something I just thought about

[Kevbarnes11]

What do you guys do if the power goes out? I checked into a generator, but they are more than I want to spend. I guess I would lose more than the cost of a generator if the power went out. I hope you guys have a cost saving tip.

 

[MarineFlake]

Personally, I wait (hope) until the power comes back on. ; ) What specifically are you worried about?

-MF

 

[Kevbarnes11]

I am afraid I would lose everything if the power went out for a long period of time.

 

[MarineFlake]

Ah, well then that is most indeed a decision to spend or not to spend. Some folks have employed battery powered pumps to keep things circulating. As for lights, skimmers, return pumps, really anthing thats power hungry, you'll have to bite the bullet and invest in a decent sized generator or do as most of us...Pray it doesn't come down to savin' the tanks!

-MF

 

[Kevbarnes11]

that's what I was afraid of.

 

[jjmg]

Sorry to hop on your board but. from someone who has been going thru the hurricanes here lately you can get battery powered bubblers in the fishing section of WalMart to keep bait alive, just keep some spare batteries around or you could get a dc converter, again from WalMart that will turn the power from a car battery into AC to run a power head. If you keep water flow going and the surface of the tank moving you can keep your tank going for a long time. 11 days here after Ivan with no power, one fish went carpet surfing since I removed the hood for temp control, everything made it thru.

Don't worry about lites and skimmers and such. Don't feed and they will be fine.

 

[joeycadre]

i'd get a straw and start blowing bubbles.

 

[Rendos]

I have a generator. Not just for the tanks, but for the refrigerators, etc. I got mine used for like $200. It is a 5500KW genny with a 5 gallon gas tank. It will run non-stop for 10 hours on one tank of gas.

 

[acro-wrasse]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7275511#post7275511 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by joeycadre
i'd get a straw and start blowing bubbles.

 

[Codeman00]

I bought a generator too....only a small 2000Wer and it was used, but it's enough to power the tank just in case. Its an expensive hobby, that's for sure.

 

[cateyes]

but with a generator, don't you have to be there to crank it up?

in my situation, if power went out soon after i left for work, my tanks would still be without any circulation for 8-12 hrs.

 

[just dave]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7278158#post7278158 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cateyes
but with a generator, don't you have to be there to crank it up?

in my situation, if power went out soon after i left for work, my tanks would still be without any circulation for 8-12 hrs.

Quit.

 

[swalker]

When we had the straight-line winds here in Memphis two summers ago I had fish, live rock and a few mushroom corals. I was without power for eight days and kept a battery-operated air pump blowing bubbles the whole time (the noise about drove me crazy) and every thing pulled through fine. If it had been wintertime or had anything sensitive to temp changes, It would have been a disaster. I'm planning on getting a generator myself. Might as well, I have more money in my tank right now than my vehicle. Ha....

 

[cateyes]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7278236#post7278236 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by just dave
Quit.

i would if i had someone to help pay my bills... are you applying????

 

[just dave]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7278511#post7278511 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cateyes
i would if i had someone to help pay my bills... are you applying????

Sure thing , stop by the shop Tuesday and I'll give you a five.....oh what the heck let's make it a ten.

 

[just dave]

Re: something I just thought about

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7274919#post7274919 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kevbarnes11
What do you guys do if the power goes out? I checked into a generator, but they are more than I want to spend. I guess I would lose more than the cost of a generator if the power went out. I hope you guys have a cost saving tip.

It's a gamble.

Only you can decide if you're willing to risk it.

Battery powered air pumps can help things survive for awhile but will do nothing to prevent temperature extremes.

Even a moderately sized reef aquarium can have more "invested" in it versus the cost of a generator.

 

[Rendos]

I cannot even begin to think of losing $10K - $12K because the electricity went out, and I didn't buy a $400-$500 generator...much less a $200 used one.

I am wiring mine into my electrical panel in my house so I don't have to run extension cords everywhere.

 

[Kevbarnes11]

Where is a good place to buy a used generator. I looked on ebay, but shipping is more than the cost of the generator.

 

[APFish]

Please be careful with direct wiring. Make sure that you get a diverter or atleast pull the main breaker when you use the generator. The electricity can back feed into the system and electrocute the service people trying to get you up and running again. I had a friend killed by "strange power" in VA.

Rob