Power Outage probles

jacobterrell · 09/03/2007, 09:51 AM

I have a question for you seasoned veterans. I have had a reef tank for about 10 years (and the same fish!) and last night we had a power outage. I wasn't too worried since it is not hot here at night, but I woke up to all my fish dead and my colt coral dead...which is~was about 18 inches tall.

Why would they die from a power outage when heat isn't a factor? Can lack of water movement really kill things that quick? Power was out for about 13 hours...

Thanks for your help.

tkeracer619 · 09/03/2007, 10:08 AM

The oxygen ran out. You need water circulation.

Sorry for your losses.

Capt. Nemo · 09/03/2007, 10:10 AM

I'm so sorry for your loss. I would assume that oxygen depletion would be the cause of death. The size of the tank and amount of fish would also have been critical to oxygen available and depletion rate. I have been considering getting myself a battery operated air pump for just such an emergency. Again, I am so sorry about your loss.

Gary

loosecannon · 09/03/2007, 04:41 PM

Jacobterrell Tkeracerg619 said it . Salt water holds 250 times less oxygen than fresh water. I lost two fish in a 6 hour outeg.

tboneman · 09/03/2007, 05:11 PM

if and when you set up your tank again try using a ups universal power supply that will continue to run your circulation pumps during the interim until the power comes back on. I have a remanufactured one that cost me just over one hundred dollars that will run my two tunze streams for 15 -20 hours in case of a power failure. A lot of computer supply sites sell these units new and remanufactured. Sorry for your loss

jacobterrell · 09/03/2007, 05:59 PM

Thanks for the advice you guys. I will definitely look at getting some type of backup...

Good news is that my huge colt coral came back to life. So I just lost my fish that I have had for almost a decade. All of my other corals were just fine...weird.
Cheers,
Jake

HDAlien · 09/04/2007, 07:49 AM

Not only a UPS for the short term, if you really want to be safe, look into the super quiet Honda generators (or similar) that can be run all night without keeping the neighbors up. Saved my tank once so far....

theop · 09/04/2007, 08:05 AM

In an emergency, you can also run pumps off of an inverter that you can plug into your car's lighter. Probably not a good solution for hours and hours (you'd use up gas or drain your battery), but it's a good way to get some power for a while without a generator.

Inverters are less than $30 and available at any autoparts store or walmart.

AMIFL · 09/04/2007, 08:51 AM

Definately lack of oxygen. When I lose power and know its not coming back for a while, I always use my hand to circulate the water every 15 minutes or so. By doing that, you can mix air to the water by causing bubbles. Otherwise, definately get some sort of back up. Sorry for the loss, that must have been rough.

57chevygirl57 · 09/04/2007, 09:38 AM

I start freaking out after just an hour.
With all my tanks.
Last outage, My husband drove to a wallmart at 11:30 P.M, and got the last generator they had,,,,,,,,,,,
and grabbed 4 of his extention cords, from his work trailor, and plugged in all the tanks,,,,,,,,,, everything but the lights,,,,,,,,,, and If needed, he could have plugged them in also...........
It was worth all the $$$$ and the and time, for that peace of mind,,,,,,,,
freezer and fridge could have also been hooked up...............
Just one thing that We don't have to worry about anymore..........

jacobterrell · 09/04/2007, 09:58 AM

I don't understand something...why can a fish survive in a bag for 24 hours while it is being shipped to you, but it can't survive in an aquarium for 13 hours with still water...?

theop · 09/04/2007, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jacobterrell
I don't understand something...why can a fish survive in a bag for 24 hours while it is being shipped to you, but it can't survive in an aquarium for 13 hours with still water...?

Because the bag was filled with 100% oxygen (and is usually under a bit of pressure). Oxygen in air is only 21%. Also, in a tank there are many organisms using up the oxygen: fish, inverts, corals, aerobic bacteria.

