How long without power?
- Thread starter bawood
- Start date
dmjordan
Active Member
a generator is always good to have for this reason but if you don't have one you should get a battery operated pump. doesn't really matter which kind. you can buy a battery operated airator or what i did was tape some airline tubing up to an old inflatable boat pump.hope all goes well.
fishy head
Member
i have heard that it can last up to 2 days with out power,,,,but you must do a water change when it goes back on, because the nits. and ph. and everything else is going to to way off without power in your tank,,, i agree with getting a back up pump too
garnet13aj
Active Member
I don't actually have any advice
but I was wondering the same thing last night. My lights were flickering (all lights, not just tank lights) and I'm watching the news right now and a TON of people are having power outages due to a major wind storm last night.
garnet13aj
Active Member
OMG and they just said there is a power outage at the airport! I have a flight tomorow...uh oh!
mrs. crabtree
New Member
Can a battery backup (UPS?) be used like for a computer?
hatessushi
Active Member
Yes you can use a battery backup used for a computer. Just plug your pump in. It should actually pull less power then your computer. I do it all the time
kayak385
Member
Originally Posted by Mrs. Crabtree
Can a battery backup (UPS?) be used like for a computer?
UPS's work great for anything that needs power, but you have to understand that they only last for so long. You would want to check the amount of time/energy it can store to be used during a black out and calculate all your energy used by your tank to get an approx amount of time that it will stay on.
Can a battery backup (UPS?) be used like for a computer?
UPS's work great for anything that needs power, but you have to understand that they only last for so long. You would want to check the amount of time/energy it can store to be used during a black out and calculate all your energy used by your tank to get an approx amount of time that it will stay on.
bawood
Member
Lost the firefish. Unfortunately I never got a chance to read this e-mail as I went home right afterwards. The tank got down to 55 degrees and the fish didn't make it. My mushroom looks ok, but my zoas didn't open yet.
I was able to get the tank to 70 on Saturday by using a borrowed generator, but It was too late by then I think. It was crazy around here, gas lines and everything.
I'm mixing up water change water and I've definately noticed some skim increases.
I'll be investing in a battery operated pump in the future, along with a ups. We seldom loose power for more than 1 day, so the generator would be overkill for now. Though I might look into getting one used on craigslist when everyone goes to unload their's in a year...
I was able to get the tank to 70 on Saturday by using a borrowed generator, but It was too late by then I think. It was crazy around here, gas lines and everything.
I'm mixing up water change water and I've definately noticed some skim increases.
I'll be investing in a battery operated pump in the future, along with a ups. We seldom loose power for more than 1 day, so the generator would be overkill for now. Though I might look into getting one used on craigslist when everyone goes to unload their's in a year...
chipmaker
Active Member
Contrary to the fact a gen is not overkill now. Unfortunately most folks think that once the crisis is over with thats the end and never get concerned until the next time. There is simply not a substiute for a gen set. They are far too cheap and probably a lot cheaper than lots of stuff folks have in and on their tanks. Who can honestly say that their outages next time will be an hour or no more than 8 hours or a day..NO ONE can. Battery operated anything is a bandaide at most, and eventually folks depending on battery powered stuff is gonna get bit. UPS in the above case certainly would not have helped much really since temps dropped and heaters pull juice pretty quick from any UPS. On top of the obvious reasons for a gen set and a ref or fish tank, why live in poor conditions your self when it would be nice to have a light or two and maybe power a microwave for a cup of hot stuff or hot soup. I view battery power as merely a source to use from the time a problem happens to h owever long it takes me to walk to throw a switch to a gen set or pull a recoil starter rope etc....and maybe take a walk around outside and loook for additional problems etc, Not as a means of living, in todays day and age of cheap and functional generator sets. Unfortunately by and when the time comes that poeple say, I think I better get a gen set......they are impossible to find as others have cleaned out that stash the stores had in stock. Even in this part of thr country where freezing weather is rare, a gen set is a nice and handy convieince to have even if it will not power a house AC...there is just so much that you can power to make life more enjoyabole when those bad times come with power outages to make them not a need to have item.
gwh57
Member
You can also use a power inverter. That will go to a 12v auto battery and run things from now until... A large inverter will cost between $50 & $100 but can run all the "required" parts of your tank. You can even hook it up to your vehicle and charge both batteries together. I have a 1000W inverter on standby also.