Power Cuts

[Bazza57]

We had a power cut last night (boxing day) the temperatures outside were around -6 which lasted 40 minutes - i was stressed to hell - thinking that I may have to stop up alnight tending to my two tanks. As it was, I only had to check the pumps were running ok when the power came back on.

Thankfully, I still had my battery powered air pump & airstone from when I used to go to fish shows. I also had access to hot water & empty pop bottles to add to my tanks if it came to the worst.

I know the weather here in blighty is unusually cold for this time of year, but how do TFF members who live in colder climes manage in a situation like this?

 

[hillmar77]

Word of advice! ALWAYS check water stats after a power outage! I've heard horror stories of mini-cycle after a long power outage. What I do is I usually get a battery backup charged to 80 percent at all times. When there is a power outage only plug in your filters and they should run for hours! Use hot water to maintain the temp in your tank.

 

[Mikaila31]

LOL 40 Minuets! Normally 8 hours before I even bother doing anything with the tanks. We have backups for the computers and big TV and I honestly would never bother using one on a fish tank. It however depends entirely on the fish tank I guess. For me biggest loss is not filters its light. Most of my tanks are only semi dependent on the filter or not at all. They are driven buy the light and the plants, but 24+ of dark doesn't seem to bother them. Its only I big 55gal that is dependent on filter and even then 24hr of no power is where I might start worrying a little... If you know its going to be a big outage or its cold outside, cover the tanks with blankets to conserve heat.

Also not everyone has luxury of running water during a power outage. I have well and the water pump is electric, so usually will fill pitchers for drinking water till we lose all pressure. Only get 3-5 gallons before this happens. Thats okay though, currently if I came down to it I got a fire place and snow

 

[hillmar77]

Rofl thank god for gas water heaters !
I say take the backup power for tv and give the fishies a little love!

 

[Mikaila31]

Rofl thank god for gas water heaters !
I say take the backup power for tv and give the fishies a little love!

Gas heater has nothing to do with it. We have a gas water heater. Its not very effective if we can't pump water through it cuz the well pump is down . In my house once pressure is gone you turn on faucet and nothing will come out. Once power is back on you get lots of spurting cuz of all the air that has gone into the pipes. Its annoying as #@!!, kinda like how you still flip light switches during a power outage because its simply second nature. I do the same with the faucets ALL the time. We technically have a outdoor fire pit, indoor fire place, and a gas grill outside so I can boil water, I just can't get it here. Anyway smaller tank will cool faster then a big tank. Covering them makes a big diff.

Na the back up power supplies are supper annoying, ours shirk/beep ever 30sec to alert you to the fact that power is out and no way to disable this. The carbon monoxide sensor joins them when its backup power runs low. I have to find batteries for the boom box so I drowned them out. Its way too much work and unnecessary to move those power supplies for any normal power outage. My tanks will be perfectly fine for at least a day. IDK about non-planted tanks.

 

[Bazza57]

Cheers everyone for the input folks.

We have had power cuts before (for much longer periods) but never in cold weather - hence my concern.
In the past, I have taken fish to shows, these fish have been away from their "home -tank" sometimes for up to 8 hours (but only during summer months)I only had to make sure that I had oxygen available if they got stressed- hence the battery powered pump. Winter time for me is a different proposition.

Some good replies though, especially the blanket stuff. Both my tanks are reasonably large enough to maintain heat for some time, I just got a little spooked about the loss of oxygen - though one tank is understocked, the other has quite large fish, but mainly cats which can get their own oxygen by gulping air if needed.

 

[Twinklecaz]

How can a tank ever not be dependent on its filter? Confused

 

[Alasse]

I dont worry, winter or summer. Havent lost anything, we often get power outs, and some can be extended.

I have had unfiltered tanks, filters are not always something a tank must depend on, especially if they are heavily planted. The plants tend to keep the water sweet

 

[Mikaila31]

How can a tank ever not be dependent on its filter? Confused

When you think outside of the box. If you properly setup a tank it won't need a filter. Plants provide this function. I have a show tank and I intentionally turn its filter off every night simply because it is loud. It is probably over stocked too, but is high tech with lots of plants lots of nutrient demand. I've left it stagnant for a week before and not much happened. My 15 gallon doesn't even have a filter, just a powerhead to move the water. It was setup to run without a filter. It has cherry shrimp and 9 fish so far. Filters are not absolutely necessary for every tank.

 

[Bazza57]

How can a tank ever not be dependent on its filter? Confused

When you think outside of the box. If you properly setup a tank it won't need a filter. Plants provide this function. I have a show tank and I intentionally turn its filter off every night simply because it is loud. It is probably over stocked too, but is high tech with lots of plants lots of nutrient demand. I've left it stagnant for a week before and not much happened. My 15 gallon doesn't even have a filter, just a powerhead to move the water. It was setup to run without a filter. It has cherry shrimp and 9 fish so far. Filters are not absolutely necessary for every tank.

