No Electricity and NO Heat for 3 DAYS!

[Aqua Pro Builder]

Just come back and found that my basement have lost electricity and heat for 3 days. Room temperature is 56F and the tank is 52F.

Couple corals are very stressed while most, if not all, fish and shrimps seems only stressed a little. They used to rush to me whenever I pass by while right now they would look at me but still stay in the cave.

Questions:
1)How fast should I raise the temperature(I am taking about from 52F)?
2)If I open the boiler room door, would the carbon dioxide be a problem?


Side Note: My FW tank were hit badly. When the temperature rise back, one of my cichlid go crazy at all other tankmates and beat the hell out of one Frontosa that's at least double his size and many other smaller ones were all having broken fins.

 

[Pedro]

Sorry to hear that wingo. I would try to raise it slowly maybe 5 degrees every 1/2hr to an hour? Try to avoid sending them into shock. The slower the better. Get the heat going in the room, that will help out as well.

 

[Psycho graphic]

I don't think you can raise the temp fast enough to shock them unless you add hot water to the tank. Even with the heaters and ambient room temp, I think it will go up at a resonable rate that would be more beneficial than leaving them in the cold any longer than you have to. (Again, my opinion)

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

Some good news, the Chubby Tomato, the Big Blue and Yellow have already come out to greet me while all shrimps come to get food immediately.

As for the FW tanks, the aggresser is sent to another more aggreesive tank where bigger bros. live. I don't think she dares to beat Scarf's Red Tempress.:sgrin:

 

[fluidimagery]

I agree with Psycho. Not knowing how big the tank is and how big the heater I'd still guess it would take about a day for it to get up to temp which should be more than enough time for the fish to adjust. I'd still keep an eye on the temp to make sure it's not rising too fast. The CO2 leaving the boiler room shouldn't have any adverse effects.

 

[reefman]

wow i didnt even know they can survive at that low a temp.

 

[Awibrandy]

I don't think you can raise the temp fast enough to shock them unless you add hot water to the tank. Even with the heaters and ambient room temp, I think it will go up at a resonable rate that would be more beneficial than leaving them in the cold any longer than you have to. (Again, my opinion)

Sorry to hear this Wingo. You are so blessed, this happened to me, and I lost everything but the 2 rock anemonie, and an eel. I'm in total agreement with Psycho.

 

[jhale]

I'll be shocked if anything lives. three days at 50 degree water, wow.

good luck, let us know what happens.

 

[Salesbig]

Sorry to hear man.... BUT

Where you been for three days? How do you fidh get fed?

 

[Paul B]

I am also sorry to hear that too as it happened to me last week. It also brought out ich which I have not seen in 25 years. I would raise the temp as fast as I could.
Paul

 

[ReeferGoneMad]

Sorry to hear wingo. Hope all goes well and raise the temp ASAP. Its Better for them to be warm then cold. Hey guys how do you think we get corals? I bet Those overnight flights to JFK it proly gets just as cold in those shipping boxes.

Just make sure you watch everything. You know your tank inhabitants and the way they act better than anyone else. The only thing you can really do is just monitor.

 

[Henrye]

I am sorry to hear about this. What happened to your circulation with the power out? It's hard to imagine they had enough oxygen without circulation for 3 days (although, I guess the low temp does have a higher oxygen saturation point). Once you start recirculation, a lot of CO2 is bound to be released. I'm assuming your pH is awfully low right now, so bringing it up slowly is likely as or more important than the rate of temp increase. I went through a power loss about 2 months ago, and it sounds like you'll have a much better survival rate than I did. Your ammonia is also going to be a problem, as when your pH goes up it will more of an issue.

My only thought that might help minimize the shock, and clear waste simultaneously would be, if you have enough SW on hand, to keep exchanging 10% or so of warmed fresh SW water to bring the temp up and flush the tank water out. No different, in a way, than an acclimation process.

Good luck,

Henry

 

[LeslieS]

Hey Wingo,

I have 20 gallons of fresh RO water made if you want it. Sorry that I don't drive, or I would bring it to you.

 

[ming]

Wow, sorry for your loss
if you haven't already, i would just let the heater in your tank just continue to function, it should be pretty much stuck on until it reaches normal temperature 78-80F or so. That should bring the temp up gradually and I would also just open the boiler room door as well to help warming things up, at least until the temp goes to normal. The CO2 might have some effect, but I think the temp is a bigger concern at the moment. After it goes to about 75 or higher, then you can re-evaluate the priorities

 

[WaterPlant]

Some good news, the Chubby Tomato, the Big Blue and Yellow have already come out to greet me while all shrimps come to get food immediately.

As for the FW tanks, the aggresser is sent to another more aggreesive tank where bigger bros. live. I don't think she dares to beat Scarf's Red Tempress.:sgrin:

oh my god. is big blue the pbt i gave you? i hope she makes it after all. you have spent endless days saving her from certain death in my tank

 

[Mak]

Hey wingo, how did you lost your electric?? So far I almost have no electric in my apt for the past 3 days.. Only two outlet is working in my whole apt. Suck man, don't know what the heck wrong with Con Ed. Very nice to spend the 3 days with no electric for the Chinese New Year..

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

Hey wingo, how did you lost your electric?? So far I almost have no electric in my apt for the past 3 days.. Only two outlet is working in my whole apt. Suck man, don't know what the heck wrong with Con Ed. Very nice to spend the 3 days with no electric for the Chinese New Year..

Same here , some circuit has power while others don't Unfortunately, all connections to my tanks are out of juice. Fortunately, no major lost so far bt will still need to monitor more.

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

oh my god. is big blue the pbt i gave you? i hope she makes it after all. you have spent endless days saving her from certain death in my tank

Big Blue is the one I revived from your tank. She seems OK now and coming out whenever I pass by, but I fear that she might get ich though because this morning i think i see dots.:sad2: She is luck enough to survive thru your saga and she can do it again. Keep our fingers crossed.

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

Hey Wingo,

I have 20 gallons of fresh RO water made if you want it. Sorry that I don't drive, or I would bring it to you.

Thanks, I shouuld have enough spare water should the tank water chemistry change

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

I am also sorry to hear that too as it happened to me last week. It also brought out ich which I have not seen in 25 years. I would raise the temp as fast as I could.
Paul

It might also bring out ich to one of m tang. Will monitor further. Can't tell yet.