How long can a fish go in a small QT tank without power?

[CAPSLOCK]

5g QT, housing a small flasher wrasse. Just picked him up on Monday and doing a normal preventative QT, have seen nothing wrong with him and he is eating well.

If my QT tank loses power, how long is it safe to wait for power to return before I'd have to choose to move the fish into the DT? The DT is set up with a battery backup pump, but I only have the one (obviously it is too late to grab a 2nd...).

 

[MrX]

With only 5 gallons I'd say not long at all. Between the lack of oxygen and the potential temperature drop. If you could keep the temp stable and keep manually agitating the water you might have some time.

 

[loki32687]

Bags of hot water will help keep the temp up, then as stated, manually agitate

 

[frank180reef]

You need the oxygen, 6 hours

 

[CAPSLOCK]

So roughly 4-5hrs should be safe, then move him to the DT if power wasn't back on? Or more like 2-3hrs?

The added difficulty is that I'll be at work, so I'm trying to figure out what to tell my roommate in case we do lose power.

 

[Fishport]

Two ideas for what they're worth-
1-If you have a DC/AC converter run a 100 ft extension cord from your car to your tank's pump. Don't exceed the units rating in amps or watts. Obviously don't run the car in the garage or anywhere that would draw carbon monoxide into your home. Some cars, particularly SUV's, have AC outlets these days.
2- This one is theoretical. Water thinly flowing over a surface is the most efficient movement for gas exchange. I would take whatever filter material you are using, put it in a clean plastic container, punch holes in the bottom If possible find some appropriate material to use as a sleuce to pour cupfuls of water down onto your filter material. Alternately just pour water from your tank over your filter material from some height. Th main idea is to provide a path with lots of water surface for gas exchange, plus reduce the ammonia content to avoid adding additional stress.

But I am basing this on theory rather than proven experience.

If you don't have access to hot water to follow Loki32687's suggestion, chemical heat bags (e.g. handwarmers) are another alternative. In addition insulating the walls of the tank will slow the cooling somewhat.

Hope this is needless advice.
Ralph

 

[Fishport]

I don't know how large your display tank is, but would it be possible to do partial water changes of the 5 gallon using the warmer filtered water from your display tank?

 

[CAPSLOCK]

It's a 40B. Technically would be possible to switch some water over. Though I wouldn't have any additional water to add back into the display. And I know about scooping water out and pouring it back in from a height to keep it oxygenated. I'd do that if I were home but wouldn't ask my roommate to do it. She is pretty tank un-savvy unfortunately.

Hopefully we won't lose power and this discussion will be merely theoretical.

 

[jason401]

Check w/ Lfs or petco, might be able to scoop one or two battery powered air pumps up.

When I bought mine, the power was already out. I called around and found some. There like 8$ I think