t57spikes
Aquarium Advice Freak
What does everyone use in the event of a power outage to keep the filters running?
Power Loss Tank Backup
- Thread starter t57spikes
- Start date
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If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
aqua_holic
Aquarium Advice FINatic
Nothing - there's plenty of oxygen in the water to sustain the fish for a while, and ammonia just isn't produced at a fast enough rate to make any difference for short term outages. They restart when the power comes back on. For HOB filtered tanks it's important to keep the water level high to prevent the water from siphoning out of the filter leaving the media exposed, and also to make sure that the filter restarts properly when the power returns.
t57spikes
Aquarium Advice Freak
So the BB won't die without the constant water flow through the filter?
aqua_holic
Aquarium Advice FINatic
No. The bacteria will be the last thing to die in your tank.
Tolak
Aquarium Advice Activist
As long as the filter media is kept wet the nitrifying bacteria in the media will last quite a while. You're looking at days, if not longer. Mature media can be shipped the same as fish, actually it's a bit easier as it will handle a wider range of temperatures.
t57spikes
Aquarium Advice Freak
Thanks for the help, it never really worried me until about an hour ago when the lights flashed lol. Good to know it will be fine if kept wet.
mrvincent
Aquarium Advice Addict
IMHO, The only thing that can be usefull for heavy bioloaded tanks is a battery powered air pump for surface agitation.
You can get one for 15-20 bucks.
I have a CO2 injected heavy bioloaded planted tank, and I don't have this kind of backup. Survived 24hrs power outage, water went to 12C°. (-25C° outside).
You can get one for 15-20 bucks.
I have a CO2 injected heavy bioloaded planted tank, and I don't have this kind of backup. Survived 24hrs power outage, water went to 12C°. (-25C° outside).
I also keep battery powered air pumps.
The other thing you need to keep an eye on is ensuring your filters restart properly when the power comes back. I have seen HOBs get burnt out from running for too long with no water in them.
The other thing you need to keep an eye on is ensuring your filters restart properly when the power comes back. I have seen HOBs get burnt out from running for too long with no water in them.
mrvincent
Aquarium Advice Addict
Depends if the HOB siphon back to the tank while powered off. That wasn't my case, but sometime the impeller was clogged after a restart...
On my reef, the HOB protein skimmer tend to overflow after a power failure
