Re: [RML] power out: helpful hints on what to do?

Gary Lange (gwlange at stlnet.com)
Wed, 9 Sep 1998 19:03:21 -0500

Some good advice but unless things really get cold a tank at 69 degrees isn't
going to be a problem for rainbows. Stop feeding everything except perhaps
some very young fish, say less than 1/2 inch. The others can do fine without
food for a week. I double recommend that you do immediately what Paul
suggested that is clean the scum out of those filters. That's the way most
people kill their fish when the power comes back on. (I imagine what happens
is that the anerobic conditions start to kill the bacteria which can combined
with the scum produce a lot of ammonia. As suggested by Jennifer I think that
your bacteria should bounce back rather quickly if you haven't left the scum in
them for too long). Once the power comes back
on start doing your ammonia checks, you have an ammonia test kit yes???????
When things seem ok start doing medium range water changes, 20-25%, do the
guppies first, just in case the city water supply is now funky :-) You don't
want
to give your fish the Sydney scurge or giardia! Good luck & hope your power
comes on soon.

Gary Lange
gwlange at STLNET.com
Rainbowfish Study Group of North America
http://home.stlnet.com/~gwlange/rainbowfish.index.html

> Keeping any temperature fluctuations to as slow a rate as
> possible should be your aim, so if possible insulate your tank with a
> blanket or any polystyrene pieces (if you have them).
>
> But more importantly, after 12 hours the bacteria in your
> filters will be dead, and you don't want them starting up and polluting
> your tank. So you should give them a good clean, ready for when the
> power is restored. On the same idea, don't feed too much now without any
> filtration, and remember that it will take some time for the filters to
> recover to normal operating efficiency. Most adult fish can cope without
> food for a week or so.
>
> All the best
> Paul
> From autumnal England where we have just had the remnants of two
> of your hurricanes (Bonny and Danielle)