If you have loadshedding or an extended power outage, or you are moving your fish, but you don’t have the money for a battery-powered air pump, or you cannot get a pump straight away, here’s something you can do that will potentially save your fish. But before we begin, let’s talk about science and the reactions of a potato when it comes into contact with hydrogen peroxide. When cut potatoes are placed in a solution of hydrogen peroxide, it triggers a reaction that creates pure oxygen. Catalase, an enzyme found inside a potato, breaks down the hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen gas. In a special chemical reaction which we call “oxidative stress”. Okay, so now that we have the nerdy science talk out of the way, let’s get down to business.
What you will need:
- Half a potato. (Skinned)
- 1 cup of Hydrogen Peroxide, 3% (Medical Grade)
- Airline tubing.
- Air stone.
- Empty 500-mill Coke bottle.
- Glue gun.
- Something to make a small hole in a bottle cap.
How to do it:
Rinse out the Coke bottle if you haven’t. Remove the bottle cap and make a hole just big enough to fit a piece of airline tubing through it. The smaller the hole the tighter the fit will be creating a natural seal, it only needs to go about 2-3 cm’s into the bottle. You can seal it on both sides with a glue gun, just to make sure. Take half a potato skin it and chop it into small enough pieces, so it can fit inside your Coke bottle. Now grab the medical grade (3%) Hydrogen Peroxide which you can find at any Dischem or Clicks and pour a cup of it into the bottle with the chopped potatoes.
Now quickly close the cap and attach an air stone to the other side of the airline tubing, place the bottle next to your aquarium, and put the air stone inside your aquarium. The reaction will start almost immediately as enzymes will react with the Hydrogen Peroxide and create oxygen. You will have a strong flow of oxygen for between 4 and 8 hours before it starts slowing down. It can take up to a full day before the reaction is completed, at which time you can make a new batch. And no need to worry if some foam gets into your aquarium, as it’s harmless to your fish as it is basically just foamy water.
Hope this little guide will help you through loadshedding!
