of the importance of gfi receptacles...

 

[socal57che]

Originally Posted by autofreak44
i think i need to remind my self of the importance of gfi receptacles...

We need a smiley with a smoking power strip!! sorta like this guy---

combined with him---

, but hanging on to the power strip with sparks flying!!!