Pump off overnight or longer =(

[LaraLouM]

Well either our child or our dog got out pump unplugged and it was off at least overnight, maybe longer. The water was cold as the heater is in the chamber with the pump and we lost our clownfish and damsel. I am so mad at myself for not noticing that it wasn't going before I went to bed. When noticed we did a 20% water change, added an extra heated to try and get the tank back up to temp quickly, but the fish were already looking really bad. So far our emerald crab, tiger conch, pistol shrimp, and hermits are still alive along with all the corals and anemones. I am hoping they don't begin dying off as well.

Any tips for how to keep these guys alive besides getting the tank stabilized as far as temperature and making sure all dead things are removed so there are no ammonia spikes?

 

[W1ngz]

air pump if you don't have a skimmer. You need to get O2 levels back up as fast as possible.

 

[jim_fitz]

As above really

Oxygen is more critical than temp

 

[Jake_the_reefer]

Raise the temp slowly, oxygenate the water asap, fresh air from outside would be best. Let things be, dont stick your hands in the tank dont mess with them.

 

[Opus]

As others stated, it is an O2 issue and most likely not a temp issue, unless you keep your house really cold. The warmer water holds less oxygen. If this had been winter time you may not have lost any fish.

 

[KrisReef]

Sorry about the fish. Years ago my toddler dialed my reef chiller down and made our tank an arctic sea. I noticed when the tank was making a funny gurgling sound because something was obstructing the return pump. The tank was totally cloudy and when I reached in to investigate I went hypothermic.
Don't be mad at yourself. That only serves to confound an unfortunate situation.

 

[Snoopy 67]

A Quick temp rise is NOT recommended, do it slowly.

 

[LaraLouM]

As others stated, it is an O2 issue and most likely not a temp issue, unless you keep your house really cold. The warmer water holds less oxygen. If this had been winter time you may not have lost any fish.

Our house goes to 62 at night and 68 during the day so it stays cold.

 

[Opus]

Our house goes to 62 at night and 68 during the day so it stays cold.

Then temp was probably the issue. I've left my pump off overnight before in the winter with no effect on the fish but I keep my house at 70 in the winter. Did that in the summer and it killed several fish but the house is kept at 77 in the summer.

I did go out of town for 3 days once and it was in the 80's when I left so had the a/c on. When I got back it had snowed and the house was in the lower 60's and all my fish were dead in my tank because the heater was not on.

 

[LaraLouM]

Then temp was probably the issue. I've left my pump off overnight before in the winter with no effect on the fish but I keep my house at 70 in the winter. Did that in the summer and it killed several fish but the house is kept at 77 in the summer.

I did go out of town for 3 days once and it was in the 80's when I left so had the a/c on. When I got back it had snowed and the house was in the lower 60's and all my fish were dead in my tank because the heater was not on.

Yeah because we had the power head running the whole time. It was just the pump off in which case none of the water got warmed, but I’m sure the O2 saturation played a part. We got the water heated back up and the pump going on high and the lid cracked open to help oxygenate the water.

 

[Jake_the_reefer]

Yeah because we had the power head running the whole time. It was just the pump off in which case none of the water got warmed, but I’m sure the O2 saturation played a part. We got the water heated back up and the pump going on high and the lid cracked open to help oxygenate the water.

Smart outlets for everything. Like $10 a piece and set them up to warn you when they lose connection.