Tackling Power Failures
By Madhu Soodhanan
of India
Aquarticles
One of the biggest nightmares for beginner hobbyists and sometimes even for an expert
is power failure. I have heard and seen power failures wiping out entire loads of fishes
and in some cases driving off hobbyists from the hobby. This article discusses what
happens during power failures, and some of the ways in which power failures can be
handled.
What happens during power failures?
The primary negative effect of power failure is DEPLETION OF OXYGEN LEVEL in the aquarium.
Due to this, fish gasp for air at the surface.
Also, the beneficial de-nitrifying bacteria (nitrosomans & nitrobactors) suffer and
have a depletion in population since they are aerobic (oxygen loving) bacteria. As a
result of this the ammonia levels in the tank increase and the biological balance of the
aquarium is under a big threat, which after some time results in fish loss.
How to handle power failures?
Here are a few simple ways in which power failures can be handled:
- If you are supposed to have a monthly shutdown, DO NOT FEED YOUR FISH on the day
that the power shutdown is scheduled. Fish like all other animals take in oxygen to break
up and burn out food. So when fish have food in their tummies they take in more oxygen to
break it down into energy. Therefore, starving the fish for that day would help the fish
to manage low oxygen levels. Occasionally starving fish is always good because it helps
clean the fish's digestive tract and increase their appetites from then on. Also the food
we feed, which is generally fairly high in protein, has a tendency to suck in oxygen.
- The day before the shutdown slowly reduce the temperature by one or two degrees. A
lower temperature helps sustain more oxygen than a higher temperature. Also, fish like
other animals become more passive at lower temperatures, hence conserving available
oxygen. But do not lower the temperature too much at a single stroke as it may stress
fish, and trigger some infections like white spot.
- Remove as much debris as possible from the tank. Clean your filter media and if
possible clean the bottom of your tank. If you have a bare-bottomed tank then it is fine.
This reduces ammonia being pumped out.
- In a community tank, you may have both oxygen demanding fish as well as fish that
can tolerate fairly low levels of oxygen. For example, a tinfoil barb suffocates and gasps
for air much sooner than say a gourami, which can stay calm even when oxygen levels are
near zero. So if you see a fish gasping for air, the best thing you can do is a partial
water change, of say 40%. As a rule of thumb, if your power shutdown is scheduled for say
8 hours, you may make a water change at the fourth hour. But observe your tank closely.
- If you have used any medicines, rock salt or Epsom salt for treatment or as a
general precaution, remove medications and salt from the aquarium before the power down
schedule, as both of them tend to deplete oxygen levels in an aquarium
- If you have a heavily stocked tank it may be better to remove oxygen demanding
fish. You can keep these oxygen consumers in a bucket of water, making water changes
whenever necessary.
- When planning water changes as a trouble-shooter of power failures, make sure that
your overhead tank or water source has a sufficient stock of water.
- If you have an accidental power failure and have no idea when you will get the
power back, wait for an hour or two and then start carrying-out these power failure
measures. With the above safety measures you can handle power failures and reduce or avoid
fish loss during long power break-ups.
Here are some other general precautions to reduce the risks from power failures,
whether scheduled or unexpected:
- Always have your tank under-stocked. Never have an over-stocked tank. You and your
fish may be safe with a heavily stocked tank for some time, as long as you can provide
adequate aeration, filtration etc. But during an emergency like a power down this could
turn out to be a time bomb. So please avoid over-stocking. If you have 1 sq. ft. of
surface area to 4" of fish then you do not need external aeration, (provided you make
regular water changes and you don't overfeed your fish).
- It is always wise not to over-feed your fish. Over-feeding generates more ammonia
and the life span of fish is also said to be reduced if over-fed. Remember, in the wild
food supply is very limited and there is no one to hand feed fishes as we do.
- Carrying out regular water changes ensure minimal nitrates and higher oxygen
levels.
- If you have a large number of tanks a UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply system) is
almost mandatory.
- Always have a battery operated pump with an air-stone, as a back-up.
- Plants and/or controlled algae growth (on three sides of the glass except your
front glass) can also help in supplying oxygen and removing nitrates to a certain extent.
With the above preventative measures fish loss can be reduced and hopefully can be
avoided during power losses.
Happy Fish Keeping!
Editor's note: Madhu writes from
tropical South India, where heat loss is not of great concern.
For more about this aspect of the problem, see:
Powerless, by Van Doren
Preparing for a Power Outage in Winter, by Frank M. Greco
Worthy of the Title, by Marvin England
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