Hurricanes and Aquariums
- Thread starter steeb
- Start date
I'm doing the exact same thing, getting ready to prep for possible hit from irene. The battery pumps are a bare minimum in my book.... atleast if you hang have flow you can have oxygen which will move a bit. Currently I have a 600w power innverter and 2 deep cycle batteries from my boat. That has kept my 90 gallon and biocube alive for 5-7 hours with some small pumps and those very same battery pumps/airators. Looking into the vortech battery backup this week just in case. Best scenario is a small generator and in any case some hope and diligence. Always have some fresh salt and ro water just in case! I'm following along to get some other tips from everyone else!
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DRThompson
2018 FMAS President
Obviously a small generator/inverter to keep your tank going would be the best solution. Not everyone has the budget for a back up generator.
short term advice:
-freeze r/o water in ziplock bags or water bottles to float in your tank to keep temp down.
-small battery operated air pumps ARE worth it.
-dc battery backup (vortech) or similar will keep the water circulated and oxygen up
Lessen learned from Wilma: I had NO generator, battery back up, or ice for my tank. All I had was an 500w inverter that ran from my car.
Now I have a generator for the house and a separate high efficient gen for the fish tanks. My main display has a vortech battery back up and secondary back up for apex. I'm still concerned about keeping the tanks cool enough since my house gen wont run the a/c. I'll be freezing r/o water later this week in prep.
short term advice:
-freeze r/o water in ziplock bags or water bottles to float in your tank to keep temp down.
-small battery operated air pumps ARE worth it.
-dc battery backup (vortech) or similar will keep the water circulated and oxygen up
Lessen learned from Wilma: I had NO generator, battery back up, or ice for my tank. All I had was an 500w inverter that ran from my car.
Now I have a generator for the house and a separate high efficient gen for the fish tanks. My main display has a vortech battery back up and secondary back up for apex. I'm still concerned about keeping the tanks cool enough since my house gen wont run the a/c. I'll be freezing r/o water later this week in prep.
Last edited:
Rogger Castells
New member
if I may add to what Dave said which I agree with everything, I have use battery operated air pumps very effectively to keep the water movement, also battery powered fans are very effective bringing the temperature down a few degrees, last doing a good water change and having a batch of water ready to make another one a few days into the hurricane outage is also a good idea.
You need flow, but you don't need to worry about suspending detritus and all that jazz. Keeping good surface agitation and the water mixing is all you need, and that doesn't take a lot of power. Having a fan to help with evaporative cooling would be helpful.
After seeing some of the images of flooding, having your power strips elevated would be important.
After seeing some of the images of flooding, having your power strips elevated would be important.
Hyperion1337
Active member
Is anyone considering to evacuate?
Rogger Castells
New member
Yes a lot of people are evacuating, we are not going to evacuate, but we are preparing best we can.
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Hyperion1337
Active member
We're thinking about evacuating if it is a direct hit to south florida. Its gonna suck that my tank is gonna perish if I leave
Rogger Castells
New member
I am staying and have a generator if you want to house your colonies temporerely you are welcome to bring
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fasteddie222
New member
I am planning on evacuating since I have a 6 month old. The question is where too? This thing is going to eat Florida pretty much. I just bought a battery backup for the vortech and froze a bunch of RO water. Don't want to leave my tank behind but might have to
Hyperion1337
Active member
I did not want to leave my tank as well, but it does not look good right now. so the family is planning to head out.
DRThompson
2018 FMAS President
Here's a link to the miami evacuation shelters
https://www.miamidade.gov/hurricane/evacuation-assistance.asp
https://www.miamidade.gov/hurricane/evacuation-assistance.asp
RobZilla04
Active member
Wishing you all the best of luck down south. Prayers that it moves away quickly. If you do not have a generator, consider one before the next storm. A battery backup will not last.
fasteddie222
New member
Power has been out for more than 24 hours now. I'm just worried about the heat at the moment
Rogger Castells
New member
Tank is back on now
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Rogger Castells
New member
No coral loses but I did lose 4 fish in the qt tank
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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
fasteddie222
New member
Well guys just got the power restored I was 4 days without any power. Managed to keep everything alive by using a generator to run the tank. The tank went to 84 degrees I had frozen a bunch of RO water on zip lock bags to keep the temperature down.
