Will this be a disaster?

[perfectjukebox]

Hello there.

Well here is the situation: my landlord will be coming tomorow to do some work on the bricks outside the appartment. He will have to work through my bedroom window and my balcony door, I am afraid that both could be open pretty much for 2 hours straight.

I've got a 20 gal (71 F) with paradise fish right next to the bedroom window, a 10 gal (80F) puffer tank in front of the balcony door and also in the living room a 15 gal (75 F) with Agassizis that just layed their eggs TODAY.

I will wrap every tank in a couple of blankets, but will it be enough? It is supposed to be around 30 F at noon, if work starts earlier, it could be less than that.

Shoot. It took 4 months for these Agassizi to finally spawn.

Will it be a complete disaster?

 

[rohnds]

Couple of hours of exposure to sunlight does not result in algae, but rather long and periodical exposure along with many other factors. You should be fine for a couple of hours or even longer. But if you are really concern cover them up.

Rohn

 

[Dangerdoll]

I don't think the concern is over sun exposure, I think it's more of exposure to the cold. Jukebox, you can try to cover them but I think you're heaters will do the job. Be sure not to cover the air portion of the filters. OR if you do, turn the filters off.

 

[perfectjukebox]

I'll admit I'm a little tense, but would not freak out for 2 hours of sunlight. My only tank with noticible algae is the furthest from the window. The other 2 get 90 minutes each and have almost nothing, go figure...

It's the appartment below freezing temperature, that I am a little bit concerned about. The janitor did come to have a look at things and since he keeps fish too (did not know that...), I guess he'll try to make sure everything is done fast.

I do think it's a brilliant idea to do this in December, but if it lowers heathing bill, well yoohoo.

You'll probably think I over did it, but better safe than sorry. So I wrapped a beach towel folded in two around each tank and put a towel on each side of the power filters. Tomorow morning, I'll put a blanket or sleeping bag around tightly, loosely on top at the opening for the filter. No lights, so a little less heat from that source, but I hope the heathers do the job. The swimmers will miss breakfast, not a bad thing... And I don't think sun exposure should be an issue. I am the most concerned that the power filter would become a chiller, so I made sure it's a bit covered.

It's just that the apistos are so fragile... I'm almost afraid to fart when I feed them, and I rarely do. And now there is that little yellow bully protecting her eggs (an event I did not enjoy enough since I waited so long for it and now THIS) so stress level will be up for the other 2. Turns out it was a good thing that I did not order the mini krib to replace them... yet.

It is a little stressfull for the other tanks too: the 20 gal is right next to the open window they'll be working on and just got a couple of female albino PF, one being a psycho. The 10 gal is 5 feet away from wide open balcony door and is kept at 80F. I just hope it won't be windy and that they don't hammer too much...

Hum... Now what to do about the house plants...

Wish me luck!

 

[perfectjukebox]

Well the eggs are gone. Could they have been moved? If not, they have been eaten, due to stress I guess... bummer.

Everyone survived but one rasbora was a little thin to begin with and he had an eyeball completely white when I got home... He's taking a salt bath...

Hope it was not just luck: they are coming back tomorow to complete what turned out to be a botched 2 hour job... It will be a little warmer outside, so I'm optimistic all will be fine.