power outage questions???

tat2dfreeky1 · 04-11-2007, 06:54 PM

since i'm sitting here through tornadic weather right now i have a few questions that have crossed my mind. i live out in the boonies, so the power does go out occasionally. usually not for more than an hour or so, but last year it was out for about 3-4 days. 1st?, how long can the power be off before my tank starts to suffer? i know i need heat, and the lights being off for a while will be ok, but what about the flow and skimmer? right now i have a torch, hammer, shrooms, zoos,zenia, a red ball sponge, and 2 gorgs. i just need to know when i should start to worry, that way i can rush out and buy a generator to keep everything alive.

dobejazz · 04-11-2007, 07:25 PM

I hook up the inverter to the boat battery to run my pumps after about 1 1/2 hours I don't worry about lights or skimming but we have not had a power loss more than 4 hours for a long time

Doug1 · 04-11-2007, 09:41 PM

Setup a back up plan and action before you need it, when you do you will be too busy or unable to fall back on plan B

zero186 · 04-11-2007, 09:43 PM

bat powered air pumps and some kind of hook up for a heater

texfromkansas · 04-11-2007, 09:53 PM

I have something similar to this. http://www.batteries.com/productprofile.asp?appid=292262 The power hasnt went out, so I dont know how long it will power the heater and filter.

Twitterbait · 04-11-2007, 11:19 PM

actually... heat is not a priority. circulation and water movement are number one. the tank is not going to lose that much heat even overnight. focus on water movement first. if your house is getting colder then wrap the tank in a blanket or 2 and you will be good overnight at least for temp.

xtopher · 04-11-2007, 11:42 PM

I bought some battery powered air pumps.

Fly Guy · 04-11-2007, 11:58 PM

I think that AIR is actually the first priority, not necessarily just flow. Water simply circulating is still going to run out of oxygen unless you provide it somehow. Of course backing up your return pump would accomplish both the flow and the air thing.

Reef-Keeper · 04-12-2007, 07:25 AM

i agree with Fly, i just lost 5 acro colonies (3-4 more not looking very good) because my power went out for 36 hours and i had no backup plan. if i would have had a gen. or inverter i could have saved them ALL just by running the return pump.

faintreny · 04-12-2007, 10:12 AM

well I had several power outages in the last 3 years, usually up to 12 hours there is no problem...Last year I had five days however and lost clams, hammer, torch, leather and several fishes...

Wont be caught again and I am buying a 6,500 watts generator that will kick automatically in case of power outage.

Last year I was in Europe when it happened and I just heard bad news after bad news...

You can find some cheap ones at :

www.sportsmanguide.com

A sump pump require 1000w power, electric water heater 4000w...

Good luck...

Rippey · 04-12-2007, 10:17 AM

I would run an air stone with an inverter if its gonna be awhile if not run and airstone and a low flow pump my 500gph is only 7 1/2w.
Also I am a back yard elctrical...watever, I have sevral 12 car batteris laying around at full capacity I can pull about 100A 12vDc. With AC (from the wall) I can nock my consuption down to about 40A 12vDc

afbengochea · 04-12-2007, 10:18 AM

the only thing that sux about generators is that if u are without power for a long time, like down here due to hurricanes, u would run out of gas as well.

Loverotties · 04-12-2007, 10:35 AM

Hope you don't lose it.

Reefyone · 04-13-2007, 09:11 AM

I have 400W power back-up, only Seio powerheads were connected. But after power outage exceeded several hours, the fish started to suffer from the lack of oxygen. Had to replace one powerhead by airpump - much better. Last for ~24 hrs only, despite 30% left, shown on display... Luckily, had computer's UPS at the hand - lasted for the rest of 36 hrs outage.
It was in the middle of the very cold weather, heating of the house was off (natural gas, but starter is electrical - ridiculous. Power off, and you are without heating, as with a plain electrical heater

). But this was weekend - heated tank water and returned to the tank, again and again. Total 3 hrs of uninterrupted sleep

Can't imagine, what to do, if lasted longer in the unheated house in the middle of the winter.

afbengochea · 04-13-2007, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fly Guy

I think that AIR is actually the first priority, not necessarily just flow. Water simply circulating is still going to run out of oxygen unless you provide it somehow. Of course backing up your return pump would accomplish both the flow and the air thing.

Im not so sure on that fly. I know a guy that has had a sumpless hex tank setup for well over a year and all hes got is a couple maxijets which some are pointed up at the surface of the water. It might also have something to do with the fact that we are at sea level here in Miami but that I dont know