HELP my power has gone out!!!
- Thread starter dangerrrr
- Start date
jasonrp104
New member
What's the temp where you are?
Corals?
For now, just use a cup to scoop up water and pour it back in the tank. This will provide some air and flow
Corals?
For now, just use a cup to scoop up water and pour it back in the tank. This will provide some air and flow
jasonrp104
New member
Not much, really. Just keep pouring the water to keep the air up.
How big is the tank? Softies? SPS? LPS? Does your temp swing or do you keep it at one set temp?
How big is the tank? Softies? SPS? LPS? Does your temp swing or do you keep it at one set temp?
Reverend Reefer
New member
do you have any hand warmers, like the ones you put in gloves? you can put them in sandwich bags to warm the water a lil. just an idea. you definitely need water movement to get it oxygenated. do you have a battery operated aerator/air stone?
jasonrp104
New member
Keep the water moving and hope it comes on. If the water getting hot is a concern, you can float bags of ice in the tank to try and keep it cool. If cold water is the problem, start heating up water on a grill or fireplace and float that in a jug or well sealed bag.
Good luck
edit: +1 on the airstone. I'd still pour water for flow though.
Good luck
edit: +1 on the airstone. I'd still pour water for flow though.
Has the power been restored?
This is a tough lesson but you have
to learn from it.
The cost of battery backups / power inverters /
generators are fractional of time & money that we
have in our tanks.
I hope that you make out well.
This is a tough lesson but you have
to learn from it.
The cost of battery backups / power inverters /
generators are fractional of time & money that we
have in our tanks.
I hope that you make out well.
slapshot
Active member
Or if you are worried about it getting cold fill plastic bags with hot water and place them in there. just keep the water moving. If you have a sump then take water from it and pour it into the tank. this will keep it circulating. No sump then just move the water around. Do this every 15 minutes or so for a few minutes. Try to keep the temp stable using hotwater or ice. good luck!
ITS BACK ON!!! my Aquatronica says 48min powercut which isn't so bad. It's just lucky I woke up 5min after it went out, which is really weird in itself! Guess what I'm doing today!!!!!!! Thanks for your help guys! Scared the crap out of me!!!! Now what do you suggest I need to prevent this in the future?
My tank;
http://www.masa.asn.au/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=219534
My tank;
http://www.masa.asn.au/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=219534
Depends on what you will need to run.
I would say, at the very very least a power inverter
I would say, at the very very least a power inverter
L8ndeb
Registered Reef Keeper
I lived in the Lake Tahoe basin for 15 years (temps during the winter reached -10F), and suffered through power outages that lasted for hours (longest one I remember was 11 hrs.). Initially, I just covered the tank with a blanket to keep the temp up. Didn't worry to much about water flow because I had good oxygen content to start. Eventually went to a UPS unit for the pump, then, bought a small generator to handle the whole setup.
Luckily, I never lost anything to an outage. I'm currently setting up my system again after a 5 year absence. I will from the start have a generator to handle the outage situations.
Luckily, I never lost anything to an outage. I'm currently setting up my system again after a 5 year absence. I will from the start have a generator to handle the outage situations.
interestingly my first reaction was to cover the tank with a blanket aswell.
scubasteve06
Jeeper Reefer
Wow I just read your TOTM article. You have a very impressive system. I love your corals and the borbonious anthias!
Reverend Reefer
New member
Depends on what you will need to run.
I would say, at the very very least a power inverter
so how does this work? a power inverter i'm guessing isn't a battery? i'm very interested in having some backup power in case as well and i can't seem to figure out how a UPC for computers would work since they only are on long enuff to save your work and close down your computer.
Mike31154
New member
The inverter needs a 12 volt battery to run it. In a pinch you can use your car battery, but it's better to get a dedicated deep cycle battery for it. Most common inverters will produce a modified or chopped sine wave so not the best for running AC pumps, but good for heaters and other equipment not sensitive to modified AC sine wave. Small generator is probably the best bang for your buck. Even the smaller ones will produce a clean sine wave and can power your return pump, lights & heaters depending on the size of your system.
I'm glad to hear it worked out OK. Something else that's good to keep on hand are battery operated air pumps. The batteries in mine lasted 29+ hrs when I was in a pinch. Also, an old school computer backup has saved my behind in an overnight power outage- Ran a Koralia 2 for 8 hrs. And as others have mentioned, don't underestimate the value of covering the tank with blankets.
Rybren
Well-known member
We had a 5 hour power failure earlier this year. My Penn-Plax battery powered backup air pump kicked on right away (It plugs into an AC outlet and turns on automatically if the power goes off) http://www.petco.com/product/7400/Penn-Plax-Silent-Air-B10-Battery-Air-Pump.aspx
It kept the water circulating enough that I didn't have to worry much. I was about to drag out my cigarette lighter - power inverter and a long extension cord when the power came back on.
The next morning my wife told me to go out and buy a generator; so I did. I always listen to my wife when she tells me to buy cool stuff!
It kept the water circulating enough that I didn't have to worry much. I was about to drag out my cigarette lighter - power inverter and a long extension cord when the power came back on.
The next morning my wife told me to go out and buy a generator; so I did. I always listen to my wife when she tells me to buy cool stuff!
