Are You Prepared?

[bugs713]

Just got a Severe Weather Alert on my phone and TV of a dust storm coming in. I went through and checked my backup batteries on my Vortechs and go out my power inverter, just in case.

I feel I am prepared for up to an 8 hour power outage with battery backups, but temperature inside has always concerned me. When the East valley lost power 3 years ago in July, we were black for 11 hours, inside temp rose to 100 and I lost most of my FW fish, didn't have SW then.

I now have a portable R2D2 looking AC unit that should power up okay with the inverter plugged into a running car. I have been kicking around the idea of getting a gas generator, one big enough to power the R2D2, a few pumps and maybe the fridge.

We have a very out dated power grid in this country and especially with these wild fires that could potentially reek havic on the grid also. Not to mention what terrorists could do or worst, a zombie apocalypse The outage a few years ago was caused by one little transformer blowing up!
I'm not a survivalist or a dooms dayist though I have thought about stapling up aluminum foil on all my walls to block radio waves....:lolspin:

What are your thoughts on this, not just for the survival of your tanks, but also for the health of your families?

 

[Kataro]

If there's a power outtage... goodbye fishie

 

[Weyrman]

The winds are blowing pretty good in my neighborhood right now. I can see the dust in the air outside.

I have battery back-up for a good 8 hours or so for circulation pumps and cooling fans. The fans cool 10 degrees or so below room temperatures so if it gets to more than 92+ degrees for very long inside then who knows...

 

[m-six hundred]

Ok, to much to drink lol

 

[bugs713]

I still have power for now! I hope it doesn't go out because I hate watching TV in the dark!

 

[Weyrman]

We lost power yesterday for about 10 seconds. Caused everything to reset. Was a major pain in the rear end.

Back-up power on the tanks kicked in but got confused when the power came back on so quickly.

I had to go through and make sure all the settings were still correct on the RKL and ATO.

 

[dotcommer]

Thanks for the heads up!!!!

 

[DgenR8]

I would probably have a generator even if I didn't have a tank. We were out for three days when Hurricane Sandy rolled through here last Oct. I ran my tank, halides and all along with fridge, freezer in basement, TV, heat, enough light to see... All on a 4,000 watt genny. You could read the misery in my neighbors' faces, but my fish and family were all comfortable. Now, it cost me $100.00+/- each day in gas, and gas was not easy to come by.

 

[zibba]

I've already had 2 power outages this summer. The first one came at 2 am and I was entirely unprepared. I ran to Walmart for a power converter to run my tank from my car battery. That held me over for the 4-hour power outage. The next one came about 3-weeks ago -- it was out for about 2 hours and I again ran the tank from the car battery. Not the best back-up plan because I have to be home when the power goes out. I've also had A/C issues this summer and been without AC for up to 24-hours during the 100+ temps. Thankfully the oversized chiller was been able to keep up when that occurred.

We've been looking at generator options, but haven't pulled the trigger yet. If anyone has some recommendations, I'd love to hear them.

 

[Frick]

I was doing the dishes last night and I hear this really loud alarm noise go off. I almost hit the ceiling and threw the dish I was cleaning. As the alarm is going off I am trying to figure where is is coming from so I can KILL IT! While I am walking threw the house the noise stays at the same level like it is following me. Look down. It's my phone. My new iPhone decided to give me a heart attack to warn me about this dust storm which really didn't do anything except blow some leave around.

 

[Dreamer79]

make me want to go out n buy a generation.

 

[Dbroncoboy]

I was doing the dishes last night and I hear this really loud alarm noise go off. I almost hit the ceiling and threw the dish I was cleaning. As the alarm is going off I am trying to figure where is is coming from so I can KILL IT! While I am walking threw the house the noise stays at the same level like it is following me. Look down. It's my phone. My new iPhone decided to give me a heart attack to warn me about this dust storm which really didn't do anything except blow some leave around.

100% in the same boat, I could not figure out what was happening. For a tornado or something that is an awesome feature, for dust storm it might be a little excessive haha

 

[coralreefjunkie]

I am not prepared at all, as my pocket is not deep enough to buy those fancy back-up units.

