"Erin (Eugene)" wrote in message
oups.com...
Tomorrow, we are going to experience a power outage of 8 hours (9 to
5). I have a ten gallon tank with about three inches of fish, and a
five gallon tank with two apple snails. Hence I am panicking with the
short notice about what to do!

I also have an airstone and we are expecting our house to remain at
about 65 degrees minimum during the outage.

We have a kerosene heater for just such emergencies. We also have a working
fireplace. I keep fresh batteries on hand for my battery aerators.

Any advice on what steps to take? What with the airstone and blankets I
am not as concerned about oxygen and heat as I am about filtration,

I would definitely do a water change if the filter was off that long. And
clean the filter as much of the good bacteria may die off. Your hot water
tank should keep the water hot for awhile. If necessary you can do water
changes during the outage to keep the tank temp above 74. You can also
remove the filters and put the filter material in a flat pan of tank water
to save as much of the bacteria as possible. First squeeze out the heaviest
"stuff" in tank water, discard that water and refill the flat pan with more
tank water.

having read some contradicting advice in the past. There is a biowheel
in the five gal snail tank, and there is an aquaclear filter hanging on
the ten gallon.

I need help ASAP. Thanks to all!

--
Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
Aquariums since 1952
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
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