What do you do without power?

[BriggsReef]

Was talking tonight about what we are gonna do if we lose power this winter...

Does anyone without a generator have an action plan in place? I'm looking for things i can do to save my reef.

I assume the 2 most important things to maintain are oxygen and temperature but can only think of doing that with a generator

 

[secrest]

I use a couple battery powered air pumps for oxygen when the power goes out. Has worked well for me in the past. I also have a apc battery backup I used to have for a computer to keep everything running for awhile.

 

[Metal Man 1221]

Immediately wrap the tank with a thick and or wool blanket, and cover the top of the tank any way you can (if it isnt already). Really anything you can do to insulate the tank to keep heat in. This will also create less work for the heater decreasing the load on any backup power supply. If there is no back up power, this because especially important.

Also when covering the top, leave a few openings for gas exchange. As <b>secrest</b> mentioned, there are battery operated air pumps, that are virtually a must if you feel your electrical supply may be unreliable in inclimate weather. Test them frequently and make sure to keep proper batteries with or near by the pump.

When I've lost power, I have always sat and watched the tank until power is restored.
IME, you can never keep too close an eye on your tank.

 

[Sethjamto]

I'd spend a few hundred on a used portable generator. WELL worth it! Not only can you plug your tank in, but you can also plug in stuff for you!

 

[Toxic Slurpee]

Given the typical investment in a reef tank, I cant imagine owning one without also owning at least a small portable generator.

 

[Dr. Reef]

a portable generator is not bad idea, i have seen them on sale from $200-500 for 5000watts. i personally have a standby natural gas generator that runs the whole house in case of power failure. (cost $6000-9000)

 

[t4zalews]

After I lost almost my whole tank in two back to back power outages that averaged 4 days each, I bought a generator, battery powered airstones and bought a battery backup for my vortech. Wish I had them before the power went out!

 

[GPB]

In Washington DC we have darn near a third world country power grid. The slightest wind or snowflake makes the power go out. I definately planning on a small generator this year. It doesn't however do anything about heat.

Our outages typically last a 3-7 days.

 

[aandfsoccr04]

I keep battery operated air pumps on hand just in case but also have a generator for prolonged power outages.

 

[Green Chromis]

I have a whole house generator to run my tank in case of a power failure. You can buy a small portable generator for a few hundred dollars, it's worth every dollar you spend as we live in South Florida and lose power for weeks after hurricanes.

 

[sponger0]

I'd spend a few hundred on a used portable generator. WELL worth it! Not only can you plug your tank in, but you can also plug in stuff for you!

This is the best idea. Get a generator. My next tank, I wont have it running until I have a generator.

But if you dont have one, and can have someone sit at the house if the power goes out, get a power converter for a car, extension cord and just run the heaters and powerheads and it will help your tank from crashing

 

[BriggsReef]

Yea i guess generator is the way to go. My power doesn't go off very often but we did lose power for 5 days last year due to a freak snowstorm on Halloween so i'm just a little worried.

I put too much work into my tank to lose it.

Thanks for the input guys i'm gonna look into a mini portable.

I really only need to keep a few things going so would 1000w be big enough?

 

[jasonrstewart79]

I have an 8000 watt portable gasoline generator that I picked up after we had a huge ice storm a few years ago. Its a lifesaver... I can literally run most of the entire house, including the aquarium. Worth its weight in gold for sure.

 

[JeF4y]

Used to have an RV and used it to power the tank for a day when we lost power a few years ago, but since then we moved from WI to Atlanta and now live downtown in a loft building. No balcony so a genny is not an option, but with all the utilities underground, the power has been 100% solid for the 3 years we've been here (knock on wood).

That said, I still do have a battery powered airstone.

 

[budhaboy]

Yea i guess generator is the way to go. My power doesn't go off very often but we did lose power for 5 days last year due to a freak snowstorm on Halloween so i'm just a little worried.

I put too much work into my tank to lose it.

Thanks for the input guys i'm gonna look into a mini portable.

I really only need to keep a few things going so would 1000w be big enough?

I have a 5500 watt generator, and it's powerful enough to run my tank, full size fridge, small bar fridge, 6 foot casket freezer, several lights, a hot plate, window unit A/C, TV, and the neighbors Fridge, Freezer, oxygen generator(they're elderly), and several lights with no problems.

I got it for $600 @ HD.

 

[MarcBergmueller]

I use a big power inverter, hooked up to my truck, with a power cord run to the pump and heaters. Work pretty good I've idled my truck for 12 hrs, using little gas.

 

[Palting]

Yea i guess generator is the way to go. My power doesn't go off very often but we did lose power for 5 days last year due to a freak snowstorm on Halloween so i'm just a little worried.

I put too much work into my tank to lose it.

Thanks for the input guys i'm gonna look into a mini portable.

I really only need to keep a few things going so would 1000w be big enough?

I have a 5500 watt generator, and it's powerful enough to run my tank, full size fridge, small bar fridge, 6 foot casket freezer, several lights, a hot plate, window unit A/C, TV, and the neighbors Fridge, Freezer, oxygen generator(they're elderly), and several lights with no problems.

I got it for $600 @ HD.

If you are going to get a generator anyway, might as well get one that can power more than just your tank. I bought a 5500 watt generator from Lowes, for the same price as budhaboy, planning to use it on my two tanks with everything on them running, plus a full size cabinet freezer and a freezer/refrigerator. If it's hot enough and the power outage lasts long enough, I may get a window AC unit for one room and have that run off the generator as well.

The problem with the portable generators in areas that don't have blackouts as a general rule is maintenance. You have to run them for several minutes at least once a month, change oil and otherwise maintain the engine. I'm taking a risk and am keeping the generator in it's box, empty of all fluids and unused, until I need it. Hope it works when I do need it!