preparing for Hurricane season.....

[jaymz101]

I live in St. Pete FL (near Tampa) and since Hurricane season is here, I need to have a battery back up for my tank. I dont have the money (or space) to invest in a dedicated generator for my tank. Would an APC (like for computers) work or would the pump, skimmer, lights, etc. drain it PDQ?? OR....just a few battery powered air pumps (the tank is in full view of the sunlight if it needs to be). Any suggestions? Thanks in advance...

 

[p4ck37p1mp]

I can tell you that after two hurricanes I've learned a little bit. I have two APC 1400va UPS, that I keep charged and run the main pump (mag24) on one until it dies, roughly 2-3 hours. The other I hold over for a MJ1200 that lasts 3-4 hours, amazingly the difference is pretty small between two vastly different pumps. I do have a 6000 watt generator, so every 3-4 hours I run it and recharge the UPS, so it does save me a little run time and gas.

I used a battery powered air pump during the last outage, it died after 4 days without power (not dead batteries, it just croaked). My advice is the battery air pumps, they're cheap so get a few of them. I went through one battery change in the four days before mine died. Maybe I just got a junk pump, I don't know.

The alternate idea I'm looking at now is a few golf cart batteries and a charge inverter for more runtime. I suspect I can run 12+ hours with four batteries and a 500 watt inverter, then run the generator to recharge when needed. The main thing with any battery on inverter or UPS is not to decharge past 80%, better if not more than 50% or you severely shorten the life of the battery. I suspect my UPS were pretty degraded when I got them from where I work, hence the short runtime.

Hope some of that helps. Everything can live without light for several days, without O2/circulation for several hours. There really isn't a reasonably priced UPS that would run much for several days, even with a REALLY small powerhead.

 

[RobbyG]

If your preparing for a Hurricane you need power that lasts for Days not Hours! Dont fool yourself into thinking that 10 hours of backup batteries will work, it wont. After a Hurricane, if you do loose power it will be at least 2 - 3 days before it is restored and in most cases it is near 1 week. If you don't have some sort of plan to adress this problem you are just going to be prolonging the inevitable death of your tank. My advice, get a Generator, even if its a super loud second hand 3000 watt unit for $150. Just get it.

 

[Stormtrker]

We were without power for 2 weeks after Katrina. I used battery powered airpumps and hooked up to a generator every 2 hrs during day and every 4 during night to save my tanks. Was very lucky didn't lose anything in tanks. I would say a generator is definitely a must. Also be prepared for battery airpumps to only last about a week of continuous running on batteries before they give out. Be sure and buy them now as most places online will run out just before hurricane season really gets rolling.

 

[RobbyG]

Carlab that sounds like a lot of work, your fish must love you
I actualy setup my generator first and built the Tank second! I have gone through 3 major hurricanes and it always amazes me how the neighbors still come out after each Hurricane complaining about no water and no power as if they expect the power company to have it all fixed by the next day. On average we got back power in 5 days and that was fast considering the damage that was done.

Jay I suggest A UPS and Generator if you want a good backup system, the UPS is used while you let the Generator cool down or during Gasing up.

 

[Paul79936]

I would suggest some battery powered air pumps. You can get an inverter that can be powered by your car that will allow you to run your skimmer (and maybe lights) for a few hours per day.

A generator is really best. I was without power for nearly two weeks a couple of years ago. If you do get a generator get a selection of spare parts and a repair manual too. I knew several people who had generators they couldn't use for a few days because of a broken fuel line or some other small part.

A UPS is OK, but not that much help IMHO. The air pumps are fine for short periods of time and a UPS will only last a few hours. They are not designed to produce small amounts of power for long periods of time, that is why they don't last very long driving powerheads.

 

[Kirk_M]

My question to all you folks is how do you control the HEAT in the tank? No matter how many pumps you run to keep your circulation going, with no power, your tank's temp is going to hit ambient room temperature. That's what killed my tank after Katrina hit. Water temps easily hit over 90 in the house, and no amount of water circulation was going to save it. Any advice would be welcome.

