Disaster ! What do you think would happen
- Thread starter Coler
- Start date
Pop quiz :
lets say you have a 180 litre tank, mostly mbuna, not overstocked by the applicable standards, good filtration.
over Christmas, a fuse blows. Lights, Heaters, Filtration, everything goes off for approximately 48 hours but could be more. No one at home so no one notices until the happy fishkeeper comes home after Christmas. Fish were fed last 4 days before this, i.e. 4 days before the problem is spotted.
Temperature is extremely cold - Ireland in December.
What results would you expect on a) ammonia, nitrite and nitrate readings and b) survivability of these fish following the problems being discovered, and c) what would you have done if it was you, when you found the problem.
I'll tell you what I did and how it worked out later
edit : tank readings pre disaster 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, 10 - 20 nitrates.
edit again : no plants
(a) NH3 0, NO2 0, NO3 20
(b)4 days without food = not really a problem. The fish will be fine.
No Lights, No filtration = still no problem for 4 days. Also no aeration... more critical over 4 days but lower temp plus no food will help.
No heater... The temp will gradually drop but not as fast as if it was outside. The structure of the house (brick walls presumably) plus furniture etc act as a heat buffer. They have to be cooled too and that takes time. I'm guessing the fish would be ok for 2 days. After that, the temp will be very cold. But because it has cooled down so gradually, the fish probably survived, bar 1 or 2. They will not be doing great but most of them were alive when you got back.
(c) what you did? Just changed the fuse and switched everything back on.
My guess is that the fish were all fine and water readings normal. Unless the filter media dried out, the biofilter will remain intact and even if it did dry out, you would probably have enough left inside the tank to avoid re-cycling.
NH3 and NO2 were probably 0 and the fish probably survived.
I would have replaced the fuse and let things warm up again gradually. Tested daily for 3 days to make sure things are fine and then return to my normal routine.
NH3 and NO2 were probably 0 and the fish probably survived.
I would have replaced the fuse and let things warm up again gradually. Tested daily for 3 days to make sure things are fine and then return to my normal routine.
I belive that bacteria will survive in temperatures above 50 degress, so I think you bacteria colony was ok if the canister(s) stood full of water. The food problem was not an issue, and would have been worse if they were fed (slow digestion). They simple slowed down a bit and Huddled to keep warm 
. No fish loss. They were very happy to see you. You turned the power back on, but you did a water change to slowy raise your temperature instead of waiting for your heater to do it. Checked your water parameters and they were the same as they were before you left. Ammonia 0, nirite 0, nitrAtes 20.
POST THE RESULTS IM ANXIOUS TO FIND OUT NOW LOL
. No fish loss. They were very happy to see you. You turned the power back on, but you did a water change to slowy raise your temperature instead of waiting for your heater to do it. Checked your water parameters and they were the same as they were before you left. Ammonia 0, nirite 0, nitrAtes 20.POST THE RESULTS IM ANXIOUS TO FIND OUT NOW LOL
well, since i have been in those shoes, ..
the first thing i would have done, is fire everything back up. then, i would have waited, to see what test results were after the filter ran..
I am thinking, that coler bought a generator
the first thing i would have done, is fire everything back up. then, i would have waited, to see what test results were after the filter ran..
I am thinking, that coler bought a generator
