We have just been notified that our electricity supply is being interrupted for 6 hours while work elsewhere is carried out. How can I preserve the active bacteria in the 4' tank filter during this time?
2007-09-04 05:36:55 · 7 answers · asked by Duffer 6 in Pets ➔ Fish
If you have an established tank, don't worry about it. There is enough bacteria on the glass, in the gravel, and on your decor to handle a short break.
Bacteria needs water, air, and preferably water movement (which usually goes hand in hand with air). Unless it is dried up or sealed air tight it can last for up to 24 hours.
Don't worry about this.
2007-09-04 07:28:37 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If its a bio-wheel or hang on the back filter that is open to the air then it will be ok for 6 hours or more. My power was off for about 4 days and the filter continued just fine after, I checked several times for ammonia and nitrite and didn't get any. If its a canister filter, open it up to the air or remove all the contents and place it in an open bucket of tank water. The bacteria are tough and can survive with little food, but they need access to oxygen or they will die. Closed filters like canister filters need to have oxygen to keep the bacteria alive. skip feeding the fish for that day just to be safe! The fish should have no problems for this length of time.
2007-09-04 06:00:38 · answer #2 · answered by Sunday P 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Having no water flow on the bacteria for that length of time MAY harm them. I agree to keep the filter media wet, such as in a bucket of tank water to avoid letting all the flitered garbage into your tank, and when the power starts up again, monitor the ammonia and nitrite levels for the next week or so. If either one starts climbing, you will need to do water changes to keep the levels low, but there should be enough surviving for them to repopulate fairly rapidly once water flow starts again.
2007-09-04 06:06:47 · answer #3 · answered by theseeker4 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If it is tropical you should be worried about the heater although ours went down 1degree after 4 hours, you can put warm water in fish bags and float them to keep the temperature topped up, avoid opening the lid aswell, ignore this if it is coldwater.
2007-09-05 05:11:29 · answer #4 · answered by janorth1 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its algae. in case you feed your fish flakes, there ought to a pair of that there too. Its innocuous, yet once you don't love it, get a pleco, it's going to eat it. you need to additionally exchange the sponges.
2016-11-14 04:18:22 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It will be fine for a short time like that.
2007-09-04 07:50:30 · answer #6 · answered by tomsp10 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As long as your filter stays wet, the bacteria won't die
Hope that helps
Good luck
2007-09-04 05:57:10 · answer #7 · answered by Kribensis lover 7 · 2⤊ 3⤋