what did you do when the hurricanes hit?

[kimbertent]

hi, i was just curious..with it being hurricane season and everything..i was wondering what did everyone do last year when some of the hurricanes hit and you lost power? because i know i lost my power for about a week and a half! how did u keep your tanks alive? im new at saltwater aquariums and am quite scared about a hurricane coming and wiping out everything that i have done the past few months. i have a generator or my parents do for that matter and i highly doubt it they would allow me to run my tank on that if it is even possible. so what did everyone do??

 

[doxyman]

Last year I was living in Louisiana when Katrina hit. Since we lived in Baton Rouge we didn't have the flooding but did loose power for a week. My tank was kept alive with a combination of the cheap battery powered air pumps and a deep cycle marine battery / power inverter combo that kept a low wattage powerhead running. The air pumps would run for 2 days on a decent set of D size batteries and I could keep the powerhead running for 30+hrs before recharging the marine battery on my car.

This setup worked great for me and because of it I didn't loose anything.

 

[scubasteve247]

well, i was pretty lucky, i have a battery power air pump, they can last a long time, a lot of LFS sell them and you can even find them really cheap at some boating stores and bait and tackel shops. although they can be kinda loud. battery powerd air pumps are a cheap and effective way to re oxygenate the water and the raising bubles pull water with them which well help circulate the tank. however its no where near effective as your powerheads or main pump system. i know a lot of LFS around here carry a battery powerd air pump that you can plug into the wall, when the power goes out it kicks on and runs off the bateries, i belive the average price for those is about $14. (although if you have a generator every once and a while i would try to sneak a extension cord to it for a hour or two )

other then that ive seen another air pump, one that works like a computers batery back up, (there a lil expensive but you could also use one to temporaily power anything you want) anyways the one ive seen has a built in batery that automaticly charges itself, turns on when the power goes out, and recharges when the power goes back on. only thing is i have no idea how long its power will last, i dont know anyone who's used one. and the thing i like about the batery power ones is that you can always change them out.

since you have a generator though i dont think you have to much to worry about, im sure your parents will let you use it sparingly, which unless you have a moderate to high stocked tank would be fine.

good luck with your aquarium, and i hope everyones makes it through this dreaded season.

kyle

 

[45commando]

I lost power for 2 1/2 weeks & kept the generator going 24/7.I was powering 2 other houses,besides my own(they both had young children/babies).I had to make a few choices due to the increased power demand,as a result I lost all my SPS.I very nearly gave up the entire tank,as it took until a couple of months ago to recover.For this year I have installed a transfer switch,which means I can use the generator,without extension cords & just flip on/off breakers in the house as I need them.One of my neighbours bought a generator also,so worst case scenario,I'll only have to power one other house this time.If you are going to use a generator,I'd suggest purchasing a fuel siphon kit(about $5)It saved me a few times last year,just test it on your autos to find out which you can siphon from-most newer models have an anti siphon device fitted.Lastly get together with your neighbours & have a teamwork plan figured out-ie if your generator dies,can you run a cord to theres to save your tank etc.HTH

 

[jjmg]

If you can run a generator, that is all you will need. Run only pumps and the skimmer and leave the lights off to keep the tank cool, the corals won't mind a week or so without light, just be easy bringing the lights back up.


But for most people, I agree with doxyman and scubasteve, the battery powered air pumps and the power inverter work great. I used the battery out of my truck to run the invertor and when it started to get low it would be time to put in back in the truck to go looking for ice anyway, so that charged it. I'd also take off the hood to allow more air flow to the tank. We went for 11 days after Ivan and 6 days after Dennis and only lost a six line wrasse that went carpet surfing. I should have put the egg crate on the tank, but he was getting mean anyway.