Hurricanes, Power Outages, & Air Pumps?

[confusedfishy]

Okay, I want to find out what people think and from possible experience:
I live in Florida in the Panhandle so I live through hurricane season every year with my fingers crossed. I am still a few months into saltwater but with freshwater I used air pumps in the past...anyway my question...
How many air pumps would you need to keep a reef tank going?
A 55, 65, and a 92 gallon is what my obsession has gotten me so far.

 

[tizzo]

I guess it depends on how long and when your power goes out. But when mine went out I had one air pump and I used a little bowl to pick up and drop the tank water back in every chance I got but at least every half hour. When my power went out for four hours straight, I went to a pawn shop and bought a generator.

 

[confusedfishy]

We have been thinking about a generator but I know you are limited by how many things you can plug into them and with 3 tanks I figure we can't do them all.

 

[matt b]

Originally Posted by confusedfishy
http:///forum/post/2535794
We have been thinking about a generator but I know you are limited by how many things you can plug into them and with 3 tanks I figure we can't do them all.
I bet you could run 3 heaters and 3 powerheads

 

[confusedfishy]

Good thought about the heaters and powerheads, I am going to look at some generators and find that out. Keep coming with the advise, I am sure lots really need it-its just something people don't like to think about happening so they don't worry about it till it does. By then the generators and air pumps will be long gone.

 

[shobby]

I also live in Florida, after the last three hurricanes, I went and bought a generator. I hook up three aquariums, and the refrigerator, small freezer and at least two tvs. They can hold quite a bit. It is alot easier than an air pump and dumping water, especially if like me, you have to work.
Shelley

 

[mugg1977]

Confusedfishy -
Where in the pan-handle? I lived in Destin until last year.
As far as your question, I went through Opal, Ivan, and all the rest in Destin. With Ivan, I was out of power for 6 days! By far your best bet is to buy a generator. I have a 5.5kW that completely ran my 55 (halides and all), my entertainment center, my refrgerator, and a box fan for all 6 days without power. Just make sure you have about five 5-gallon gas cans and fill them up before the storm hits.

 

[confusedfishy]

Really Destin huh, I live FWB! Did you shop at Fiz Biz? They just closed and there is no where to shop around here anymore. I went through all of those too, we were about 6 days with Ivan as well and like 4 with Dennis a few years ago. Part of FWB never lost power but we were the part that did in Dennis. At the time I had freshwater and I used 3 air pumps. I am going to look into the generator, I am sure the price is lower now but in June it will rise. The gas can info. is great, I probably wouldn't of gotten that much, its hard to estimate sometimes.

 

[srfisher17]

I lost several tanks when Katrina hit the Mississippi Coast, lost my generator too. (That explains the Tennessee address) I had a generator and just used PHs during previous storms when we lost power. Water cools rather slowly (especially with no AC) and hurricane season is the warm season; so temp was never a problem for me. IMO, air pumps do very little; but the water movement provided by the PHs is vital for the biological filter and corals. A PH uses very little elec, so you can still keep the beer cold without wasting the free ice.

 

[mugg1977]

Originally Posted by confusedfishy
http:///forum/post/2536206
Really Destin huh, I live FWB! Did you shop at Fiz Biz? They just closed and there is no where to shop around here anymore. I went through all of those too, we were about 6 days with Ivan as well and like 4 with Dennis a few years ago. Part of FWB never lost power but we were the part that did in Dennis. At the time I had freshwater and I used 3 air pumps. I am going to look into the generator, I am sure the price is lower now but in June it will rise. The gas can info. is great, I probably wouldn't of gotten that much, its hard to estimate sometimes.
I shopped at Suncoast in PC. Erik (owner) was great to work with. He lives in Bayside. If you can get over to PC, I highly recommend them. They are located on Back Beach right where the "new" over pass for the Hathaway Bridge starts, on the south side of Back Beach. Southwest corner of Back Beach and Thomas Drive.
On the gas cans, I learned from experience on that one. Had to siphon out of my truck during Opal! A 5.5kW generator will run you about 600 probably, and will use about one tank (+/- 2 gallons every 14-16 hours), at least mine did.

 

[srfisher17]

RE: Gas and generators: Mine, can't remember the size, used about a gal every 6 hrs. When the time came, My neighbor & I would illegally fill 2 55 gal barrels (with spigots) with gas that were well secured.When we saw how big Katrina became and its course, I called a friend who was part of the Emergency crew and several people came and filled their vehicles.

 

[king kole]

hi im in amelia island and have been doing alot of research on a generator for our home and our 90 G. its about money

the best setup would be a generac 7.5 running on propane [250 gal] hardwired to your main with the remote readout and automatic sensor. a 15 kw would be best but thats cost prohibitive for most. that [the 7.5 system] is 3000.new and about 2000.used. its a ton of money but a lifetime of peaceof mind. the next step down and you have to do it now not at hurricane time is running a portable on gas which means ... storage of gas plugging into a 5.5 portable running bare essentials switching plugs in wet weather etc.. there are government subsides for many people and banks consider it an upgrade if its your own house with the hardwired permanent system. good luck with your search i hope i gave you a little help.