A near disaster...!

[TaffyFish]

When I got into work this frosty morning, I discovered that the office had had a power outage from Saturday evening. My 20g shellie tank was back on power but the temp was still off the bottom of the thermometer scale (below 19C 66F), the fish were clearly struggling and some of the very small ones already dead.

It's now mid morning, 11:20, the temp is up to 22C 72F, and slowly but surely the fish are becoming more active. The synos seem fine, I still have the 4 cyp juveniles (just 1") but lost 2 of the 3 cyp fry (approx 0.5"). I have also lost 2 of my 13 multies, the 2 smallest by the look of it.

I resisted the temptation to help the heater raise the temp too quickly, do you think that was right?

I am also now expecting an outbreak of ich, should I wait for further signs or treat the tank immediately?

Could've been a lot worse I guess.

 

[Flex26]

I'm sorry and happy for you at the same time, Taf. I'm sorry you lost some fish to a silly mishap. But I'm happy you were able to save the rest. It could have been worse.

I think you did the right thing in resisting the temptation to raise the temperature too quickly. I'm not sure what course of action should be taken for your ich concerns. Perhaps just wait and see?

Also, why didn't the heater turn on when the power turned on? My heater turns back on after I unplug it. Does your heater reset itself or something?

 

[UKSouth]

Sorry to hear about this mate, these things always happen when you are not there.

A similar thing has had to me a couple of times over the years, I have always raised the temp slowly to avoid shock, most fish can cope with a reduction in temperature for a period of time, they just slow everything down.

Personally I wouldn't put chemicals into my tank unless I really had to.

hope eveything returns to normal soon.

 

[Purple]

Glad you recovered most of your fish (and sorry about the ones that didn't make it)

Have you considered using a UPS ? - out of the question (usually) for a home set-up. but you know what offices are like - UPS bits lying around everywhere. The tank must have been off for a good few hours to loose that much heat - but a UPS would have slowed it down a bit.

 

[TaffyFish]

Thanks guys, we're up to 24C now and things are getting back to normal...they are eating too which must be a good sign.

A ways to go I suppose but I am going to watch and see with regard to ich, no point treating the ich until the cysts are ready to drop into the water anyway, so I might as well wait until spots are evident.

I've just had a word with the Ops manager and we are looking into an UPS for the tank now.....it's been a major managerial issue for us this morning!

Flex - yes the heater turned back on as soon as the power returned, What I meant was I left the heater to do the job on its own rather than resort to other means to help the temp rise quicker, like floating a bottle of hot water in the tank. I'm sure it was the right thing to do.

These guys are fairly robust then, surviving a dip below 19C for a few hours. It would appear that some multi fry hatched over the weekend, there are three new fry in the substrate, obviously least able to handle the dip in temp.

 

[UKSouth]

I love the idea of an office tank!

Talking of tanks I have decided to get rid of my Juwel Rio 180 to help fund the new one, if you hear of anyone local who maybe after one drop me a line. It should be free to go as of next month sometime, its only around a year and half old and I only want £120 for a quick sale.

 

[TaffyFish]

will do, don't forget to list it on www.aquarist-classifieds.co.uk - I sold my 4ft tank there in no time at all, I sold the stand separately on eBay but you'll be able to sell yours complete I am sure.

Have you got the new tank yet?

the office tank is a great success, the other staff here really like it, and it's great to have it at arm's length to watch! only trouble is the Basingstoke water supply which has 25ppm nitrates when I last measured it. Now I'm going to have to get a 5 gallon drum and bring fresh water in from home for changes.

 

[Purple]

Only 25ppm ? You lucky git - lol - it's nearer 30 in Whitchurch.

On the subject of clean water in an office environment, does your office have air-con ? If so, then find out where your condensation pipes run to, and you could have a supply of distilled water on hand. Might only apply in the Summer, and also the pipes are probably copper, tho I don't know if that would be a prob.

 

[UKSouth]

Thanks for the advice re selling

I should be getting the new tank next month, Porton Pet and Aquatic Centre in Salisbury were selling the 400's for £495 which is the cheapest I have found for new but I am keeping my eye out for a decent secondhand as well.

