Power Outages???

[knots]

Just curious, what do you do when your power goes out? Mine went out for 3 hours and I didn't worry about it. But some of you have very expensive tanks or lagoons and if the power goes out for any length of time what do you do? How long can fish and corals and anything else live without power? Anybody go as far as to have back up generators or battery operated pumps?

 

[blemmy_guy]

I have 2 of those big battery packs on stand by, just in case, they will last about 24 hrs each. I would only run what is most important, turn off the power sweeps and such. todd

 

[knots]

Where do you get battery packs? Are they kind of like what you can get for computers? Anybody else do anything?

 

[loopy]

good question! our power was accidently turned off by a lame brain guy who was suppose to turn of the neighbors. It was off all day and no one was home, tank temp went down to about 68. Everything survived, but I was....

 

[evilbob22]

I used to have a 55Gal connected to a UPS (Uninteruptable power supply a.k.a. battery backup). It was an extra one that I originally had for my computer. The only problem is that I didn't forsee a long power outage... it worked fine for 15 minutes, but the following 6 1/2 days with no power killed everything.

I was very much a newb at that time (still pretty much am) so I didn't even think of seeing if the LFS would keep them.
Anyway... Battery backups are usually designed to keep a computer running for 10 or 15 minutes, so you need to get big ones, like Blemmy_Guy has, to do much help (and they aren't cheap).
Tripwire is a big name for UPS's, but the biggest name of them all by far is APC (website is apcc.com).

 

[reefnut]

I use a generator... it's big enough to run the heaters, main pumps and powerheads for both tanks... and one TV
They sale battery operated air pumps that many people have used with success. The two biggest things to worry about is temp and O2 IMO. You need a way to aerate the water and some circulation to get the O2 to the corals, bacteria, etc.
One major reason I do not like canister filters when used as a bio-filter is because during a power outage or if they get turned off to long the bacteria colonies will die due to the lack of O2. So anyone running a canister make sure you find a way to circulate water through the canister during an extended outage.

 

[knots]

I remember your story Loopy and thats what got me wondering and then when mine went out I decided to ask. What happened to evil is kind of what I figured might happen. A generator is pretty amazing but with you having 2 big tanks thats sounds necessary. A generator for a thousand or lose many many thousands worth of stuff. Kind of an easy choice. Reef, do you have it hooked up to kick in automatically if thats even possible. How long do you think everything would be ok before you had to do something? thanks for the info.

 

[dalerich]

I lost power during an ice storm once for three days. My fish only tank was okay but I was still worried that water pipes would start breaking in the house. The best advice I was given by a friend is to wrap the tank in blankets, turn off the filters and lighting but leave the heater plugged in so if power returns while your not home it won't start the blankets on fire. Sheets of styrofoam would be great to hold the heat in the tank. But who keeps sheets of styrofoam around the house. I guess you could run to a home improvement center if the power goes out. This will buy you some time. Generator set would be necessary if the replacement cost of a full reef tank live stock gets up into the $1000.00's
Any insurance experts out their?? Would the reef tank livestock lost be covered in a power failure on an insurance claim???
Simple Yes or No I'm not tring to steal this post.

 

[takia]

Insurance WILL NOT cover livestock or tank, sometimes they wil not even cover if it actually breaks and floods your house. Good thing to check w/ your insurer about.

 

[evilbob22]

Originally posted by knots
I remember your story Loopy and thats what got me wondering and then when mine went out I decided to ask. What happened to evil is kind of what I figured might happen. A generator is pretty amazing but with you having 2 big tanks thats sounds necessary. A generator for a thousand or lose many many thousands worth of stuff. Kind of an easy choice. Reef, do you have it hooked up to kick in automatically if thats even possible. How long do you think everything would be ok before you had to do something? thanks for the info.
Realistically you can't plan for what happened to my tank. The blanket thing dalerich mentioned sounds like a really good idea (assuming you are at home when the power goes out). I don't actually have my 145 setup (yet) but I don't plan on worrying about power outages for more than a few hours, or maybe a day, even with my previous experience. In 36 years living in the same general area I've only seen one power outage that lasted more than a day or two. (as long as my electric bill was paid that is

)

 

[knots]

I think Reef has the right idea with a generator. A small cost considering the big investment in a tank. Out here in California we don't get the cold weather you guys get back east so I never thought about the water getting too cold. Even without a heater my water still stays about 72. And I just assumed my insurance would cover me if my tank broke.

