What Will Happen If My Heater Goes Off For 2 Days?

[penguinpimp1990]

Were having a big snow storm right now, and were supposed to get 14 by days end. When we get snow storms/lightning storms i quite often loose power to my house, and i am worried that my heaters and filters will turn off, i wont be home this weekend cause ill be at my dad's house (I have to go) and theyll be no one at my house till sunday at 7 pm. Do you think my fish will die if the filters and stuff are off for more than 24 hours? i assume they will because theyll have no fresh supply of oxygen, maybe the bettas and gouramis will make it though. anyone have their stuff shut off for more than 24 hours? and what were the results?

 

[Fishkeeper2004]

We had a power outage during winter for two days here, and the fish were fine. It was cold outside so keeping central heating turned on at all times was necassary, and I did twice daily water changes with warm water.

 

[penguinpimp1990]

i keep my house temp at 62 degrees, too cold for fish and i wont be home to do water changes, id run out and by a battery powered air pump but the roads are pretty slippery and some are closed. and no cash

 

[Fishkeeper2004]

Can't you just turn you temperature up for the two days your away? It may cost a little more (nothing big), and will save you money in the long run, as you will have to replace fish you lose.

 

[penguinpimp1990]

its not my house (im 15) so i cant really just turn up the heat, and my mom cant even afford the heating bills for 6 days at 62 degrees, she'd die if i turned it up

 

[Fishkeeper2004]

Then I suppose you will just have to hope the power doesn't go out, and if it does that you fish can survive for the time you are gone. If you get back and all are alive but power is still off, do water changes twice daily with warmer water.

 

[Paul_MTS]

before you go wap the tanks in polysterene, blankets and anything to keep the heat in if the power does go off.

 

[Durbkat]

A couple years ago the power went out in the summer time for 36 or more hours (this was when I only had a 10g with 3 black tetras) and they were fine they just went alittle pale with no oxygen and extra heat in the tank since it was hot.

 

[penguinpimp1990]

when i get back (if the power goes out) about what percent water changes twice daily with warm water? maybe 10 percent?

 

[Fishkeeper2004]

10% should be fine, and add water at the temperature you normally keep the tank at.

 

[rdd1952]

Turning the heat up in the house really doesn't matter. If you lose power, the furnace won't work anyway unless your heater doesn't require fans/blowers to circulate the air. How heavily stocked are your tank/tanks? If they are pretty normally stocked, you shouldn't see a huge ammonia and nitrite problem just over 2 days. The heat would be the bigger issue. I would suggest not feeding them for at least the day before you leave and the day you leave. That way the amount of waste would be minimal. Also do a water change the day before you leave and vacuum the gravel really good so there isn't any waste left.

There is one thing that may put your mind at ease a little. At lower temperatures, ammonia becomes ammonium which is non toxic so if you do lose power and the temp drops in tha tanks, the ammonia probably won't be a issue.

What type filters do you have? If the power goes off, obviously there won't be any water flow through them. As long as the media stays wet, you won't experience as large a bacteria loss. Canister filters should hold up well while bio-wheels dry out very quickly.