Complete power failure - What do I do?

[Oceanwave45]

Good morning - yesterday when I got home I noticed my tank was dark this was around 6:00 PM Friday.

I have no idea how long the tank was without power, the tank was dark at 6:30 AM but that's normal so I didn't think anything of it.

So my tank could have been down 14 to 18 hours!!!

Last night I did the following
Emergency water change of 50 percent -I didn't use RODI because I didn't have any so I used tap water abs treated it with prime and add additional prime because the water was testing at

Nitrates 40 ppm
Am 0.25 ppm

The doesn't look too bad this morning the corals and Anemone is fine I think but some of the fish are sitting at the bottom of the tank.

What do I do now?????

 

[DSC reef]

My fear would be lack of oxygen. As long as everything is on and power heads are going it will be a waiting game.

 

[Oceanwave45]

yeah everything is on now

 

[Oceanwave45]

I worried about my anthesis - just laying around

 

[johnzena]

I worried about my anthesis - just laying around

I hope everything survives. Here in Florida we have power outages regularly. It usually isnt very long but still. Im setting up a new tank and I am building an extra long cabinet. I am going to install a large deep cell 12v battery with a relay to run a pump in the event of a failure.

 

[brandon429]

in any area where power outages are expected, that keeper will be benefitted and prepared even greater by running bare bottom tanks or sandbed tanks that are kept cloud free, rinsed that well occasionally.

Sandbeds become a double liability upon circulation cessation with a huge command of systemic o2

in a BOD sample analysis lab, they'll test as a higher tax on the ecosystem every single time vs bare bottom/no zones of organic decay and associated waste and respiring bac. they turn face and become a gigantic bioload to the tank, might as well add a koi to the setup for extra tax.

how clean is your sandbed, if any

 

[maroun.c]

Having at least the return pump and skimmer on a UPS will allow tank to survive FornA much longer time unless it's too hot or cold where u are. Not much u can do now If everything is running. Good luck.

 

[johnzena]

I hope everything survives. Here in Florida we have power outages regularly. It usually isnt very long but still. Im setting up a new tank and I am building an extra long cabinet. I am going to install a large deep cell 12v battery with a relay to run a pump in the event of a failure.

That is the perfect solution. If you need any help with the design I will be glad to assist although from the sound of it you got it covered. I am a retired Electrical Superintendent.

 

[johnzena]

The deep cell set up and relay would be a great diy thread.

 

[Ryan Browne]

Good morning - yesterday when I got home I noticed my tank was dark this was around 6:00 PM Friday.

I have no idea how long the tank was without power, the tank was dark at 6:30 AM but that's normal so I didn't think anything of it.

So my tank could have been down 14 to 18 hours!!!

Last night I did the following
Emergency water change of 50 percent -I didn't use RODI because I didn't have any so I used tap water abs treated it with prime and add additional prime because the water was testing at

Nitrates 40 ppm
Am 0.25 ppm

The doesn't look too bad this morning the corals and Anemone is fine I think but some of the fish are sitting at the bottom of the tank.

What do I do now?????

You should own either an APC battery backup or a gas generator. If you dont own either of them, go to Home Depot or Lowes and rent a gas generator. They typically rent Honda generators because they are quiet and dont use much gas. In California it cost about $40 for 24 hours. When my power goes out I hook up my fridge, and my fish tank to the smallest Honda generator, and it works great. I only run two small circulation pumps, one in my sump and one in my display tank. Just as long as water is moving in your tank, fish should be fine. If power if off too long you could do a small water change, or use an air stone in addition to circulation pumps. Or you could also run a circulation pump with a venturi so it blows water and air into the tank. You need a backup plan when the power goes out, it happens. Good luck.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

It's also an option to put a powerhead on the ups as it will run for longer. If you have good surface agitation it'll provide gas exchange , and also the flow helps the bacteria in the rock breathe. This is a reason why quite often just an air stone in an emergency doesn't work
. I have a 12v pump in my fuge and a powerhead int the display running on back up.

Fwiw a f one uses an air stone , put it on al ledge of pvc pipe and the bubbles will draw the water up the pipe and out, creating flow as well as well gas exchange. The battery pump and pipe are part of my emergency kit.