Tell me if you think my idea is crazy. I am thinking of using battery-operated toy boats (the big kind that kids use in the lakes/ponds) to generate currents in my tank in the event of a power outtage. Those boats can last about 4 hours with each pack of batteries. My only fear is the power going out when I am asleep. Perhaps the temperature change in my room will wake me up... I am dreaming. LOL.

 

[Dbroncoboy]

I am not prepared at all, as my pocket is not deep enough to buy those fancy back-up units.

Tell me if you think my idea is crazy. I am thinking of using battery-operated toy boats (the big kind that kids use in the lakes/ponds) to generate currents in my tank in the event of a power outtage. Those boats can last about 4 hours with each pack of batteries. My only fear is the power going out when I am asleep. Perhaps the temperature change in my room will wake me up... I am dreaming. LOL.

I feel like you'd be better off hooking a battery backup to a powerhead personally.

 

[DgenR8]

We've been looking at generator options, but haven't pulled the trigger yet. If anyone has some recommendations, I'd love to hear them.

I recommend a generator that runs on propane. I touched on it earlier, but when Sandy took out power to almost everyone on Long Island, I spent my non working hours feeling like road warrior. Gasoline and how I was going to obtain enough of it to feed my 1 gallon per hour generator and two cars. I found that 4:00 AM was a good time to find an open station with a reasonable line. But, propane was readily available in BBQ tank exchange places, and you could have as large a tank as you wanted to, even underground. AND, propane never goes bad like gasoline does. I considered a natural gas generator, but in a major emergency, I could see natural gas being turned off.
Also, get the cash together to buy a quality unit if at all possible. My current genny was purchased used. It began it's life sitting atop a tour bus and powering it's interior. It's 4000 watts, 2 cylinders, and does the job, as long as I'm here to start it and throw the transfer switch.
For about 3 grand installed, Generac has a sweet little whole house generator (and you can give a close neighbor an extension cord ) It starts itself every month and tests to make sure it's ready when you need it. When power goes out, whether you're there or not, it starts up, throws it's own transfer switch and powers your house with little more than a hiccup. Truly delivering peace of mind and comfort while most of your neighbors are miserable.

Almost looks like I work for Generac, huh?

 

[zibba]

I recommend a generator that runs on propane. I touched on it earlier, but when Sandy took out power to almost everyone on Long Island, I spent my non working hours feeling like road warrior. Gasoline and how I was going to obtain enough of it to feed my 1 gallon per hour generator and two cars. I found that 4:00 AM was a good time to find an open station with a reasonable line. But, propane was readily available in BBQ tank exchange places, and you could have as large a tank as you wanted to, even underground. AND, propane never goes bad like gasoline does. I considered a natural gas generator, but in a major emergency, I could see natural gas being turned off.
Also, get the cash together to buy a quality unit if at all possible. My current genny was purchased used. It began it's life sitting atop a tour bus and powering it's interior. It's 4000 watts, 2 cylinders, and does the job, as long as I'm here to start it and throw the transfer switch.
For about 3 grand installed, Generac has a sweet little whole house generator (and you can give a close neighbor an extension cord ) It starts itself every month and tests to make sure it's ready when you need it. When power goes out, whether you're there or not, it starts up, throws it's own transfer switch and powers your house with little more than a hiccup. Truly delivering peace of mind and comfort while most of your neighbors are miserable.

Almost looks like I work for Generac, huh?

Haha, no that's great information and I appreciate it. I'd prefer something that auto-starts when I'm not home since I do travel a fair amount. Phoenix has so few natural disasters so I'm a little hesitant on dumping that much cash into it. But at this point, the cost to replace all of the corals/fish is exceeding the cost of a generator and I'm convincing myself more and more. It's just a little scary that power can go out at any time. The first time was just a bad component that the power company needed to replace. I'm pretty sure I was the first person to call it in because no one else would have even been bothered by it since it was it was 2 am and 70-degrees outside...lol.

 

[bdevillier]

We had a power outage today while I was at work. No clue how long it was off. Tank looks fine but makes me nervous just thinking of it. Time for a battery back up project this weekend.

 

[bugs713]

I like the idea of a propane powered generator! Will certainly look into it.

 

[DCBB]

In today's world every house should have a gas generator! weather or not you have aquariums or not , its just a very wise investment

 

[zrogst]

My current preparation for power outage is to stir the tanks with a big spoon. Wish me luck should we ever lose power on the north side.