One of fish keeping hobbyist's biggest nightmare- power outrage. What should you do and prepare for expected (known approaching hurricane or winter storm) and unexpected (thunderstorm, fire, flash flood, and other disaster) power outages.
An example of what power outrage can do to an aquarium is New Orlean's Aquarium of the Americas' major disaster after 2005's Hurricane Katrina. Just about everything that was not mammal or reptile perished during the disaster. The lone survivors were the mammals and turtles as they breath from the air.
Living in Wisconsin, the long, brutal winter can often cause power outrage during strong snow storms. And the threat is not only the immediate oxygen deprivation from uncirculated water, but the rapid temperature drop from the elements. For this reason, depends on where you live and what capacity your tank is, it is strongly recommended that you have a backup generator as your tanks' lifeline during times of emergency.
So the question is- how long can things survive without any back up? If the power outrage is temporary and will not last long during a relatively warm, summer day, no need to panic-
well, without flowing water to generate dissolved oxygen, most creatures will begin to display distress within a few hours depends on your bio-load. Imaging a fish can do alright in a bag of water during its transport from store to home (typically anywhere from 30 minutes up to 2 hours + acclimation time). That sac of water is definitely no more than 1/4 gallon. Now multiply that by how many gallons of water you have in your tank, and decided by how many fish/critters you have, you should get a pretty good rough idea of when your "deadline" is. That said, it's definitely not optimal to leave things as is. You can find battery operated pumps in stores or online. Don't be cheap on this, it can save hundreds of dollars in livestock for you.
The bigger problem will present if the outrage is more than a few hours. While the back up battery operated air pumps can last a day or two, your water temperature will begin to decrease overtime, especially if you live in colder climate in winter. This is when you must invest in a backup generator.
Once again, don't be cheap, this can save you hundreds, if not thousands of dollars of livestock. When choosing a back up generator, I would add up the wattage needed for heater and at least one powerhead for the fish tank portion of your household needs. corals and clams can survive a few days without light so light is not your priority for short term outrage.
2014年9月16日 星期二
2014年5月2日 星期五
2014-05-02 Discussion: pH Level for Marine Aquarium
You might have heard how important pH level is, but you might not have experienced what it can do to your tank if your pH level is really off target- Well, this winter I've battled the pH war and have a lot to share:
Background
The first mistake- probably a success in many other ways- is that I have my fish tank sitting in my finished basement. The reason for this placement made all the senses when I set it up- basement's air temperature does not fluctuate like that of upper levels, it also has the most solid, salt resistant floor surface- concrete underneath carpet to support the weight of the tank. And an easy access to the nearby utility sink. But I forgot one thing- without any open windows, the oxygen level tends to be lower than any other floor levels.
What does oxygen level has to do with pH? There is actually a very useful article on pH by Randy Holmes here: http://www.reefkeeping.com
In summary, pH is the measurement of hydrogen particles in the water, and the concentration of hydrogen particles relays heavily on the amount of oxygen present in the water.
When pH level is low, the water is acidic, and it will become difficult for your invertebrates including snails, corals, and clams to build skeleton as their bodies must allow the use of calcium carbonate (basic) to help neutralize the pH level within their bodies. (similarly, if a person constantly resides in an oxygen deprives environment, this person's body will be more acidic, and hence be more prone to osteoporosis as the body is unable to retain calcium)
So what happens in my basement over the cold-long winter here in Wisconsin is the low oxygen level due to closed window causes the tanks' pH level to drop below 8.0. This almost entirely stops the growth of all my stony corals and my clams.
To solve this problem, I began employee the help of kalkwasser. Each week I mix 1tsp of kalwasser with RO water per 25 gallon of water volume and pour the solution directly into a high flow area of my tank. This maintained the pH level of my tank between 8.0 to 8.2 through the rest of the winter. With the help of higher pH level, my corals and clams resumed growth and are happier than ever.
With my detailed documented water test results- on a spreadsheet- I discovered the dramatic change of pH level once the snow has melted on the ground and that I was able to open the windows of my house- pH level shut up from 8.0 to 8.3/4 within a week without requiring any further kalkwasser dosing.
So if you have noticed a slow to none growth with your coral or clam despite strong lighting and adequate calcium levels, you might want to give pH adjustment a shot!
Background
The first mistake- probably a success in many other ways- is that I have my fish tank sitting in my finished basement. The reason for this placement made all the senses when I set it up- basement's air temperature does not fluctuate like that of upper levels, it also has the most solid, salt resistant floor surface- concrete underneath carpet to support the weight of the tank. And an easy access to the nearby utility sink. But I forgot one thing- without any open windows, the oxygen level tends to be lower than any other floor levels.
What does oxygen level has to do with pH? There is actually a very useful article on pH by Randy Holmes here: http://www.reefkeeping.com
In summary, pH is the measurement of hydrogen particles in the water, and the concentration of hydrogen particles relays heavily on the amount of oxygen present in the water.
When pH level is low, the water is acidic, and it will become difficult for your invertebrates including snails, corals, and clams to build skeleton as their bodies must allow the use of calcium carbonate (basic) to help neutralize the pH level within their bodies. (similarly, if a person constantly resides in an oxygen deprives environment, this person's body will be more acidic, and hence be more prone to osteoporosis as the body is unable to retain calcium)
So what happens in my basement over the cold-long winter here in Wisconsin is the low oxygen level due to closed window causes the tanks' pH level to drop below 8.0. This almost entirely stops the growth of all my stony corals and my clams.
To solve this problem, I began employee the help of kalkwasser. Each week I mix 1tsp of kalwasser with RO water per 25 gallon of water volume and pour the solution directly into a high flow area of my tank. This maintained the pH level of my tank between 8.0 to 8.2 through the rest of the winter. With the help of higher pH level, my corals and clams resumed growth and are happier than ever.
With my detailed documented water test results- on a spreadsheet- I discovered the dramatic change of pH level once the snow has melted on the ground and that I was able to open the windows of my house- pH level shut up from 8.0 to 8.3/4 within a week without requiring any further kalkwasser dosing.
So if you have noticed a slow to none growth with your coral or clam despite strong lighting and adequate calcium levels, you might want to give pH adjustment a shot!
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