How to Prepare Your Saltwater Aquarium for a Power Outage

How to Prepare Your Saltwater Aquarium for a Power Outage

Share this so everyone will know what to do if they lose power!

Losing power at one point in time seems likely and there are several ways to prepare before a storm. If you are facing storm possibilities preparing a head of time is key.

Temperature Management

The biggest concern during a power outage is tank temperatures. During the summer we can have major issues with the temps getting too high, or in the winter of getting too low. Lets take a look at each issue separately. 

Problem With Rising Temperature:

Without air conditioning, we can start to have rising temperatures in the tanks quickly. High-temperature levels mean we can start to have oxygen level issues. Lowering the tank temperature can help maintain oxygen levels and slow down fish metabolism, reducing the need for frequent feeding until power is restored. Aim to lower the tank temperature by 2-3 degrees from its normal range, keeping it between 72-78°F.

I know you are thinking, "Well, how the heck do I do that if I don't have power?” This is where the planning comes into play. Below are some tips and things you should do immediately after losing power.

1. Freeze Water Bottles: Before the storm hits, freeze several water bottles or containers. Float them in the tank to keep the temperature down. 
2. Use Ice Cubes: If you don't have frozen water bottles, use ice cubes in a sealed bag. Buy bags of ice beforehand to have on hand and store in a cooler. Be cautious not to lower the temperature too quickly.
3. Close Curtains or Blinds: Do this throughout the house to reduce sunlight warming up your rooms.
4. Remove or Open Glass Lids: This increases ventilation and helps regulate temperature.
5. Open your sump doors: This will allow any heat trapped under your sump to get out easier.
6. Run a battery powered fan: Mount a fan over the top of your tank and/or sump to help with water cooled evaporation.

Problem With Lowering Temperature:

Without heat your home can start to slowly get colder. Below are a few steps for you to take immediately.

1. Insulate Your Tank:

• Blankets and Towels: Wrap your tank with blankets, towels, or insulating materials to help retain heat. Be sure to cover the top, sides, and even the bottom if possible.
• Styrofoam or Insulation Boards: Use styrofoam sheets or insulation boards to cover the tank and prevent heat loss. This is particularly effective if you have pre-cut pieces ready to apply.

2. Utilize Hot Water Bottles:

• Pre-Heat Water: If you have advance notice of a potential power outage, preheat water and store it in insulated containers or thermoses.
• Hot Water Bottles: Fill hot water bottles or plastic bags with warm water (not boiling) and place them around the outside of the tank. Ensure they are securely closed to prevent leaks.

3. Portable Power Generator:

• There are several small ones on the market that can be used to plug in a heater/powerhead for your tank. Ensure they are fully charged and ready for use.

4. Open your windows: Solar Heat: If there is sunlight available, open curtains or blinds to allow sunlight to warm the room and indirectly heat the tank.
5. In desperate times, boil water: If you have a gas stove, you can remove water from your tank and boil it, mix it with additional tank water in a bucket, and then pour all of it slowly back into your tank. I had to do this for several days when my house got down to 37F. Everything surprisingly survived!

Oxygen Levels

Oxygen is crucial, especially in heavily stocked tanks. Warm water holds less oxygen, so it's vital to watch your fish. If they are breathing heavily, they need more oxygen. Test your pH often and keep it in the optimal range using these methods:

1. Generator: Having a generator is ideal but not always feasible.
2. Battery-Powered Backups: These are around $100-200 and can run most powerheads.
3. Battery-Powered Air Pumps: These help, but monitor oxygen levels closely. I like to get the bait bucket ones you get in the fishing section of stores as they are louder, but much more powerful. They usually use D-Batteries, so make sure you have enough. After each use, remove the batteries and put them in a ziplock with your air pump, airline, air stone, and weight if needed.
4. Manual Aeration: Pour a cup of tank water from a height back into the tank to oxygenate the water. Stir the water. Try to get movement in the tank to increase the oxygen level.
5. Hydrogen Peroxide: As a last resort, add 1 teaspoon (5ml) of 3% hydrogen peroxide per 10 gallons of actual water. This produces oxygen for about 12 hours. Mix the peroxide with tank water before adding it.

Water Quality and Filtration

Test your water quality frequently during a power outage, especially for ammonia, nitrite, and pH. Here's how to maintain filtration:

1. Submerge Bio-Wheels and Media: If you have a hang-on-back filter, submerge the bio-wheels in the tank.
2. Move Bio-Balls or Media Blocks: Place them in the display tank to continue filtration if they are located in the sump or canister filter.
3. Disconnect Canister Filters: Canister filters should be disconnected to avoid toxic anaerobic conditions. Canisters should be cleaned and drained ready for when you get power back on. If it remains connected the anaerobic bacteria that gets pumped back into your tank can crash they whole system.
4. Avoid Feeding: Fish can go 3-4 days without food. Not feeding helps maintain water quality.
5. Car or Boat Battery Power: Use these to run a powerhead for several hours.

Slowing Metabolism

To reduce stress and maintain water quality, slow your fish's metabolism:

1. Stop or Reduce Feeding: Fish can survive several days without food.
2. Cool the Water: Lower the temperature by 2-3 degrees.
3. Blackout the Tank: Use cardboard or black plastic trash bags to keep the tank dark and calm.

I hope these tips and tricks I have used are helpful to you. Comment below if you have any suggestions I have missed so I can add them to the list.

Happy Reefing!