Whilst i was away!!!

Hi All,

Whilst we was away on holiday, my house mains tripped due to the electrical storms that we had in Gauteng. No power for +-8days that i know of. Unfortunately we had throw away a lot of items that was in the fridge.

However my tank stopped running meaning all pumps & filtration in that time. When the power was restored, the pumps and filtration ran once again without any bleeding. I did loose +-2 fish that i have noticed. Is there anything that i need to do now? Must i add anything to the water? What must i do to the external filters?

All help will be appreciated.
Thank you.

Viv.

 

Maybe just do a water change.

 

I would do a proper gravel vac and a 30-40% water change. Cleaning out your canister would also be a good idea.

 

Try not to clean out the entire cannister, there migh be a possibility of some good stuff thats still alive, maybe just give the filter material a light rinse

 

With no filtration for 8 days your ammonia levels would be higher that normal and solid waste buildup in more than likely. Gravel vac for the buildup and water change for the ammonia levels. Cleaning out the filters would be advisable due to the stagnant water in it for that period of time.

When cleaning your canister you always preserve the bio filter media like ceramic rings. Just put it in water from your tank when cleaning the rest.

 

Also very very important. Do not use tap water to clean yout filter. The chlorine will destroy your bio bacteria.

 

I agree with Go-Big. Cannister's filter media needs cleaning aswell as a gravel-vac.

If you have Charcoal in your cannister it will be a very good idea to take it out and replace it. After being stagnant for so long it might release toxins into your tank.

Lappies

 

Guys - sorry,but after eight days ALL biological activity in all filters would haver died off due to a lack of oxygen...seriously!!!

@P.A.T. You basicly have to treat your tank like a new tank - thereby cycling it for the next month or so... A big waterchange is a MUST - switching your filters back on dumped all the dead bacterial waste into your tank and would push your amonia levels way up....
Basicly you are looking at twice weekly 20 - 30% waterchanges to get over the initial ammonia and then nitrite spike...
Can recomend a product called GT1 by a local company called Aqua Organics... Works like a bomb and I can virtualy assure you that you wont loose another fish while you r filter builds up a new host of Bacteria...
PS: Resist the urge to feed lots - every other day is fine for the next 3 weeks or so...G'luck!!!

 

Maybe get seachem stability?

 

Agree with Azurekoi here 100%. Seachem Stability is also very good - recomend it.

 

What Azurekoi is saying is true. I agree with him. Sorry for my mistake. Learnt something new today. Never too old to learn I guess.

 

Yep...indeed. Since we dont see the bacteria we tend to forget that they also need oxygen.

 

Live and learn guys... didnt mean to slam anybody - just needed to put things in perspective...

Cannisters are notorious for killing bacteria off quickly in a short space of time due to the high populations of nitrifying bacteria they house in a small space... couple with it being a "closed" system and that the water does not come in contact with air so that natural oxygen exchange comes in to play... you actualy only have a hour or two before you lose your bacteria...

If the power goes off(Eishkom) ffor a while - always better to drain the water from your cannister - at least then the bacteria has acsess to atmosferic oxygen and will last MUCH longer... remember to switch it off while it is dry - power comes back on,you will burn out your motor...

PS: does anyone have a bit of filter floss or something to donate to P.A.T. to help seed the filter? that would help a lot to speed up getting the bio system back up and running...

 

Azurekoi. How about getting som freshly used bio media from a LPS or a friend?

 

As I said... just remember that this only "seeds" a filter - not give you a fully functional filter from the word go... still feed lightly and do those waterchanges.

 

Ye sorry Bro, we posted that the same time.

 

He,he... great minds think alike...lol

 

Since everyone is giving advice.. I thought I would take the time and add my 2 cents . . .

Go back to page 1 and read through all the posts again. You might have missed some good advice. Understanding how the filter works, with regards to the biological side of things, may help you find a solution to getting your tank up and running. As azurekoi said. . you can seed a filter but you have to understand that seeding is one part . .it takes time for the bacteria to settle in and get working on converting nitrites into nitrates . . . so you're left with a seeded filter . .but a tank full of ammonia. . .which obviously wont be eliminated by a seeded filter. . .basically your stuck with a Filter bio overload.

My only concern now would be your fish.

Please try and get the products that you where advised to. . this may help speed up the process a bit and save your fish.

All the best

TM

 

Try and find a Microbelift product that seeds the filters. @Henk Hugo will be able to direct you to the correct product.

 

Guys,

Wow!! Thank you all for this great advise. I really appreciate all of this. Will try and buy some of the items mentioned tomorrow and will let you know.
Remember that i was away on holiday. The mains was switched on by a family member.
Thus far all fish are doing well. I have Cichlids and a few Mollies is this Tank.

Thank You All once again.

Viv.