Opinion

[Petercar (RIP Dec 2017)]

What's everyone's opinion. Bout how long yu can leave yur tank sitting with no pumps or skimmer running ? I am gonna do my yearly sump clean out. With vinegar bath with the skimmer and return pump inside the sump. And clean it all up. This weekend the only thing I'd have running in display tank with ,e 2 powerheads. So I can figure out my hrs to leave the sump and the skimmer and pump soaked in vinegar

 

[Pistol]

as long as you have flow and aeration and temp control I would say you have 6 to 8 hours

 

[AdInfinitum]

As long as you have decent flow from your circulation pumps, temperature control (though the weather should be cooperative) and your bioload isn't crazy high, you should be fine for a couple of days...with other equipment off line. Although obviously the less time the better...

I assume that live rock or biomedia and pellet reactors etc. From your sump will be in buckets with circulation as well to prevent any die-off...

 

[Petercar (RIP Dec 2017)]

There's no rock or sand or anything in the sump only reactor hanging off the sump and tied to the pump thru a manifold is for GFO. Carbon is in a media bag in a sump baffle

 

[Neopimp]

point a power head at the surface... through a heater in the display...

Good for days and days.

 

[thehvacman]

point a power head at the surface... through a heater in the display...

Good for days and days.

+1 on the heater and power head. Depending on how much algae is in the tank, you could still have issues with oxygen levels in the the water when the lights go out. Algae switches to an oxygen consumer when the lights go out. I had a return pump fail in the night and everything suffocated, even with a powerhead running. Just get it back up and running before lights out. Good luck

 

[yveterinarian]

I experience many power cuts at my house. Some last for days. During that time I run the powerheads, a heater and some air via an air pump and open ended tubing with a small generator. I have so many tanks that I can't run all of the pumps or protein skimmers with the generator. We chose essentials to run and so far I have not lost anything.