Power outage how long before I need to run auxiliary power

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
yep, i turn my generator on right away if the power goes out, your bacteria can die fast
 
If your tank water temp is good then I'd simply add a battery-powered air pump to keep the surface moving and float your media in the tank water. It all depends on what else is happening. On the other hand, as the others said, if you have the generator, then the fuel cost is probably worth it even if it's just peace-of-mind to you.
 
A lot depends upon the size of the fish and the stocking density. Big fish will suffer first. An overstocked tank will also have problems quickly. As stated, battery powered air pumps help as do water changes. Try to maintain water temperature.
 
All my fish were able to handle a 4-hour outage two weeks ago. I was concerned about my discus the most. I have a generator but didn't roll it out as it was around 4A.M. I was monitoring the temperature closely because I know for fact that my fish would be fine without air and filters running for about 8 hours (when I forgot to turn on the equipments after a late night water change!). I wouldn't recommend putting your fish through that time frame without air intentionally though :) The temp dropped to about 70F in the house when the power came back 4 hours later. AEP usually gives us estimate of when the power would be restored so I could plan accordingly on whether to pull out the generator or not.

OP, how long did the outage last for you? And did you do anything?
 
Having just suffered and survived 2 synchronous outages with in a 48hour time frame- first being ~8 hours the second about 6hours, ALL my poly's Knife's and oscars(the big ones) did absolutely fine. I have a sump that covers 3 tanks, and had these tanks in a finished garage with temps dropping outside to mid 20's. Tanks got to ~65* but were never there longer than an hour or 2.

I covered the tanks with blankets to hold in heat. I did not feed! I immediately did major waterchanges (50%) when the power came back on (no hot water heater...) and had no issues but a couple disgruntled fish...the silver dollars HATED when I peeked in the tank from behind the blankets!.

I'm getting a small 1000W generator this year- tanks and garage fridge only. (maybe TV in the mancave!)- fish unscathed - owner very stressed!:nilly:
 
I usually will start up the generator after a couple hours if I think the power will be back on soon - if it looks to be a long outage I start it up immediately.
 
heres something that might intrest someone, iv not long got back into keeping fish,my tank had been truned off for approx 5 years but still had plants ect in it, 1 plant near the front all be it with 1 green leaf still alive.every thing elce died,
i took out most [not all] of the old water,filled it up with week old tap water gave the spunges a rince, and started it up again..
heres the kicker, i had perfect water no spike nothing totaly 100% fine i even added some guppys after a few weeks to try speed it up, still no spike,i even over fed them lol, after bout 20 weeks i started to add my clowns and bout 6 weeks later i added the SDs all the time i watched for a spike witch never came,, so from that i have to say the bacteria or some of it must have lived oh and the plant is fine now too soon as it gotsome light it grew more leafs
 
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