 

[sprang]

we lost our power for about a week, and I kept my tank running with candels around the base(don't recommend) and I taped hand warmers to the tank. I also used a bubble box for circulation. Everything lived but it was a pain keeping the candels lit for heat. we are working on a back-up heater that can run without a generator is proving quite difficult.

 

[maeistero]

this is a really interesting thread. never thought about extended power outages. good to know about the canister filter as well b/c i often turn it off for awhile when i'm worried it might leak and drain the tank onto the floor (outflow jumped tank last year and drained 3/4 of the 55 to my downstairs neighbor). i couldn't use a generator as i'm on a higher level apt, but my tank isn't heated and stays at room temp of about 67-75. the temp changes aren't rapid ever. someday i hope to have a house where i can do all my tanks in a room, then i'll be way more serious, but now i just want these tanks to survive. i guess if power was out for extended periods i'd light a fire in the fireplace and try to swish or blow bubbles for oxy every hour. i once brought back 10 fish from fl to ks in the bed of a pickup blowing bubbles.

true

 

[dmc888]

How bout using a car battery with a power inverter/dc to ac.
Considering a car battery would be the biggest you can get.
You could charge it by car or charger.
It wouldn't cost that much.
Thats what i would do.

 

[smallfry]

Sears sell a small battery operated generator for less than $100. It can be recharge with your car if you need it for an extended amount of time.
It was a true life line after the hurricans!!
gas generators can be loud and you dont run then 24/7 so this was a perfect answer.

 

[taz_12777]

I have a whole house generator system that automatical comes on when the power goes off for more than 30 seconds. Its really nice but $$$. I got it through Home Depot, they have different sizes and $$$. They are a little loud ( about the noise of a riding lawnmower ) and you may get some fumes but not bad.

 

[smallfry]

If I built a house new I would do the whole house thing but in S. Florida we have no basement so are limited on space for built-ins like that...
We have always had the gas generator but I don't like to run it at night so the rechargable battery one is nice for the night running of things..
I also ran the battery powered air pumps with air stones on them and that worked nice....they are also nice to have if you need to transport fish in a bucket or any thing like that..

 

[kiharaconn]

The lfs here sells a unit that only comes on during a power outage. It plugs into the outlet and comes on and runs off of battery. Its alot like the battery powered air stones. During the last hurricane we used the battery air stones until we were able to buy a power inverter that we hooked up to the truck battery. That worked great. It will run as long as the battery lasts. So we ran it off and on to extend time. We just ran the pumps to keep water moving and turned the lights off and on for the corals. Everything came through the ordeal ok.

 

[knots]

One thing I've learned is that I'm never gonna complain again if our Temp. goes below 30. I think I'm freezing to death if we get in the 20's. You people that live back east are crazy. You can have your hurricanes, tornadoes and ice and snow storms. I'll take an earthquake every once in awhile anyday. Our power never goes out for any length of time so if I was to do anything I would do the power inverter, I have one and never even thought about it. It's interesting to see what everybody is doing around the country.

 

[dalerich]

California didn't you guys have rolling brown outs because the utility company wasn't aloud to raise rates? I thought the utility company made up a shortage and punished everyone. I could be wrong. I work for a company that makes engine protection modules for generators. We love storms,earthquakes and corrupt utility companies. The bottom line about a generator, UPS, solar, and or battery back up is not that the power never goes off or storms don't happen here or it's never below 75F in the keys. The fact of the matter remains is when does death occur in a saltwater system and how much will that cost you? I have no generator back up. I have two clowns,bi-colored angle,fire shrimp,banded coral shrimp and an anemone. We are only talking about $80-100 to me it's worth the risk. Now if my tank was like some of the reef tanks pictured in the photography section. I may be not willing to take a risk. $500.00 or less can get a home depot generator that would run the necessary loads on a tank to prevent death. Run a extension cord to the back yard pull the cord and start turning stuff on. Simple. You could get into a auto-mains failure unit with an auto start generator for $1200.00 DIY- $10,000+. It all about the risk. Warm beer, no TV and watching my fish die has a price. What is your price?