How long can my tanks go without power?

[divemaster99]

My power was off since three pm today and it just came back on now currently 4:33 pm. I don't have a generator or back up pumps on any of my tanks. All my fish are fine but I'm more worried about the filters since my 30 has an hob, will all the bacteria be dead from no water movement since 3:00 although since 4:10 I have been pouring water from my tank through it with a 0.75 gallon jug for the bacteria? My 75 has a canister which I would think would have water in it but there was obviously no movement. Should I just test my water every other hour or something to make sure they didn't un-cycle?

 

[FuriousFish]

My power was off since three pm today and it just came back on now currently 4:33 pm. I don't have a generator or back up pumps on any of my tanks. All my fish are fine but I'm more worried about the filters since my 30 has an hob, will all the bacteria be dead from no water movement since 3:00 although since 4:10 I have been pouring water from my tank through it with a 0.75 gallon jug for the bacteria? My 75 has a canister which I would think would have water in it but there was obviously no movement. Should I just test my water every other hour or something to make sure they didn't un-cycle?

No... You are fine... Back when i had 20+ tanks mostly all running HOB Power went out for 3hours and it was like nothing happened.


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[divemaster99]

No... You are fine... Back when i had 20+ tanks mostly all running HOB Power went out for 3hours and it was like nothing happened.


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Alright, awesome then I have nothing no worry about. Still going to get one of those backup air pumps though just in case it goes out for a while next time.

 

[FuriousFish]

Alright, awesome then I have nothing no worry about. Still going to get one of those backup air pumps though just in case it goes out for a while next time.

I got one of those! It is loud but gets the job done! Also very useful if you are picking up a fish from a person near you via car, use a battery air pump so that they have oxygen on the ride back!


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[djaalix]

I would never say no to testing to make sure, but i think you'll be fine ... my water changes take about 2 hrs and during that time my pumps are off and my biological media is out of water and i've had no problems ... what you did, pouring water over the hob was a great idea, and putting a moist towel over a sump to prevent the bacteria from drying out is also very helpful especially for periods over a couple hours .... i always change my filter pads just before a water change, so that they are wet, then when i cut the power and start the water change i know the biological filtration will be fine with the moist filter pad keeping the humidity inside the sump thus keeping the bacteria alive ... probably would be a good idea to get a generator though, i know i have 1, and i would have lost all my fish during hurricane sandy without it

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[wrslrcichlid]

You should be fine, but I would still test your water for the next couple of days just to be sure. I'm sure you did have some bacteria die off, but it shouldn't have been much.

 

[FuriousFish]

You should be fine, but I would still test your water for the next couple of days just to be sure. I'm sure you did have some bacteria die off, but it shouldn't have been much.

+1 even though you are 99% going to be fine it never hurts to check.


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[Gill Blue]

if you keep up on it, days, weeks, months. weather dependent of course.
if you're talking just letting them sit, a few hours.