I know that I will probably upset a lot of people but.....
Regardless of plants or not, I would never feel comfortable if a tank had no water current to disturb the water surface. If there is no break or rippling of the surface then gasses could build up in the water. I fail to see how anyone totally rely upon plants to remove the bad stuff, especially when they give out CO2 during the night. A body of water outdoors has the benefit of wind etc to break the surface, but indoors - nothing! how can this remain sweet & not turn stagnant without a filter?
And yes, I know about the small nano-systems which seem to be self supporting -But you can't do that with well stocked tanks

 

[Twinklecaz]

How can a tank ever not be dependent on its filter? Confused

When you think outside of the box. If you properly setup a tank it won't need a filter. Plants provide this function. I have a show tank and I intentionally turn its filter off every night simply because it is loud. It is probably over stocked too, but is high tech with lots of plants lots of nutrient demand. I've left it stagnant for a week before and not much happened. My 15 gallon doesn't even have a filter, just a powerhead to move the water. It was setup to run without a filter. It has cherry shrimp and 9 fish so far. Filters are not absolutely necessary for every tank.

Surely at the very least the water looks dirty though? Even if the plants CAN do the rest?

 

[Mikaila31]

Look at my 5gal paludarium thread in my sig. I started that tank with a filter and it has been unfiltered for over a year now. Its possible to run a tank stagnate and keep it balance, its not ideal or easy though. My paludarium clicked pretty quick, water is clearer then some of my filtered tank and it does not get the scum on the surface even though it is stagnant. It however is only inhabited by snails and shrimp since under 1 gal. It also gets very rare water changes 3-4 months.

My newer 15 gallon was torn down and setup this way only about a month and a half ago. Its still establishing its balance. So far its going good. Its based off the walstead method but I am using a lot more light and stocking heavier. Used dirt and sand from my yard. Currently has 3wpg of T8 and spiral compacts combined. Really no algae to speak of yet. Slight particulate in water, but not really any worse then the other filtered planted tanks. Power head in this tank directs water up to break the surface. Keeps the layer of scum at bay, which is due to nutrient imbalance and should disappear on its own once tank is more established. It looks kinda green in the pics, but is not that bad in person. My crappy lights leave a lot to be desired though . Everything in this hobby is about finding the right balance. A filter can be seen as a imbalance if you want. The only reason a filter is needed is because more nutrients get put into a tank then it can consume. You can get rid of this by adding only enough nutrients that the tank can consume. A lot believe this means low stocking, but the reverse is also true. Make the tank consume as many nutrients as you are adding. This can be done by lots of fast growing plants under the right conditions and you can maintain a heavy bioload because it is needed to feed a tank with a heavy nutrient demand. Plants prefer ammonia above any other nitrogen source, so simply they eat the ammonia and no nitrate is produce from this process. They are in the end more efficient then a filter. Coming back to the topic on this thread though, plants are dependent on light. They still consume nutrients at night. But if left in the dark for a long time their nutrient uptake will be reduced greatly

 

[Bazza57]

Look at my 5gal paludarium thread in my sig. I started that tank with a filter and it has been unfiltered for over a year now. Its possible to run a tank stagnate and keep it balance, its not ideal or easy though. My paludarium clicked pretty quick, water is clearer then some of my filtered tank and it does not get the scum on the surface even though it is stagnant. It however is only inhabited by snails and shrimp since under 1 gal. It also gets very rare water changes 3-4 months.

My newer 15 gallon was torn down and setup this way only about a month and a half ago. Its still establishing its balance. So far its going good. Its based off the walstead method but I am using a lot more light and stocking heavier. Used dirt and sand from my yard. Currently has 3wpg of T8 and spiral compacts combined. Really no algae to speak of yet. Slight particulate in water, but not really any worse then the other filtered planted tanks. Power head in this tank directs water up to break the surface. Keeps the layer of scum at bay, which is due to nutrient imbalance and should disappear on its own once tank is more established. It looks kinda green in the pics, but is not that bad in person. My crappy lights leave a lot to be desired though . Everything in this hobby is about finding the right balance. A filter can be seen as a imbalance if you want. The only reason a filter is needed is because more nutrients get put into a tank then it can consume. You can get rid of this by adding only enough nutrients that the tank can consume. A lot believe this means low stocking, but the reverse is also true. Make the tank consume as many nutrients as you are adding. This can be done by lots of fast growing plants under the right conditions and you can maintain a heavy bioload because it is needed to feed a tank with a heavy nutrient demand. Plants prefer ammonia above any other nitrogen source, so simply they eat the ammonia and no nitrate is produce from this process. They are in the end more efficient then a filter. Coming back to the topic on this thread though, plants are dependent on light. They still consume nutrients at night. But if left in the dark for a long time their nutrient uptake will be reduced greatly

Impressive!
Worth an experimental project. I guess I would only dare to set up a smallish tank, lightly stocked but heavily planted, with adequate lighting.

 

[Twinklecaz]

It is very interesting I agree. I don't think I've seen this viewpoint before!