Alternative Power Solution

[toddncst8]

After loosing power, I racked my brain long and hard to discover a way to run my main pump to keep water circulation in my tank. I did come up with a great solution and thought I would pass it on to everyone, even if it is only to help you for future storms. I live in a Condo so there was no way of running a generator. But if you go to Walmart you can solve your problems for about 80 bucks. Back in the auto section they sell a Power Inverter that hooks to a car battery. So buy a car battery for about 45 bucks and the power inverter for about 30 bucks. It will give you one power plug, which you can use to plug your main pump into. I dont know how long one battery lasts because my power came on about 8 hours after I started using the battery. But worst case scenario you can recharge and/or even buy more car batteries. Sorry I couldnt pass this information on sooner, but I do not have cable or internet at home, and I did not come to work yesterday because I was trying to solve the tank problem and keep my dog cool.

Now my only problem is that even though our power came back, our central air units did not so I have no air conditioning. My tank is up to 88 degrees so Im praying for rain and for the air to come back today.

Best Wishes,
Todd

 

[trottman]

wont that kill the battery real fast?

 

[toddncst8]

Its probably not a permanent solution, but I ran it for most of 1 day before my power came back, around 7 hours. I dont know exactly how long it would have run, but you can also use the concept for other things like running electric powered airpump and stones, or running a small pump in your tank to keep up circulation. Or you can combo the items to maximize the batterylife. Maybe run main pump for an hour or two and then just a pump for some top of water circulation.

Nonetheless, if it were not for this solution, my whole stock would be dead right now. After 12 hours of no power and manually circulating water, everything was on the brink of dying. My brittle starfish was out in the front of my tank not moving at all even when touched. One of my fish had just died. I thought it was over. So having this solution provide a days worth of full water circulation was huge. The starfish, all my clams, and other fish all managed to survive. I was prepared to buy several car batteries if needed as well as a car battery charger, but it did not come to that.

Just wanted to let people know who are desparate and looking to buy hours at a time.

 

[MayoBoy]

I have a 750 and a 150. I was running the 750 off the van to keep the deepfreeze, refrigerator, and the recirc. pump on the tank going. I kept the van running because it will drain the battery in about 1-1/2 hours.

I finally threw in the towel this morning on the deepfreeze and fridge since I had to come into work. I'll hook the recirc pump and skimmer up when I get back home and we'll turn in the food to insurance (maybe have a big BBQ tonight since we just got a box from Omaha steaks last week).

If anyone needs a generator, check craigslist - there are a few listed.

http://stlouis.craigslist.org/tls/

 

[MayoBoy]

DOH

 

[Mykayel]

As far as the car batteries go, if you can, but a Marine deep cycle battery. It will do better on the slow drain than the car batteries that are designed for a high amp draw from your car starter. Also, most batteries are, but because you are going to be putting this inside your house, its a good idea to get a sealed battery.

And if you think you are going to need to recharge it and you don't have access to a battery charger (or a place to plug one in) you can always just hook it up to your car (that is running of course) with a set of jumper cables. Give it a good half hour to an hour and it should be mostly recharged.

Todd:
Just curious, what type of pump (how big) were you running off of the batter as that will make a big difference on how long the battery lasts.

 

[JxMetal]

Or take it to autozone or advance auto parts and they'll charge it for free.

 

[toddncst8]

I was actually alternating between my Blueline 1120gph and my tunze 6100. Switching between them, I managed somewhere around 7 hours (give or take an hour) as I wasnt timing it, just trying to salvage. My plan was to buy at least one other battery if my power didnt come back on and just continue recharging one while the other was running. Its not the cheapest solution, and not the best Im sure, but it is something that everyone has access to in a situation such as the one we have all gone through.