What do you find the most useful during hurricane season?

chrisstie

chrisstie

Premium Member
Hey all I think we're still in tax free week for hurricane supplies aren't we?

I was wondering what you find the most useful for your tanks- especially that those of you who have been unfortunate enough to have to really use alternate methods of keeping your tanks going for a few days.

I'd like to be prepared just in case but all I have right now is a bubbler or two (I should get more since I have multiple tanks) and I am thinking of getting some batteries too.

Anything else you find really useful? (besides a generator too;p)

Thanks!
 
Generator or power invertor(hooks up to car battery). I need one/both bad...I know you said besides a generator, but this is by far the most useful tool any reefcaretaker could have in FL. Hands down, no questions asked, save your money from the battery air pumps and any other things you could think of and get a generator.
 
How long do you think something like that could power a 75 gallon with 210W T5, and about 600w of misc equipment?
 
You'd probably not want to use it for lighting, but I guess it coud handle it. Tanks can go lightless for a couple of days without much effect, but aeration, filtration, and flow can reduce the best kept tanks to a dead mess in hours.
 
Do you just have the car battery in the house next to the tank?

does the inverter bolt on just like the car does
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10092760#post10092760 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ebay04chris
Do you just have the car battery in the house next to the tank?

does the inverter bolt on just like the car does
Click to expand...

You can plug it into the lighter in your car/truck, or some have clips to clip onto the terminal posts. But without the ability to start the vehichle and recharge the battery, it will only last a limited time.
 
When Charlie came through in 04 I ran an inverter from one of our car's batteries and to an extension cord that ran to the tank. I only ran one Tunze Stream on a low setting. The Streams have DC motors so they do well with the modified sine wave inverter output. I also had another tank running a Maxi-Jet that clattered but ran - and if it bit the bullet it wouldn't be too expensive.

I later picked up a deep-cycle marine battery from Costco to power the inverter.

I had to get something up and running before I could fix the hand-me-down generator that had been sitting in another garage for several years. I had to tear down the carburator several times before I discovered that the float had a hole resulting in flooding the engine.

Once I got the generator operating it was loud so I used it for an hour or two 2-3 times per day to give the refrigerator a chill, run a fan for a little while, and to recharge the deep-cycle battery.

Like the others, I would recommend that Central Florida reefers have at least an inverter and extension cord to run from their car and a circulation pump (or air pump for a small tank). Due to the power they consume and the likelihood that they won't do real well with the output of an inexpensive inverter I don't suggest running your main pump.

Be sure to test your power-backup system before you actually need it.

Paul
 
The bubbler is a little aerator thingy.. like a tiny pump that pushes air and you put some airline tubing on it and it usually connects to an airstone to diffuse the air into bubbles

Ever see those cheapy 2g aquarium kits? they have one in them or like the things on a bait hold or that attach to bait buckets to keep things alive longer.

Thanks for the tips guys maybe we'll have to look into getting a generator or an invertor and a way to keep everything up and running just in case!

It was only during the hurricanes and before we were reefers that our power was out for a day or two at most- we were VERY fortunate... I was teaching freshmen at UCF at the time and was helping some students find places to shower\do laundry etc because they had been without power for like 10 days or more =\
 
everyone needs a generator for sure - but if you cant afford it - which christie you guys spend more money on frags and stuff then a little cheapo generator would cost - then go to walmart they have battery bubblers for 7.00 and it comes with the stone and all - its a good back up anyways or its good to use if you dont want to run the generator all the time. but i still have to say we all spend so much on this hobby and we own animals and i think we should make every effort to take care of those animals the best we can.
 
We are getting a generator as soon as we can afford it. With all the tanks that we have, there is no way I want anything in them to die. Im just praying we dont have another Charlie this year. In the meantime, we have a power inverter and bubblers.
 
We were without power 3-4 days a couple times during the 04 hurricanes and between a inverter and generator didn't have any losses.

A little preparation can make a big difference. It is great to be part of a community that takes our responsibility for the creatures in our care seriously.


Paul
 
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