Major Winter Storm!

[youngreef180]

I hope everyone goes and test fires there generator tonight or tommorow! Channel 6 said possible freezing rain Thursday morning turning over to heavy snow accumulations in the afternoon, and we know what freezing rain can do to power lines. If you know someone who has a reef tank but does not have a generator I would recommend telling them to rent one Wednesday before the rental yards close. This may seem a little over cautious but for 30 dollars you can rent a 2900 watt generator for 24 hours, sounds like cheap insurance to me!
Let's help each other so we don't have a repeat of the last major power outage when so many dedicated reefers lost beautiful reef tanks and were not able to recover.:beer:

 

[jokeloma]

OMG thanks for the heads up!

 

[TheMcs]

If you find you have a beyond chargeable battery, Interstate at 71st & Memorial carries the 12v generator type for $50. I had to scramble Christmas Eve when I found the cells were dead in mine - Lowes, Advance, Wally World, etc don't have the ones with the small connector like on my generator.

 

[youngreef180]

OMG thanks for the heads up!

Really John, OMG, it may be time to lay off the chat boards on WOW. :lmao:

 

[jjmcat]

I wonder if losing power for days will kill my cyano? LMAO All my back up batteries are on the charger and the generator is ready to fire.I also heaqrd that you should not use anything less the 89 octane in your generators as well.

 

[johnniemac1971]

how long can a tank go with out lighting, and is current what i need to be most concerned with, I have never had a power outage and hate to loose everything if I do

 

[youngreef180]

Heat and water movement are the two things you need to focus on. Corals can go multiple days without any light source.

 

[johnniemac1971]

that would be good, I can keep water temp up and circulation, I have heard all kinds of bad stories due to power outages.

 

[jokeloma]

FYI on the generators get extra gas and oil changes. I had to change mine often the last time.

 

[jokeloma]

Oh and yes the OMG is most likely from texting with the kiddos

 

[jprince58]

A generator was easily one of the best investments in reefkeeping equipment I've ever made. I've had to use mine twice since I bought it, for a total of about eight days. It kept the tanks going as well as ran the furnaces, fridge, lights, TV, computer, etc. I can't understand why people are so reluctant to consider it a part of the "required equipment" when they get involved in the hobby.

 

[SoonerReefer]

Jeff is so correct! I bought one last time we had an ice storm.
It kept my 5 tanks up for 4 days and also Scott used it at Oddballs after that...my best investment ever.

Donny

 

[youngreef180]

Travis Meyer said that the computer models were trying to predict over three feet of snow for Thursday, but he thinks it will more likely be somewhere around one foot. That's after a good dose of freezing rain first!

 

[tpdpercula]

I just put on fuzzy clothes, hook up some wires to myself and run in place on the carpet for 15 minutes at a time. LoL

 

[sarai826]

I'll second that-- a generator is definitely required reefkeeping equipment. I was without power 9 days in the last ice storm and had a number of loses even with the generator. Test your generator, and have LOTS of spare gas... and then just hope the weather-people are wrong about this one.

 

[TheMcs]

Got a tip from a local weatherman who's a family friend - Prepare for this storm like you wish you wish you had prepared for the last big ice storm.

 

[youngreef180]

Got a tip from a local weatherman who's a family friend - Prepare for this storm like you wish you wish you had prepared for the last big ice storm.

That's what I have been hearing as well. Doesn't look to good for Oklahoma on Thursday, but maybe if we all prepare enough then nothing will happen. It's the old "wash your car if you need it to rain theory".

 

[zdek]

I have a Honda 1000i and hope to keep everything warm and flowing. I hear that you can also take hot bags of tap water and heat the water too... Does anyone know what type of wattage two powerheads and a heater use?

 

[jjmcat]

I have a Honda 1000i and hope to keep everything warm and flowing. I hear that you can also take hot bags of tap water and heat the water too... Does anyone know what type of wattage two powerheads and a heater use?

I have a Honda like yours and I can run my heater and mag 18 return pump with no problems. To answer your question would be to know what type of heater and power heads you have.Dr. foster and Smith will normally have a section of pumps that will tell you wattage and gph the pump will put out.