Foul weather = me concerned over electric

[carb850]

I always knew a good backup power source for a reef tank is good insurance. I always planned to get something in place. At the very minimum a power backup for my powerheads, but I find I have nothing in place at this time.

Well, my tank doesn't much much coral stock yet but the potential winter weather headed this way has me thinking about power backups seriously again. Too late to do anything now other than cross my fingers, but getting the right hardware for this has just bumped up on my priority list.

How is everyone else doing? Sitting pretty with entire house automatic natural gas generators, scared shitless, or something in between?

 

[baldwinaquaman]

i just ordered the silent air mb11 from that fish place. its pretty cool. plugs in but doesnt run until the power kicks off, it senses it, then turns on. its only 20 bucks too...

 

[carb850]

Sounds interesting, got a link?

 

[Altpers0na]

im not worrying about my fish this year

 

[Orr2003]

my power was out last week for 2 days. I have a 5000w gas generator that I hook up when this happens. I can run my central gas furnace, house lights, fridge, deep freeze, blower on fireplace, and my tank heaters return pump tunze PH's skimmer pumps and probably a few more things if I wanted. For now I just run a bunch of extension cords throughout the house.
Someday I plan to re route some breakers and install a disconnect and wire in a generator plug that I can just plug the generator into and run power through the dedicated breakers in the house.

I suggest getting a gas generator. They are a life saver and tank saver.
I use it on the job site some too. It is money well spent.

 

[baldwinaquaman]

just go to thatpetplace.com and look up silent air mb11

 

[carb850]

What I was considering if first getting the Tunze device that I can hook up a DC battery which auto kicks on. I'm thinking this might be the best solution for the the 12 hour and under power outage.

For the longer outages I figured I would need a generator with the unsightly cords through the house. I wanted one for general preparedness anyhow, but again I'm thinking I better not put this off for too long

Orr2003, what generator name do you have? I heard Honda's are great to be quiet but have a much higher fee to get started.

 

[Orr2003]

It is hard to beat a Honda motor when it comes to a generator. Although I use a Generac. I have never had any problems out of mine and it gets used. I have ran it non stop for over 60 hours before. Not even turning it off to add gas.

 

[Orr2003]

U have to remember with the Tunze device you will want to have your heaters hooked up too. In the winter tank water can get cold quick. The Tunze device will not last 10 hours with PH's and heaters going.

 

[carb850]

With the Tunze backup, it would be for water circulation only. I thought that might be adequate for short durations of power outages.

I guess it begs the question, how long with no power does it start to get to be poor conditions for the fish? I know any is less than ideal, but how long before you start to see a lot of die off?

 

[baldwinaquaman]

Im not sure on this, although I do know that your fish can live easier with cooler temps. than hotter temps. so if it's in the winter, a long power outage would be better. I would say that fish (not corals) would be fine for 2 days with aeration and water movement, as long as you kept the water temp at acceptable range, of course given the fact that you have a reef, temp would severely effect the corals. If I were you, I would invest in a small generator, or atleast make sure you have some gas or electric heaters you can run near your tank to keep the temp up.

 

[carb850]

My goal is to get a generator, but it might be a little while before that happens (several months). Also, if power goes off over the night or while I'm at work my tank could be without any assistance until I happen to turn on the lights unsuccessfully.

That is why I thought having an automatic setup to at least move water would be nice to bridge me until that time.

I'm still curious though without the heater, watermovent, or anything how long it would take for the tank to get A)massive coral dieoff or B)massive fish dieoff.

 

[LtPiper]

If you dig back through the threads Jason had a power outage that lasted an extended period of time. I think it was two years ago??? He documented pretty much what happened to his reef tank afterward.

It wasn't pretty but wasn't a total disaster either and he had no backups.

Look for H.crispa posts on his power outtage.

 

[jmccown]

I decided to go get a 3500 watt generator tonight. I figure a $300 generator is cheaper than a few thousand dollars in livestock. We've already got 6" of snow in about 3 hours where I live.

 

[Orr2003]

Very very wise move Jason.

6" already? cool....my daughter (she is 5) wants to play in it bad tomorrow.

What part of KY u in?

 

[baldwinaquaman]

I think I'm going to try and find one tom. this storm is looking bad...

 

[baldwinaquaman]

Well the power just kicked, I'm at work, so wer'e on a HUGE generator, the size of a van. I wonder how my tank is doing? This sucks...

 

[carb850]

So far so good here. Ther power only flashed so far. Luckily I checked on my quarantine tank in the garage. For some reason that powerstrip didn't kick back on so the heat and waterflow was all still off. I got it back on though. Thinking to check on it was sheer luck. Fingers cross this luck continues and hope the best for everyone else too.

 

[baldwinaquaman]

Just found out that the power at home is on, but were still on generator here at work, I'm going on 16 hours now, and noone in sight to replace me, so it's going to be a long day needless to say...

 

[carb850]

Do you work in the medical field? My wife is a nurse and she called earlier to tell me that she may not get to come home tonight.