Trying to save reef after Ike.. Please read.

chris_lee45 · 09/16/2008, 09:45 AM

My old account will not let me post for some reason, so I just made a new account.

I have been using a 800w car inverter to run my tank for 30min every 4 hrs for days now. My neighbor picked up a generator and I am wondering what I should run with it.

As of now I am running only powerheads. I have a deep sand bed under the tank with a fuge and have decided to cut all of that out of the loop. I fear it could fowl the reef if the sand bed gets bad. So its just my 150g reef and powerhead with air tubes. How long can a reef go without light???? I have some huge clams so today I am running a little 40w corlife bulb over it just to keep the fish moving and hope to keep the coral alive. My predator tank seems fine but the big puffers seem like they are starving.... Do i need to feed them???

Cliff notes....

How long can a reef go without light? How long can fish including predator fish go without food? If I have a small reef light setup should I use it?

I am busting my butt to not lose this reef. Its over 5 years old. Thank you for any tips. I will only be able to read this post for a few more hours. I drove to my office to post this.

Tank notes: Its a 150g reef tank that is LOADED with corals. I cant even pull rocks out of this thing as corals have all grown into eachother. My other tank is just a predator tank with large puffers. For some reason the trigger died almost instantly but the others and the eels seem ok with just powerheads....

chris_lee45 · 09/16/2008, 09:56 AM

I am also guessing we will not have power for at LEAST another week

considering the giant tree laying in my back yard tangled in power lines.

Anteverius · 09/16/2008, 10:26 AM

I had no power for almost 4 days a while back. The only thing i had in the tanks was battery operated air pumps. Everything survived the ordeal. In my FOWLR tank, I have a dog face puff, dragon wrasse, twin spot wrasse, a damsel, and an eel. They all did fine. The corals in my reef tank were fine as well. Do not feed while the power is out (fish will use up more of the oxygen) and do water changes after it comes back on to get your params back in check. There is probably more you can do, but it seems what you are doing will hopefully do the job. Good luck

chris_lee45 · 09/16/2008, 10:40 AM

Do the corals and clams need light after a certian amount of time?

Attreui · 09/16/2008, 12:15 PM

Yes they do as they are photosynthetic, however they will not die from a few days without it. Remember that in nature they have to endure days and even longer without sunlight occasionally.

chris_lee45 · 09/16/2008, 12:47 PM

Oooops, did not see that last responce. sorry.

Is two to three weeks possible? or should I get some sort of small lights up there just to hold them out. Its very tricky to light the tank, keep it cool, and keep the water decent running of my neighbors generator.... This reaaaaaly sucks.

How long can fish go without food?

myerst2 · 09/16/2008, 01:24 PM

Wouldn't worry about feeding your fish, unless you reach the 7-10 day mark. ZIf possible, but probably impossible, I would try and do water changes. As far as light for corals, they can go for weeks without light with little to no ill affect. Your biggest concern has to be water quality and keeping the temperature steady. Even if the water temp is warmer or cooler than normal, you have to try and keep it steady. Hope everything works out for you. Tim

chris_lee45 · 09/16/2008, 01:50 PM

Thank you for the tips. I am going to do my best to keep this thing alive. Keep your fingers crossed for more below 90 degree days.

I read that moody gardens and the aquarium in kema lost alot of the saltwater stuff. So so so.. sad. Best of luck to anyone else going through this.

I now get to go home and pull this fuge and DSB out from under this tank before that whole stink fest begins.

Macimage · 09/17/2008, 05:58 PM

1. Try to keep the temperature constant.

2. Don't worry about the lights for at least a week.

3. Don't feed for several days and then just a little bit.

4. Add battery powered air pumps if you can find them. Walmart will have them in the bait section.

5. Use the a few powerheads on the generator to keep the oxygen levels up.

6. I wouldn't remove the fuge and dsb, unless you think the temps are going to go too high and nuke it.

7. Fill large soda bottles with water and put in freezer to freeze if you can run the generator for awhile to cool them. You can float them in tank to keep it cool.

8. Try to buy a generator. You can also buy an inverter and use it off your car battery or buy a deep cycle marine battery.

Good luck!
Joyce

kurtflys · 09/17/2008, 08:51 PM

well have not had power sence sunday night, I hope I do not lose all my corals!

