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Sandy came, power out, need new fish, please help....

2K views 12 replies 7 participants last post by  MellC 
#1 ·
I live in NJ. My power went out at 7:44pm (I was Doing a Sandy log for my Meteorology class) after a huge tree (about four foot across, not around) demolished a neighbors car. So after the initial panic, I did the only thing I could think of.... Put two blankets over my tank to try to keep the heat longer. Then I floated a "Tupperware" container and two glass jars of boiling water in the tank, the jars were wrapped in plastic and inside a ziplock bag. I went to bed that night wondering if my family is okay and if my bed and house would ever quit vibrating, and if my fish would die.... Eventually I fell asleep watching transformers blowing up.

I had 5 GloFish, 5 Neons, a Redtailed Shark, 3 Cherry Barbs, 2 Corys, and a Rafael Cat. On Friday morning I noticed my Tetras and Barbs gasping for air which put me into another panic, so I did a water change (I'm lucky to have a plumber for a stepfather and he somehow kept the hot-water heater on) and as I was changing the water I noticed I lost 3 Tetras and my shark. So I didn't the only thing I could and called PetSmart. The lady told me not to feed the fish!!! I had no clue I wasn't supposed to feed the fish.... We don't lose power that often, and if we do it's for maybe an hour....

The power came on later that night and thus far my fish seem to be doing great, except my Tetras. They are trying to school with the GlofFish and female Barbs. I have to get new fish.
So my question is will my Neons school with any other Tetras? Also what other fish can I add, or which groups should I improve upon?
 
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#3 ·
Sorry to hear about your fish loss but I would not get another red tailed shark when you restock. They get pretty big and require a fairly large tank. They also get more aggressive as they get older so shouldn't be in a tank with peaceful fish.

I hope you weren't affected by the storm this week :(
 
#5 ·
My tank is a 20gal, yes the filter didn't work. We don't have a generator. My Raf. is about the same size as when I got him back in 08' I didn't want him to begin with, my ex talked me into it, but now he's part of the family (the fish that is).

My shark was my fave. but I have no intention of getting another, the last two months he was attacking my barbs.

I meant will my neons school with Glowlights, Blue Emperors, Black neon, or Penguin Tetras?
 
#6 ·
I meant will my neons school with Glowlights, Blue Emperors, Black neon, or Penguin Tetras?
No, they need 6+ of their own species.

Cory catfish will school with other Cory species, but even so you should keep at least a minimum of 3 of any one species (with 6+ corys in total).

The gasping was probably from a lack of oxygen since the filter stopped operating (breaking surface tension causes gas exchange). You could always take this opportunity to put some fast growing plants in, as they produce oxygen and can help out provided they get some sunlight from an open window (but you wouldn't normally want an open window nearby, algae and all).

Otherwise, having a battery operated air pump is something nice to have on hand, unless this is a once in a lifetime event (extended power loss). I'm further up the coast in MA and we loose power at least once a year, so I bought a generator for that eventuality.

The not feeding your fish advice was good advice, less food in = less waste out and fish can easily go up to a week without any food.
 
#9 ·
I don't think my tank will hold 6 cores but I might get one or two more. I had no idea they made battery operated air pumps!! I have a plug in one. I'll have to look into it, I can't afford a generator, and my parents don't want one, sigh. Well I need to get dressed my poor tetras need friends, and my tank looks empty without mid-swimmers....
 
#10 ·
sandy issues

i also lost power for 11 days. 55gal with 5 dension barbs, 1 blue goourami, 4 neons, 2 albino plecos, 6 corys, and 3bolivian & 2 German Rams. I took my sponges out of the dead filter and placed thrm in the tank so the bacteria will not die. I did a 20% change per day and added a quart of hot water heated on a wood burning stove abouot 6-8 times during the day and also waking up in the middle of the night to add more heat. I held the temp between 73-78F. No food and i had plenty of plants. I lost two german rams and was able to save rest.

What i think to be the key variables (concurring with other)

Constant temp adjust
No food
Plants (they chowed on all week)
Moving the filters sponges/biomaterial
 
#11 ·
Poor thing my power wasn't out that long, but it is hard work keeping fish alive without power. I was too scared to dump hot water into the tank, I was afraid the water would boil the fish it touched, and finish off the rest when the temp. spiked.... I'm going to have to start writing a guide book for myself for these occasions, they seem to be happening a lot lately.... Hurricanes, tornados, snow storms, whats next?
I got more Tetras (glow lights and neons), and 4 more cory's. I love the glow lights! They look like a bunch of tiny sunsets dropped into my tank.... Also to answer my question above the Neons and glow lights do school together. Now my barbs are trying to school with the Tetras.... it's odd lol. Thank you everyone who helped me with this issue I very much appreciate it!
 
#12 ·
it was more 120-150f water, and it was more of a slow drip with surface agitation. The 3 zebra danios were actually searching out warm surface current as i was adding it. Most of the times during the water changes i tempered the change water a few degrees above 80 so when mixed it leveled out around mid to upper 70's. Ofcourse i used tap water conditioner (api)....i went thru a lot of it
 
#13 ·
My Danio's (GlowFish) swam around the hot-water containers I floated in my tank too, smart lil guys. I use AquaSafe Plus by Tetra. I won't buy the food, but I like the water conditioners. I used a lot in the containers too, I didn't want the tap water to get into the tank in case they leaked. But all is well I only lost 4 fish. I got lucky.
 
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