Irma's coming and I want to save my fish.

glb · Sep 5, 2017

I'm in Miami and it looks like we're going to get badly hit by Irma. Right now it's stronger and bigger than Hurricane Andrew. I have a 40g fowlr tank and am worried about losing power and the temp spiking. I do have 2 battery-operated air pumps with plenty of batteries. We don't have a generator. Even if we did, it wouldn't run the air and it's hot down here, 93 right now. I have 2 clownfish, one Midas Blenny, 2 pajama cardinalfisb, and one Coral Beauty. They're all healthy and peaceful. Is there anything else I can do at this point? I have a RODI so water changes won't be a problem if needed. I don't want to lose the little guys to the heat. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!!

Florida Sunshine · Sep 5, 2017

Freeze containers full of water and put them in the sump to cool it down.
This has worked for me in previous long power outages due to hurricanes.
It doesn't even need to be RO/DI water because you have it in a sealed container. 1/2 gallon milk jugs or even Gatorade bottles whatever you have on hand.

knowen87 · Sep 5, 2017

air pumps are good. If you want to help the temperature, maybe you could put some water bottles in the freezer and place them in the tank if the power goes out.

Tariq · Sep 5, 2017

During a hurricane, the temperature will drop. Lots of wind and rain!
I won't worry too much about temperature. Getting the tank water aerated would be my first preference.
Pick up a battery-powered air pump and stock up on batteries.

lauderdalestunner · Sep 5, 2017

Good luck I'm a few miles north in Lauderdale and went thru Wilma it took all I could to keep the tank running and we had a cold front after the storm.

glb · Sep 5, 2017

Tariq said:
During a hurricane, the temperature will drop. Lots of wind and rain!
I won't worry too much about temperature. Getting the tank water aerated would be my first preference.
Pick up a battery-powered air pump and stock up on batteries.

Will do. I have two of those and plenty of batteries. I worry about a long term loss of power. In the 3 hurricanes of 2005, we lost our power twice, once for 9 days and the other for 13. Thanks everyone for your help!

glb · Sep 5, 2017

At what temp should I start to worry? It can get up to 90 in my house without power.

glb · Sep 5, 2017

lauderdalestunner said:
Good luck I'm a few miles north in Lauderdale and went thru Wilma it took all I could to keep the tank running and we had a cold front after the storm.

Oh I remember Wilma, Katrina, and Dennis in '05. I also lived through Andrew in '92. I don't have a battery for the return pump. How big of a problem is this? Plus I dose Nopox. Since the skimmer maybe offline my guess is I should hold off on the Nopox? Gradually reduce it? Or keep using it in the DT and scooping out the slime.

leahfiish · Sep 5, 2017

Don't dose nopox if you don't have a skimmer running.

fishybizzness · Sep 5, 2017

I'm following this thread as I live on St Thomas in the Virgin islands. I just had a generator installed and I'm hoping it's still there by tomorrow night. we are all shuttered up. I'm hoping for the best but we are prepared for the worst. I've grown really attached to my fowlr and was just getting ready to add my first corals. That may be put on hold....

glb · Sep 6, 2017

fishybizzness said:
I'm following this thread as I live on St Thomas in the Virgin islands. I just had a generator installed and I'm hoping it's still there by tomorrow night. we are all shuttered up. I'm hoping for the best but we are prepared for the worst. I've grown really attached to my fowlr and was just getting ready to add my first corals. That may be put on hold....

You'll be in my thoughts and prayers.

glb · Sep 6, 2017

Is there any type of battery I could buy to run only the return pump and skimmer?

fishybizzness · Sep 6, 2017

I have a ups that ran my skimmer and pump before I got a generator. It only ran them for a couple of hours though.

glb · Sep 6, 2017

fishybizzness said:
I have a ups that ran my skimmer and pump before I got a generator. It only ran them for a couple of hours though.

I'd like to get one of those solar generators. For now I'll have to do without circulation. I just ordered 2 dozen D batteries for my air pumps plus the ones I already have.

fishybizzness · Sep 6, 2017

A solar panel, a few deep cycle batteries and an inverter. It'll run the pumps indefinitely

Dsnakes · Sep 6, 2017

fishybizzness said:
I'm following this thread as I live on St Thomas in the Virgin islands. I just had a generator installed and I'm hoping it's still there by tomorrow night. we are all shuttered up. I'm hoping for the best but we are prepared for the worst. I've grown really attached to my fowlr and was just getting ready to add my first corals. That may be put on hold....

How are you fairing so far? Hope all is well so far

fishybizzness · Sep 6, 2017

It's really picked up in the last 1/2 hour. It seems it has tracked a little more south than expected so the eye wall may pass over us. Power is out on most of the island.

fishybizzness · Sep 6, 2017

We probably will be getting 100 mph sustained winds by 1 this afternoon

Lasse · Sep 6, 2017

A great trick if you have power cut is to use some hydrogen peroxide. I always have a bottle of this at home. If I get a long power break - I take a bucket of aquarium waters - pull in some hydrogen peroxide - let it be for a minute or so. After this I put back the water in small quantities every ten to 15 minutes. I have a friend that manage his whole Malawi farming system during a (for Sweden) huge storm- He was out of power for mor than a week. Before he go to sleep - Hi put in a little bit more of the stock solution.

@fishybizzness I hope it will work out well

Sincerely Lasse