As the massive Hurricane Matthew approaches South Florida, I just wanted to reach out to everyone and wish you the best in preparation for the next few days. I know we have customers from the Keys to West Palm Beach (and even Orlando) and everywhere in between, and it looks like this huge storm is going to affect everyone! It’s been awhile since we’ve had a serious storm threaten us like this, and I hope your homes are ready for any impact the storm may bring and that you and your family stay safe throughout.
We will be closed for business tomorrow so that our staff can keep themselves safe from potentially harmful weather, and hope that you do not have any last-minute aquarium needs (but if you do, PetSmart or Walmart should be able to help for dry goods).
So while we will not be open, there are still a few things you should keep in mind to ensure your fish are protected in case the storm knocks out power or causes flooding in your area that affects your pond:
1. Check your air pump. If you do not have a check valve (a plastic piece attached to your aquarium’s air hose that prevents water from siphoning back into your air pump), remember to raise you air pump above the surface of the water. This is the number one cause of air pumps breaking, because if the power goes out suddenly, the water will find its way back into their air pump and it won’t work when the power comes back on, and you’ll be left scrambling for a new one when I’m sure there will be lots of other things to take care of.
2. Clean your aquarium or pond filters. It’s best to do it now while you still have running water and electricity so that any waste that remains in them does not build up and get stagnant in your filter if power is out for an extended period of time.
3. Protect your aquarium from flying debris. If your tank is near a window, be sure to give it some extra protection in case anything breaks through. It’s terrible enough to have to replace a window, but if something breaks your aquarium, you’ll have an even bigger mess to worry about, and your fish to find a quick home for, too. If you have any large plastic tubs, they may come in handy in case you need to transfer your fish out of the tank for any reason. You may also want to have some extra fresh water available in case you need to change any water in your tank if there’s a long time without power. This will help replenish some oxygen levels if you don’t have a battery-operated pump.
4. Don’t feed the fish. Your fish will be fine without food for a few days, so if you power goes out and you don’t have a filter running, it is best to cut way back on the food. After 2 or 3 days, you can give them something again if the power still hasn’t returned, but it’s in their best interest not to eat much in that situation. Their metabolisms will shift and adapt to the conditions temporarily.
5. Keep an eye on your pond water level. While it looks like the rain forecast for South Florida doesn’t call for massive flooding, it’s still good to be cautious and on the look-out. If your pond is nearly to the top, a few inches in a short time span may cause the level to rise significantly and your pond may overflow. One way to prevent this is to siphon out some water ahead of time if you know your pond is prone to such a condition. Otherwise, wait until a break in the winds to do it if you see it becoming an issue while the storm is happening. But be safe! We all love our fish, but look out for yourself first.
Thanks for reading, and I hope this list helps give you some peace-of-mind as the storm approaches so you can feel prepared for all incidents.
If you have any other ideas that can help your fellow fish-keepers, please reply and let us know so we can spread the word!