Hurricane heading my way, need some power outage info

cpn_aaron

cpn_aaron

recovering fishaholic
Mar 3, 2004
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Melbourne, FL
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Hey everyone,
Hurricane Frances is going to be a huge one. Charley only made it to cat 4 while this bad boy will still be a cat 5 when he hits the est coast of FL (where I live). So I'm noticeably worried about all sorts of things, including my fish tanks. With power outages a possibility I need some methods for oxygenating the water if I have to wait for power to be restored.

I've heard using a small amount of hydrogen peroxide a few times a day can help add oxygen to the tank. I have about 5 battery powered air pumps I use for bait buckets when I fish and transport of aquaria over large distances, so I may be able to use those for a while. But I have many large aquariums that would exhaust my meager supply of air pumps. I'm always open to suggestions or tried and true methods from past hurricane experience. She hits between Thursday and Friday so quick responses are appreciated. Thanks
 
A generator would be your best bet in my opinion.

But you probably already thought of that.
 
maintaining a stable tempurature and keeping the fish in the dark would reduce the fish activity and make them use less oxygen. if you wrap blankets around the tank that would help both things... possibly use the air pumps say 10 minutes each hour you are awake would lengthen the time they are usable
 
Don't forget that if you have a bio-wheel on any of your tanks filters, if you lose power, you should make sure they are completely submerged in some tank water to keep them from drying up and losing beneficial bacteria.

Good luck to you, post back after the storm hits so we know you're OK!

~Tara
 
The concerns are temerature, oxygen and filtration.

Forget about temperature, it is still warm in Florida and you can't do anything about the heat. Forget blankets, but you might want to drop in on Walmart and get some netting (fabric dept, stuff like for ballet or costumes) enough to top each tank generously, so you can remove hoods and drape the tank, securing with a tie or large elastic -- opens tank to oxygen but keeps in fish.

You can add H2O2, but it is dangerous and I don't think you can use it very much without possibly harming fish. Better to scoop tank water and pour it back in to add oxygen, or swish a dry net through the water every hour or so (I read that in an article about the big power outage in NY about how the pet stores coped.) Before bed, add a bit, maybe a capful per 20 gallons of H2O2 (normal drug store strength) to help them through the night. I might save the battery units for night time, take the airstone off the end to reduce pressure and prolong battery life, or for tanks that look bad during the day.

For filtration, I'd stock up on Prime, or Amquell as a second choice since Prime also handles nitrite and store a ton of water for water changes, maybe 20% a day or more if you can swing it, realizing that you need water for the family also.

I've read that canisters need to opened and the media removed to shallow water to keep bacteria aerated. HOB filters get a lot of air, but remember to clean the pads before allowing the unit to start back up, all that crud will blow into the tank otherwise, I'd unplug all filters and power to the tank so you are not surprised in the middle of the night. Or maybe keep an airpump with check valve plugged in, just in case the power does come on in the night.

Anyhow, as you do water changes, put that old water on the filters to feed them, the ammonia will be locked up but still available to the bacteria so keep them fed.

Also under filtration, don't feed the fish, maybe even for a day or so before it hits, to reduce the load on the tank.

Planted tanks may be under stress after a few days, maybe 3 or more, and so if the plants don't get any light, you may want to remove some so they don't decay and add to pollution in the tank. But, if the tank gets sun, open the drapes and let it in, planted tanks are usually just fine.

If the power is off for long, beware of the first water change. The water dept may "cleanse" the lines with nasty chemicals in the first day or so. You might be able to call now to see what they normally do after flooding, because after the storm hits they will be up to their ears in crocodiles.

Good luck, and remember to keep your priorities straight, they are just fish. Do what you need to do to keep yourself and your family safe. And remember to have a plan for dogs and cats in case you have to go to a shelter.

My home got hit by hurricane Betsy when I was a kid and us kids got sent to Grandma's for 3 weeks while my folks picked up the pieces. The houses there were "fishing camp style", on tall stilts with living quarters upstairs, and we lost everything below the 7' mark downstairs, even boxes tied to the rafters and the freezer and Grandma's china.

PS, as you prepare, be sure to move the computer so that if the house takes on water it won't get wet. In New Orleans we sometimes would make balls out of aluminum foil to try to save the couch and other finished furniture from water seepage, wet carpeting will draw water from the doors toward the furniture, even having it 1/4 inch off the rug helps.
 
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Thanks for the suggestions. I'm well versed in hurricane safety and prep for myself since I've lived in new Orleans, Houston, and east coast Florida all my life. Fish tanks in hurricanes are the only things I haven't dealt with before.
I'll try to keep the tanks as best as I can and remember some of the filter, aeration, plant, etc suggestions. However, it looks like the hurricane is turning north and may hit away from us on Sat. Some reports say only 50-70 mph winds. So the stories of Melbourne having a horeshoe when it comes to hurricanes must be true.
 
Man, I hope it doesn't turn any more northward. I'm trying to move out of here on friday or saturday.

It's going to be hard if that sucker is bearing down on us.

Maybe I can get out of here before it gets this far.
 
If you're in Virginia you would probably get out. It's only reaching FL landfall on Friday or Saturday. If you're leaving FL you might be snookered. I got stuck in AZ for 2 extra days due to Charley closing down Orlando airport. All you can do is keep that ear close to the ground
 
Great info all - esp Anona - the part abt priorities. Altho I must say, during hurricane Irene in 99, I made my husband go buy a generator specifically for the fish! We rotated using it for the tanks, the fridge etc - and in the mornings, EVERYTHING was unplugged so I could make coffee. We were lucky - only 2 days in the dark. Only 3 days after Andrew.

But seriously - I'm in the Ft. Lauderdale area and we are watching every update as well - very closely. Hubby says we will put up the shutters and ride out a cat 4, but will leave if it is cat 5 and hits close. Right now the 5pm advisory for today (8/31) puts landfall in Daytona (!!!) between fri & sat, so Aaron - watch closely.

Here is a link to the Nat'l Hurricane Center starm tracking site - this is great stuff - I use it frequently every year

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

To look for the projected path - find the section for Frances and click on maps/charts. There are also links on this site for tons of very cool satellite images - still and loops.

In any case - good luck to all, :( even the folks in the Carolinas could catch a piece of this one - something they surely don't need. Maybe we can set up a sticky in the general chit chat section for folks to check in after the storm.
 
MamaBarb said:
Right now the 5pm advisory for today (8/31) puts landfall in Daytona (!!!) between fri & sat, so Aaron - watch closely.
Here is a link to the Nat'l Hurricane Center starm tracking site - this is great stuff - I use it frequently every year

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/
Click to expand...

Thanks for that link Mama... my dad lives in Daytona Beach and I'm so worried for him! He works at the Makai Beach Lodge and was there wroking (in the basement, thankfully) when a small tornado hit the building during hurricaine Charley a few weeks ago.

Stay safe everyone!
~Tara
 
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