Hurricane Wilma - Out of POWER for over a week NOW!

[aromano]

I was hit by hurricane Wilma last Monday and haven't had power for over a week now. I am running my tanks with battery operatated air pumps and unfortunately I don't have a power generator to run the water pumps. My temperatures went down from 81 to 67.1 degrees the first two days and now it slowly raised to 73.1, as the weather got hotter. The first days I got really concerned as the fish din't eat for three days, but now they started eating again and I am keeping all the windows opened to get as much sun light as possible. My ammonia is 0.3 and I am changing 2 gallons of water daily and hoping to get power back up ASAP.

Please if anyone has any advice it would be really appreciated.
I am currently at work, where I can get internet connection through the power generator of the building.

 

[leaffish75]

keep doing what you are doing. I have ran 10 gallon tanks with little to no flow. IF you can move the tanks right infront of a window do that. After Rita come thru i moved my tank to a room with more windows. my corals are open and out before the lights come on. Water changes should keep every thing good. IF need be wrap the tank in a blanket to help with the temp.

 

[sadielynn]

Keep up with the h20 changes change the water slowly so as to not shock the system , if you have access to a store that carries the portable filters (walmart carries them in a pak with the pump they are green used goldfish bowls they have carbon in them )
http://www.bestpetsupply.com/brands/Lees/3508.asp

http://petco.com/Shop/Product.aspx?R=47 ... 4+112&cp=2

these would be better than nothing in filtering these just run right off the air pump . or can you get a computer battery backup unit to run the basics on the tank ie a power head and perhaps a filter and take it to work to recharge??? Hope this helps

 

[aromano]

THX so much for the tips. YOU GUYS ARE LIFE SAVERS!!!

I brought in my computer backup unit to work this morning and it's currently charging. I ran it right after the power went out during the hurricane, and it lasts for 3 hours with just the water pump connected.

Luckily the tank is in a well-ventilated area with lots of windows and the corals have been opening during the day hours. The only thing that is not doing well is the pulsing xenia, which looks very weak and stopped pulsing days ago.

I really have to be careful once the power comes back up, as the temperatures will start to gradually go rise. I am going to monitor the light cycle and the heater and try to increase 1 to 1.5 degrees per day until I am back to 81 degrees again. That's my biggest concern as the temperature is now at 73.1 right now.

 

[db_triggerfish]

Becareful the Penn Plax Smallworld Filter has both carbon and zeolite, I have read on a package somewhere that zeolite is " NOT FOR SALTWATER". I too loss power for 5 days because of hurricane Wilma. Used a battery air pump every thing looks ok. Great to have my power back. Hope by the time of this post your power is also back.

 

[sadielynn]

Glad some one else knew of these filters do use caution if that is an ingredient that will cause harm .........Our lfs told us that they were safe hummmmmm :?:

 

[aromano]

Thanks for all the help and research guys!!!

I will keep charging my computer back up unit every day and running the water pump for three hours along with the H2O changes until I get power back.

Hopefully it will be soon as my xenia is starting to die

 

[djconn]

Xenia gets really nasty when it turns south. I will really foul your water. In all honesty, you might want to just remove it now if it looks like its taking a turn for the worst.

Best of luck buddy.

 

[aromano]

Thanks alot for the reply DJ

I GOT MY POWER BACK AT 3:00 P.M TODAY, after 9 days of darkness.

Attached there are some pictures of from these past few days...

http://www.nanotank.com/forum/viewtopic ... 5932#15932

I am currently running 72W of light, so I can gradually bring the temperature back to the normal 80.5 degrees. Right now the temperature is at 75.0 and I'll do my best to raise the temperature 1.0 to 1.5 per day. The worst has past, but I will continue to carefully monitor the parameters until things stabilize again.

So far I have no losses. The xenia looks a little weak, but I have confidence it will survive, as the conditions will start to improve from now on.

 

[sadielynn]

You may want to watch the light since they have been with out for 9 days slowly reacclimate them to the light so they dont bleach out .. Glad to hear that you got your power back up

 

[aromano]

Thanks alot for the help You are absolutely right about the lighting Sadielynn.
I reduced the light cycle to 5 hours p/ day using only 72W. I'm planning to increase the lighting in half hour increments every day until I can get back to the normal 8 hour p/ day with 144W as I usually do.