Power Cut

[Akasha72]

Hi all,

We've had a major power cut here in Harrogate due to a fire at the local sub station. I went out at half 11 and came back to silence and darkness at around 3pm. I've no real idea what time it went off but the tank temperature was down to about 19 degrees.
I immediately put a blanket and a duvet over the tank.

The power came back on at about 5pm. I boiled the kettle and put a hot water bottle under the duvet in the hope it would warm things up a bit. I left it like that for about 20 mins before taking the blanket and duvet off. The temp was still around 19 degrees and the fish were pretty static. I then turned the heater up from 30 to 32 and put the light on.
It's now back up to 25 degrees and the fish are slowly becoming a bit more active.

Is there anything else I need to do? Will the bacteria cope? I know I've been told before it would be fine for a couple of hours but the power could well have been off for double that.

I just wanted to ask just to make sure all will be okay.

I'll check the temp before going to bed but I may well leave it at 32 over night as the weather forcast is for minus degree temperatures tonight and see what it looks like in the morning. Does that sound like a good plan too?

 

[Noahs ark6]

did you turn the heater up slowly?

 

[Akasha72]

I just turned it up 2 degrees, I don't think I can turn it up any less as the control knob is stiff anyway and now it's a bit slimy with algae it's a so-and-so to alter lol

 

[Noahs ark6]

I'm pretty sure the bacteria will be OK, but keep your eye on it for the next few days.

 

[Aqua Tom]

You will be fine.


Tom

 

[Tolak]

Fed lightly the next few days. Lower temperatures will slow the fish's metabolism, which includes its digestive processes. They will eat, but won't digest as well, risking constipation.

 

[Akasha72]

thanks guys ... they are picking up now - almost back to normal in terms of my guppies but my platies are still a bit lethargic. The trouble is if I do a water check now I won't get an accurate reading in my rubbish electric light. I plan to do my normal maintenance tomorrow (water change, glass clean, gravel vac etc)

I'll keep everything crossed and hope the power stays on. I've lost my phone line too as it's damaged some underground cables or something. I may even put the duvet back over at bedtime just in case it goes off during the night

Fed lightly the next few days. Lower temperatures will slow the fish's metabolism, which includes its digestive processes. They will eat, but won't digest as well, risking constipation.

Oh no! I've gave them a blood worm block about an hour ago! I wish I'd known that before. Worried now

 

[Akasha72]

All back to normal now. Temperature has levelled off at 25/26 and the fish are all moving around as normal.

Worried the power will go off again if the power station was badly damaged in the fire (rumour has it it was thugs stealing copper cables that started it) but fingers crossed it won't.

Thanks guys for your help

 

[soybean]

Don't leave the heater higher than it needs to be - if heaters malfunction it tends to be that they get stuck 'on', so at 30c the water would get too hot quicker than if stuck at 24/25.

The annoying thing about powercuts is there's very little you can do regarding bacteria etc, short of having a battery operated pump for oxygen flow while the power is out - and not many people have those!