A friend of mine has offered to babysit my current stock while I get the new one up and running. It's still going to be a Tanganyikan community but on a much larger scale.

 

[TaffyFish]

Purple - thanks for the tip but I can see the aircon units have drip trays and they're outside the building. Did you sort out your nitrites or were your readings not confirmed? What do you do about such high nitrates then Purple? I count my blessings that we have zero at Kingsley.

UKSouth - I've seen the other postings about other potential stock, best wishes for that. Are you getting a background with your tank? They have lovely displays of Back To Nature at Porton. They stock designs to fit the Juwel range but they'll be about £175-£200 for a Rio 400. Ouch!! The biggest disappointment is how much space they consume though.

I've got a Juwel 300 Rocky in my Trigon, that was £159, and have just ordered some Habi-Scape from www.blackjungle.com (thanks to Purple for sourcing that) for my Brichardi tank.

 

[Purple]

It turned out I was reading the results incorrectly - it was my Nitrates that are high from the tap. I've started using a product called "clean water" that says it removes NO2 and NO3 and phosphates from the water - looks like a carbon pack, but absorbs up to 4 times more than carbon. It also says to replace every 3 months, so no more carbon for me - I'll use this cleanwater stuff instead. Initial results are less than dramatic after a week, but it's still a better bet than carbon. I've shoved a huge great pack of it in my pre-filter chamber on the 55 corner unit.

http://www.aquatics-warehouse.co.uk/acatalog/aquarium_supplies_NITRATE_REMOVAL_182.html

half way down the page (slow loading site) the only place i can find it.

UK South - I've asked this lot for some prices - might be cheaper than back to nature - not sure yet - only found it today.

http://www.papillonpet.de/englisch/Zubehoer/mainrueckwand.htm

I'll post the price when I know

 

[UKSouth]

Thanks Purple, back to nature are quite stunning backgrounds and I noticed they now do a Tanaganyikan background but they are so expensive. I use a black backdrop at the moment and once I have built the rocks up at the back of the tank it looks pretty effective.

 

[MrsPurple]

Oh Taffy I have just seen your post and I am very sorry to hear of your loss.



Glad to hear its on the mend in the tank though.

Hugs

Red

 

[TaffyFish]

thanks Red, hugs back. Yes, very much on the mend by the time I left for home. Lots of the fish were flashing however, so I expect an outbreak of ich anytime....

...still considering that 20 gallon for the bedroom? Purple seems to have his eye on larger fish! ;-)

 

[MrsPurple]

Hey Purple and more tanks is nothing new Taffy ( hes bought yet another tank and we are going to move even if he dont want too)... yes I am looking for the right tank but we did work out the other small tank we have is more like an 8 gal not a 5 like we 1st thought... so maybe I can start them in that and work my way up ?

Thoughts on that welcome

Red

 

[catfishmike]

do a big gravel vac but,while trying not too remove too much water.ick cysts lay dormant in the gravel.removing them from the gravel should make the possible outbreak easier to contain and manage.odds are most of your adult and sub adult fish will be fine.i hate power outages.

 

[TaffyFish]

Yeah, go for it Red. I'll keep an eye out for a suitable pair from this lot for you. Might be a few weeks yet before we're clear of the threat of ich and I've a spare weekend between the rugby (6 Nations starts Saturday and I can feel the pull of the green, green grass of home once again.......

Catfishmike - when's best to do this vacuuming to pick up the cysts? Presumably some time after the white spots become evident?

 

[MrsPurple]

Thanks Taffy... time is not important... no rush hun... you enjoy what your doing and let me know when we are on a roll.
I hpe by then we will have most of this sorted out at home.
Regards to you and your wife

Red (still snapping at Purples ankles cos he thinks a bag of fish is ok for Valentines day)

 

[MrsPurple]

Thanks Taffy... time is not important... no rush hun... you enjoy what your doing and let me know when we are on a roll.
I hpe by then we will have most of this sorted out at home.
Regards to you and your wife

Red (still snapping at Purples ankles cos he thinks a bag of fish is ok for Valentines day)


OOOps big sorry it posted twice... daft fingers *blush*

 

[TaffyFish]

ooops! Do you mean the bag of fish I've got for the wife will not be appreciated on Saturday?

take care Red