 

[Paul79936]

Evaporation.

My tank survived Francis with a clamp on fan and a generator. My temp never hit 90. If you have good air circulation your tank temp should never hit ambient room temperature.

Another possibility would be a window unit air conditioner to cool that room or a chiller.

All of these would require a generator.

 

[KEITHMC]

i use a 400watt inverter and a cat battery $129 at sams but i am inland and the most we are ever out is 12 to 14 hours

 

[enutees]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7446733#post7446733 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kirk_M
My question to all you folks is how do you control the HEAT in the tank? No matter how many pumps you run to keep your circulation going, with no power, your tank's temp is going to hit ambient room temperature. That's what killed my tank after Katrina hit. Water temps easily hit over 90 in the house, and no amount of water circulation was going to save it. Any advice would be welcome.

With my generator the only thing I'll power is the fridge/freezer and the tank. I can keep making ice and floating bags of it in the sump.

Of course you can only go so long. We were only out 16 hours with Katrina and about 8 with Rita so nothing crazy. If it was going to be a week you would have hell keeping the temps down unless you had a chiller or window unit.

 

[p4ck37p1mp]

I have two 6" fans, low watt draw and I can run them when I run the generator in addition to the window shaker AC, temp isn't usually a problem.

 

[RobbyG]

I have a chiller so hopefully that will not be an issue. I did some tests without the chiller, just using a Fan and I was able to maintain near 82 deg temps on a 90deg day, the problem was I was evaporating 4 gallons per day, Salinty issues must be monitored carefully.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7446733#post7446733 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kirk_M
My question to all you folks is how do you control the HEAT in the tank? No matter how many pumps you run to keep your circulation going, with no power, your tank's temp is going to hit ambient room temperature. That's what killed my tank after Katrina hit. Water temps easily hit over 90 in the house, and no amount of water circulation was going to save it. Any advice would be welcome.

 

[tkeracer619]

even if you have a generator you better have full tanks of gas in both cars plus storage tangs for fuel.

Although in fl, during huricane season, I would consider an effecient generator a part of the aquatic system. You guys get hammered.

 

[ROB2005]

i just got one of those 16000 watt generators hooked up to my electrical supply and it used natural gas as the supply

 

[jaymz101]

Thankl for the experiences. Ive been here since 97 but never had a tank. I think I lost power for 30hrs ( at most) last year. I just want to be prepared for the worst. (I know its coming....we're due) Looks like I need to invest in a generator or Ill be sorry. How many watts should I need iuf I wanted to run just my tank and a few fans??

 

[taku]

FYI just wanted to mention everyone with generators should go out and crank theirs up to make sure it still works! MINE DOESN"T.. so I need to fix it asap... just wanted to let you guys know too you might have one but it may not be operational...

How ticked would you be if the storm hits and your generator won't start... LIVID

 

[BucNtears]

FYI just wanted to mention everyone with generators should go out and crank theirs up to make sure it still works! MINE DOESN"T.. so I need to fix it asap... just wanted to let you guys know too you might have one but it may not be operational...


I could not agree more.If you Have a generator MAKE sure that it will start and don't wait till the storm comes.

I've got a generator and am installing a transfer switch so that I don't have extension cords running all over the house{very unsafe}.
I'll be picking up a small window ac for the bedroom also.

 

[45commando]

Just to add,grab a fuel siphon kit from an auto store.It costs about $5,but more than paid for itself last year.I lost power for 17 days & had the houses either side of me,as well as my own -running from my "jenny".You won't believe how much fuel you will get through.I used approx 15 gallons a day to keep my tank & the other 2 houses going.Needless to say,I spent a lot of time siphoning fuel from vehicles,as all but a few gas stations were shut down.If you get the siphon,test it ahead of time,so you know which vehicles you can use it on.Many newer models,have anti siphon tanks.Now if I could just get my roof fixed,I'd be all set.