Cool a tank in power outage?

[krash7172]

So I bought an inverter and I can keep the tank alive in a power outage... when it's not hot. The power went out last week and it was over 90F outside. It didn't last long but it made me think about what I would do if the power did stay off for an extended period of time. I don't have a chiller. Air conditioning is enough to keep my tank at 78. Heat transfer 101: in the winter it can be 80 degrees cooler outside but in the summer it is only about 20 degrees warmer than the tank. The effect of a power outage should be less in the summer. My current plan is to keep some water bottles in the freezer. They are pretty small compared to the volume of a tank. Check the temp manually and put a bottle in the sump if temp rises. Disaster plan is to buy a bag of ice and put it in a container in the sump.

Any input?

 

[ndrwater]

If the powerheads will still be running, fans aimed at the agitated surface are remarkably effective.
Or, as you said, worst case, a frozen 2 litre in the sump.

 

[ZoWhat]

Freeze 2liter bottles of RODI at a friends or relatives house that still has power and float the 2liters directly in the DT.

You can also buy a POWER INVERTER like this one below and run it off your cars battery for emergency power....to power your houses fridge and your DTs powerheads, possibly airblowing fans

Your car can run idle for a long time with a full tank and this inverter powering things. Couple days if car running idle I would think.

Now if the outage is even a week....I would gladly keep filling up my cars tank with gas to power the inverter to run my fridge and my DT with skeletoncrew equipment

If the power outage is so bad and widespread that you cant even drive a hour away to get gas.... then you got major problems. Then whole-house generators that are powered on propane is an option

My solution sitting in my garage ready and waiting to off my running cars battery is this:

https://www.harborfreight.com/2000-...-modified-sine-wave-power-inverter-63429.html

 

[krash7172]

I got enough backup power to run pumps and power heads for days. No chill tho. So frozen bottles are a good plan it seems and try evaporative cooling.

 

[Michael Naegeli]

That’s what I used after Irma. Power out 4 days. 94 degrees out. I froze a bunch of water when I knew she was hittin. I bout a whole house generator few months later.

 

[clm65]

The key is to be prepared. Buy ice or freeze bottles ahead of time. Store containers of gas if you have a generator or plan to use your car with an inverter. If a big storm or whatever does enough damage to knock power out for days, you will likely have trouble getting ice, water, and gas. I guess that is one of the nice things about hurricanes...they give you advance warning so you can be prepared.

 

[Brian_68]

I ended up purchasing the HF 3500 watt inverter generator and installed a transfer switch for 6 circuits plus I have a portable AC unit I plan to put out the window of the aquarium room. I have used the generator for my aquarium multiple times and the transfer switch makes it easier than running extension cords and the setup was not as costly as a whole house unit. Years ago a bad storm came thru and power was out for 4 days in the peak of summer, not fun.

 

[krash7172]

I own 20 acres so having portable power is important. I don't like generators so I have 3 inverters. 4400W total with 5 outlets. The dewalt is amazing but it is modified sine wave.

 

[jtl]

I was without power for 7 days thanks to hurricane Irma. My gen was not enough to run my AC so I used bottles of frozen water. Worked out fine.

 

[ZoWhat]

I own 20 acres so having portable power is important. I don't like generators so I have 3 inverters. 4400W total with 5 outlets. The dewalt is amazing but it is modified sine wave.

How do keep the bank of battery recharged?

 

[krash7172]

I use a trickle charger for the lead-acid deep cycle batteries. The Dewalt power station is a charger. Just plug it in and it will charge 4 standard batteries in parallel. Push a button and it switches from a charger to a 1500w power source. Pretty cool.