09/03/2007, 09:51 AM	#1
jacobterrell Registered Member. Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 20	Power Outage probles I have a question for you seasoned veterans. I have had a reef tank for about 10 years (and the same fish!) and last night we had a power outage. I wasn't too worried since it is not hot here at night, but I woke up to all my fish dead and my colt coral dead...which is~was about 18 inches tall. Why would they die from a power outage when heat isn't a factor? Can lack of water movement really kill things that quick? Power was out for about 13 hours... Thanks for your help.

09/03/2007, 10:08 AM	#2
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	The oxygen ran out. You need water circulation. Sorry for your losses. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

09/03/2007, 04:41 PM	#4
loosecannon Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: port kent Posts: 1,292	Jacobterrell Tkeracerg619 said it . Salt water holds 250 times less oxygen than fresh water. I lost two fish in a 6 hour outeg. __________________ I like getting WET! Current Tank Info: 44gal. 40 gal. 75 gal. 30gal. and working on a 75gal. rigt

09/04/2007, 07:49 AM	#7
HDAlien Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 476	Not only a UPS for the short term, if you really want to be safe, look into the super quiet Honda generators (or similar) that can be run all night without keeping the neighbors up. Saved my tank once so far.... __________________ ¡ʞuɐʇ ʎɯ ǝʌo1 ı Current Tank Info: 220 gal. reef

09/03/2007, 10:10 AM	#3
Capt. Nemo Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,102	I'm so sorry for your loss. I would assume that oxygen depletion would be the cause of death. The size of the tank and amount of fish would also have been critical to oxygen available and depletion rate. I have been considering getting myself a battery operated air pump for just such an emergency. Again, I am so sorry about your loss. Gary

09/03/2007, 05:11 PM	#5
tboneman Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Verona N.J. Posts: 152	if and when you set up your tank again try using a ups universal power supply that will continue to run your circulation pumps during the interim until the power comes back on. I have a remanufactured one that cost me just over one hundred dollars that will run my two tunze streams for 15 -20 hours in case of a power failure. A lot of computer supply sites sell these units new and remanufactured. Sorry for your loss

09/03/2007, 05:59 PM	#6
jacobterrell Registered Member. Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 20	Thanks for the advice you guys. I will definitely look at getting some type of backup... Good news is that my huge colt coral came back to life. So I just lost my fish that I have had for almost a decade. All of my other corals were just fine...weird. Cheers, Jake

09/04/2007, 08:05 AM	#8
theop Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Durham, NC Posts: 1,493	In an emergency, you can also run pumps off of an inverter that you can plug into your car's lighter. Probably not a good solution for hours and hours (you'd use up gas or drain your battery), but it's a good way to get some power for a while without a generator. Inverters are less than $30 and available at any autoparts store or walmart.

09/04/2007, 08:51 AM	#9
AMIFL Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: FL Posts: 359	Definately lack of oxygen. When I lose power and know its not coming back for a while, I always use my hand to circulate the water every 15 minutes or so. By doing that, you can mix air to the water by causing bubbles. Otherwise, definately get some sort of back up. Sorry for the loss, that must have been rough.

09/04/2007, 09:38 AM	#10
57chevygirl57 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 295	I start freaking out after just an hour. With all my tanks. Last outage, My husband drove to a wallmart at 11:30 P.M, and got the last generator they had,,,,,,,,,,, and grabbed 4 of his extention cords, from his work trailor, and plugged in all the tanks,,,,,,,,,, everything but the lights,,,,,,,,,, and If needed, he could have plugged them in also........... It was worth all the $$$$ and the and time, for that peace of mind,,,,,,,, freezer and fridge could have also been hooked up............... Just one thing that We don't have to worry about anymore..........

09/04/2007, 09:58 AM	#11
jacobterrell Registered Member. Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 20	I don't understand something...why can a fish survive in a bag for 24 hours while it is being shipped to you, but it can't survive in an aquarium for 13 hours with still water...?