Power outage mid-cycle

[cobray]

How long does it take the bacteria to die off when the power goes out?
The temperature is stable, but currently no water circulation and no gas exchange.
Tank has no livestock and I added Fritzzyme about a week ago. I've been feeding it ammonium chloride.
Power went out last night (Thursday) around 10pm. Not supposed to come back on until Sunday.
Maybe we'll get lucky and the power company will restore current tomorrow.

 

[stoney7713]

How long does it take the bacteria to die off when the power goes out?
The temperature is stable, but currently no water circulation and no gas exchange.
Tank has no livestock and I added Fritzzyme about a week ago. I've been feeding it ammonium chloride.
Power went out last night (Thursday) around 10pm. Not supposed to come back on until Sunday.
Maybe we'll get lucky and the power company will restore current tomorrow.

If your cycling, it's completely fine. It would be the livestock we would worry about, since you have none. Don't worry about it.

 

[Rick's Reviews]

Bottled bacteria has a long shelf life in a warehouse
Nothing to worry about

 

[cobray]

Power still out as of Sunday noon.
Ammonia is at 4ppm.
It will be interesting to see if it comes down when the power is restored.
Supposed to come back on Monday.

 

[cobray]

Power is back on as of Monday morning.
Ammonia down to 1ppm.
Nitrite currently 2ppm
Nitrate currently 20ppm
Added about 1/3 cup of ammonium chloride to the 7700 gallon system.
More testing tomorrow.

 

[brandon429]

you can stop testing now, this was a testless cycle from the start, you're using already tested items. the power outage didn't alter any bac ability, if you left the water still it wasn't contacting vital surface area, that's not a stall above.

that drop noted means the cycle was done already, there's nothing left to test.

 

[bushdoc]

Moral of the story-get battery backup or generator, you may need it when fish and corals are in your DT.

 

[brandon429]

if we would have ran this entire setup as a testless cycle, you would have still made your stated start date. the power outage for a brief time doesn't kill the bac or stop them adhering to surfaces. if you wanted to really test the bac you'd have to dry out the system.

 

[cobray]

Moral of the story-get battery backup or generator, you may need it when fish and corals are in your DT.

Yes we will definitely need multiple backups. The house is located in an area that has frequent power outages. It will eventually have a whole house generator on natural gas. I would also like a gasoline generator that I could plug the minimum life support into. The last line of defense will be a battery with an air pump.

Should I keep feeding the bacteria ammonia since there is no livestock to provide it? I assume it will starve to death eventually?

Thanks for the input

 

[brandon429]

no, bacteria can't starve after the cycle, the home is feeding them in ways unaccounted for

the initial nutrients alone are months of feed sustenance

 

[brandon429]

now that you are done cycling, you're directly into fish disease prevention choices, applying none won't work. time to read up in the disease forum to see how you prevent delayed loss of fish, the cycle part is completely done you don't need to support it in any way other than keeping water in the system. this isn't any kind of a rush, you paid top dollar and that is the fastest working bacteria known in several test threads, you are legit cycled and we already knew a power outage wouldn't stop anything. as soon as motion reinstated, the working surfaces worked.

do it this way for the win

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