11/03/2024
WHAT TO DO DURING A POWER OUTAGE
In Oklahoma, power outages are a thing that we must learn to live with. We’ve definitely experienced the stress of trying to keep thousands of fish alive when a power outage hits our store. The number one thing to remember, is to keep calm. Don’t make big changes to your tank.
When the power goes out, don’t do anything. Don’t feed the fish, do water changes, or change water. Oxygen is most important, then temperature.
Keep The Water Oxygenated
Find a way to keep oxygen in the tank. Methods for this include a battery operated air pump (be sure to get extra batteries), a USB battery backup, power bank, power inverter, generator, universal power supply or a generator. We keep battery operated air pumps in stock.
If the power is off for 4 hours or more, run some oxygen in the aquarium for 1 hour and repeat this step every 4 hours. (Note: If you have aquariums that are heavily stocked with large numbers of fish or notice that your fish are gasping for air, then you may need to add oxygen earlier and increase the frequency of how often you turn on the air. For example, you may need to run oxygen every 2 hours for an overstocked tank.) Use an air stone or sponge filter to create bubbles at the surface, encourage gas exchange, and quickly oxygenate the water.
Temperature
Heat and cold can be detrimental to the health of your tank. If it’s cold, consider wrapping your tank in blankets, or adhering heat packs to the OUTSIDE of the tank. If it’s hot, try to direct a fan at the tank, or float small baggies of cooler water in the tank. Remember, small incremental temperature changes are MUST less stressful for your fish. Go slow if you bring the temperature up or down
After the Power Comes On
Once the power is back on, don’t feed the fish for about a day in order to let the biological filtration (e.g., beneficial bacteria and live plants) catch up with consuming the nitrogen waste that developed during the power outage. Remember, small changes to your tank are better than big swings. Your tank may cloud up after a power outage, this is normal. Test the water 24 hours after you’ve had power resorted and make necessary corrections based on the test.
Watch Your Fish
Keep a close eye on your fish for the next week or so. Watch for signs of illness or stress and address those as needed.
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