Around 9 AM, a sudden power outage occurred. The room went completely dark, all the aquarium pumps and filters stopped, and an eerie silence fell. Normally, the continuous sound of flowing water and air bubbles fills the room, so the sudden quiet was unsettling, and tension immediately surged.
The Worst-Case Scenario That Crossed My Mind
I immediately searched for information about the power outage on my smartphone, but at this point, I couldn’t find anything. The cause and estimated recovery time were unknown.
What crossed my mind then was a video I had seen on YouTube previously. It was a video about someone forgetting to turn on their air pump after feeding, resulting in the complete loss of their Imperial Zebra Plecos. Imperial Zebra Plecos are extremely vulnerable to oxygen deprivation. I absolutely had to supply oxygen—that thought alone dominated my mind.
Yasunaga 40P Cannot Handle Power Outages
Our main air supply is a Yasunaga 40P blower pump. It’s a powerful and excellent unit that can supply air to multiple tanks simultaneously, but since it runs on AC power, it’s completely useless during a power outage.
What proved reliable in this situation was the ‘Awa Taro (now Shuwacchi)’. It’s a small air pump powered by USB, allowing aeration to continue even without a power source, as long as you have a mobile battery. Having two of these became my lifeline this time.
The Dilemma of Lineage Preservation and Emergency Response
I had two Awa Taro (now Shuwacchi) units, installed in two different tanks. The problem was that one of these tanks contained two Imperial Zebra Plecos of the Nagisa lineage. If individuals of this lineage are mixed with other Imperial Zebra Plecos, it can become impossible to distinguish them, so they absolutely cannot be cohabited for lineage preservation.
So, I made a decision. The two Nagisa lineage plecos would remain in their dedicated tank, supplied with air by one Awa Taro (now Shuwacchi). The strategy was to consolidate all other Imperial Zebra Plecos into a 60cm wide tank and provide collective aeration with the other Awa Taro (now Shuwacchi).
I quickly scooped the plecos from their respective tanks and moved them to the 60cm wide tank. When I connected mobile batteries to both Awa Taro (now Shuwacchi) units and saw the bubbles start flowing, I felt a sense of relief. For now, the worry of oxygen deprivation was gone.
Approximately 3 Hours Until Restoration
After finishing the emergency treatment for the fish, I searched the internet again and finally found information about the power outage. The cause was unknown, but it was scheduled to be restored around 12 PM. It was a power outage lasting approximately 3 hours from its onset.
I had work, so I went out, and when I returned home after 12 PM, the power had been safely restored. I immediately checked the aquariums, and all the fish were fine. This was thanks to Awa Taro (now Shuwacchi) doing its job properly.
Saved by Summer — Winter Power Outages Are Truly Frightening
This time, the air temperature was around 28℃, so there was no need to worry about a drop in water temperature. The ideal temperature for Imperial Zebra Plecos is around 28-30℃, so even if the air conditioner stopped, they could be maintained without issue at room temperature.
However, I shudder to think if this had happened in winter. If the air conditioner stops, the room temperature would drop sharply, and the water temperature would plummet. Imperial Zebra Plecos are vulnerable to low water temperatures and tend to get sick if it drops below 20℃. Even a 3-hour power outage could be fatal in winter.
Heaters, of course, run on electricity, so they don’t function during a power outage. I keenly realized that I must seriously consider measures to prepare for winter power outages, such as covering the aquarium with insulation, using hot water bottles, or preparing a portable power supply.
Lessons Learned This Time
- Awa Taro (now Shuwacchi) is an essential item: The combination of a USB-powered air pump and a mobile battery is a lifeline during a power outage. Having multiple units provides peace of mind.
- Always be mindful of lineage management: Being able to determine “this individual cannot be mixed” in an emergency is only possible if you regularly know what is in which tank.
- The value of a large tank for consolidation: Having a 60cm wide tank allowed me to gather everyone in one place for aeration. A spacious tank for emergency evacuation is important.
- Winter measures are separately necessary: This time, it was summer, so there was no concern about water temperature, but if the same thing happened in winter, a drop in water temperature would be fatal. I plan to consider portable power supplies and insulation measures.
In Conclusion
It was only a 3-hour power outage, but as someone who keeps fish, I was quite panicked. I’ve realized anew that the more aquariums you have, the more important it becomes to prepare for such risks. I’m truly grateful for Awa Taro (now Shuwacchi) and the mobile battery. From now on, I intend to regularly simulate “what to do if a power outage occurs.”
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