09/16/2008, 09:45 AM	#1
chris_lee45 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Houston Posts: 5	Trying to save reef after Ike.. Please read. My old account will not let me post for some reason, so I just made a new account. I have been using a 800w car inverter to run my tank for 30min every 4 hrs for days now. My neighbor picked up a generator and I am wondering what I should run with it. As of now I am running only powerheads. I have a deep sand bed under the tank with a fuge and have decided to cut all of that out of the loop. I fear it could fowl the reef if the sand bed gets bad. So its just my 150g reef and powerhead with air tubes. How long can a reef go without light???? I have some huge clams so today I am running a little 40w corlife bulb over it just to keep the fish moving and hope to keep the coral alive. My predator tank seems fine but the big puffers seem like they are starving.... Do i need to feed them??? Cliff notes.... How long can a reef go without light? How long can fish including predator fish go without food? If I have a small reef light setup should I use it? I am busting my butt to not lose this reef. Its over 5 years old. Thank you for any tips. I will only be able to read this post for a few more hours. I drove to my office to post this. Tank notes: Its a 150g reef tank that is LOADED with corals. I cant even pull rocks out of this thing as corals have all grown into eachother. My other tank is just a predator tank with large puffers. For some reason the trigger died almost instantly but the others and the eels seem ok with just powerheads....

09/16/2008, 01:24 PM	#7
myerst2 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: East Hampton, Long Island Posts: 2,341	Wouldn't worry about feeding your fish, unless you reach the 7-10 day mark. ZIf possible, but probably impossible, I would try and do water changes. As far as light for corals, they can go for weeks without light with little to no ill affect. Your biggest concern has to be water quality and keeping the temperature steady. Even if the water temp is warmer or cooler than normal, you have to try and keep it steady. Hope everything works out for you. Tim __________________ "Those who teach must constantly hold up the challenge to study nature, not books." -Albrecht.

09/16/2008, 09:56 AM	#2
chris_lee45 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Houston Posts: 5	I am also guessing we will not have power for at LEAST another week considering the giant tree laying in my back yard tangled in power lines.

09/16/2008, 10:26 AM	#3
Anteverius Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: The Swamp...Go Gators! Posts: 204	I had no power for almost 4 days a while back. The only thing i had in the tanks was battery operated air pumps. Everything survived the ordeal. In my FOWLR tank, I have a dog face puff, dragon wrasse, twin spot wrasse, a damsel, and an eel. They all did fine. The corals in my reef tank were fine as well. Do not feed while the power is out (fish will use up more of the oxygen) and do water changes after it comes back on to get your params back in check. There is probably more you can do, but it seems what you are doing will hopefully do the job. Good luck

09/16/2008, 10:40 AM	#4
chris_lee45 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Houston Posts: 5	Do the corals and clams need light after a certian amount of time?

09/16/2008, 12:15 PM	#5
Attreui Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 321	Yes they do as they are photosynthetic, however they will not die from a few days without it. Remember that in nature they have to endure days and even longer without sunlight occasionally.

09/16/2008, 12:47 PM	#6
chris_lee45 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Houston Posts: 5	Oooops, did not see that last responce. sorry. Is two to three weeks possible? or should I get some sort of small lights up there just to hold them out. Its very tricky to light the tank, keep it cool, and keep the water decent running of my neighbors generator.... This reaaaaaly sucks. How long can fish go without food?

09/16/2008, 01:50 PM	#8
chris_lee45 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Houston Posts: 5	Thank you for the tips. I am going to do my best to keep this thing alive. Keep your fingers crossed for more below 90 degree days. I read that moody gardens and the aquarium in kema lost alot of the saltwater stuff. So so so.. sad. Best of luck to anyone else going through this. I now get to go home and pull this fuge and DSB out from under this tank before that whole stink fest begins.

09/17/2008, 05:58 PM	#9
Macimage Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Quartz Hill Posts: 4,078	1. Try to keep the temperature constant. 2. Don't worry about the lights for at least a week. 3. Don't feed for several days and then just a little bit. 4. Add battery powered air pumps if you can find them. Walmart will have them in the bait section. 5. Use the a few powerheads on the generator to keep the oxygen levels up. 6. I wouldn't remove the fuge and dsb, unless you think the temps are going to go too high and nuke it. 7. Fill large soda bottles with water and put in freezer to freeze if you can run the generator for awhile to cool them. You can float them in tank to keep it cool. 8. Try to buy a generator. You can also buy an inverter and use it off your car battery or buy a deep cycle marine battery. Good luck! Joyce

09/17/2008, 08:51 PM	#10
kurtflys Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: louisville ky Posts: 155	well have not had power sence sunday night, I hope I do not lose all my corals!