How long can a tank go without filter?

[ptran]

As a result of the storm last night, my house lost power 3 times in the night. It lasted about 1-2 hours each.

I had battery air pump that I bought from Academy: 1 for each tank. Broke them out of the box and put in the battery ready to go. I put 2 air pumps in the 150gallon Moba tank, and 1 in each of the rest.

Question is: how long can a tank go without filter or air pump? I know it depends on tank size and the fish load, but how many hours on average that you would feel comfortable?

[Crush]

you bring up a great point and a reminder that I need to get some back up gear incase of power outage

[TattedUpFishGuy]

In the aftermath of hurricane Rita I lost power for a week or it may have been just five days but none the less I had a battery operated air stone that I kept in there the whole time and I never lost a fish. I had an 80G saltwater tank at the time.

[TattedUpFishGuy]

But without surface agitation you'd be in trouble

[troy tucker]

It really depends on your bio loud. if it's low a few day Real high a day. Also a planted tank can go even longer.

[ptran]

you bring up a great point and a reminder that I need to get some back up gear incase of power outage

Yes it's worth the investment. They don't cost that much anyway.


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[ptran]

In the aftermath of hurricane Rita I lost power for a week or it may have been just five days but none the less I had a battery operated air stone that I kept in there the whole time and I never lost a fish. I had an 80G saltwater tank at the time.

That's awesome. What about the bacteria in the filter. Would they survive that long?


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[ptran]

But without surface agitation you'd be in trouble

That's true. The DO will be depleted without surface agitation and the fish will suffocate.


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[TattedUpFishGuy]

Well even though i didnt lose a fish or invert during this outage the tank was turning into a nitrate factory. I had a wet dry filter at the time so I would take a cup full of tank water and pour it on the bio balls to keep them moist. The outage probably added to this problem but it was mainly due to my poor maintenance and lack of proper water changes. I simply didn't know what I was doing. It was my first sw tank. But ya keeping the bacteria alive for that long without power for long periods is a task in itself. I don't do wet/dry filters anymore.

[troy tucker]

Been through Ike, and Reta. I never lost a fish but Alicia in 83 killed everything. Almost kill us but when the roof come off we didn't even try to save the fish.

[TattedUpFishGuy]

Wow..I remember Alicia, I was like 7 years old lol

[Crush]

I was younger....lol

[Crush]

good time to scour the market for whats available battery operated wise

[Crush]

just looked...best bet is to get a generator...lol

[ptran]

Been through Ike, and Reta. I never lost a fish but Alicia in 83 killed everything. Almost kill us but when the roof come off we didn't even try to save the fish.

That's scary. I would try to save myself first too before thinking about the fish.