Electric generator for South Florida Hurricanes...

[Zeal]

Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 500, 518Wh

or

Jackery Solar Generator 500, 518Wh Outdoor Solar Generator Mobile Lithium Battery Pac

I'm thinking of buying this for both my fish tanks.... I'm not sure if it's worth it or what. I'm not very handy and I have no idea what to buy

 

[DDenny]

How big of tanks? Both are only 518 watts power. The one I have is 9000 watts buts is loud. If you need quite then go with an inverter generator but they tend to cost more. These are some examples. Harbor freight has an inverter style as well.

inverter style

https://www.lowes.com/pl/Inverter-generators-Generators-Electrical/29307648

regular generator.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Generac-GP6500-Watt-Portable-Generator-CO-Sense-49ST/5001944611

think if there is a storm there might not be enough sunlight to charge your solar generator. I would go with gas powered for that reason and as big as you can afford. I have two 9000 watt generators to run various things in the house.

 

[Zeal]

How big of tanks? Both are only 518 watts power. The one I have is 9000 watts buts is loud. If you need quite then go with an inverter generator but they tend to cost more. These are some examples. Harbor freight has an inverter style as well.

inverter style

https://www.lowes.com/pl/Inverter-generators-Generators-Electrical/29307648

regular generator.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Generac-GP6500-Watt-Portable-Generator-CO-Sense-49ST/5001944611

think if there is a storm there might not be enough sunlight to charge your solar generator. I would go with gas powered for that reason and as big as you can afford. I have two 9000 watt generators to run various things in the house.

I cant go with a gas-powered because I live in a condo.

One tank is a 40G Red Sea 170 and a Waterbox peninsula. The peninsula is cycling so IDC about that.

The Red Sea is a full mixed reef. That tank goes indirect sunlight so the light isn't an issue. And I can always run a cheap powerhead to create from flow at the surface.

All im worried about is the tank(s)

 

[lapin]

Both of these will work. You need to know that they might not power everything for very long. As an emergency they should power an air pump and small power head for quite a while.
It is basicly a LI car battery. Meaning it can be discharged to a very low point. A std car battery if discharged to a very low point might not be able to be recharged.
The difference between the 2 is one has the solar panels. If you have sun, it can be recharged, even if your power is out.

A gas powered generator would be a better investment if you have a place outside to run it.

If you post your equipment or look up the watts/ amps for each piece someone here might be able to figure out how long it will run

 

[snorklr]

ok thats not a real generator...thats basically a battery that you charge ahead of time, bring along on a camping trip and hope its solar panels keep up with it if you dont use it too much...its limit is a small blender

 

[DDenny]

I cant go with a gas-powered because I live in a condo.

One tank is a 40G Red Sea 170 and a Waterbox peninsula. The peninsula is cycling so IDC about that.

The Red Sea is a full mixed reef. That tank goes indirect sunlight so the light isn't an issue. And I can always run a cheap powerhead to create from flow at the surface.

All im worried about is the tank(s)

That makes a difference what everyone else is saying. Just run essentials circulation pump air stone and the battery will last for a while. If I had to get one of those I would get the solar paneled one so you can recharge if the sun comes out. You would be surprised even with cloud cover some solar panels can still charge up just a lot slower. Might be a great idea to have two or if possible find a larger wattage but not sure if one is made that is bigger.

Edit: get the biggest you can afford.

 

[Zeal]

Both of these will work. You need to know that they might not power everything for very long. As an emergency they should power an air pump and small power head for quite a while.
It is basicly a LI car battery. Meaning it can be discharged to a very low point. A std car battery if discharged to a very low point might not be able to be recharged.
The difference between the 2 is one has the solar panels. If you have sun, it can be recharged, even if your power is out.

A gas powered generator would be a better investment if you have a place outside to run it.

If you post your equipment or look up the watts/ amps for each piece someone here might be able to figure out how long it will run

ok thats not a real generator...thats basically a battery that you charge ahead of time, bring along on a camping trip and hope its solar panels keep up with it if you dont use it too much...its limit is a small blender

That makes a difference what everyone else is saying. Just run essentials circulation pump air stone and the battery will last for a while. If I had to get one of those I would get the solar paneled one so you can recharge if the sun comes out. You would be surprised even with cloud cover some solar panels can still charge up just a lot slower. Might be a great idea to have two or if possible find a larger wattage but not sure if one is made that is bigger.

Like I stated above. I cannot have a gas powered generator because I live in a condo. A hurricane last about 2/3 days. Sometimes 2 day at the MOST. After a storm, we have near perfect weather with a lot of sun.

I do not care to run my lights or anything else. I can buy a very cheap powerhead place it at hitting the water surface and thats it.

I have 2 air bubbler things. The kind people use for fishing.

 

[DDenny]

You could just run the return pumps on both so water circulates. Also love on the gulf coast in Texas and our power goes out 3-5 days when we have hurricanes. I am seriously thinking a whole house generator for that reason.

 

[lapin]

Then it will work. if you get 2 small power heads 3.5watts x 2 Plus 2 air pumps 3.5w x2 = 14 watts
500 /14= 35 hours
Now you wont be able to get all that time. Some loss due to conversion dc to ac and the fact the battery will not fully discharge for safety reason

 

[Zeal]

Then it will work. if you get 2 small power heads 3.5watts x 2 Plus 2 air pumps 3.5w x2 = 14 watts
500 /14= 35 hours
Now you wont be able to get all that time. Some loss due to conversion dc to ac and the fact the battery will not fully discharge for safety reason

Would a air bubbler be enough for surface agitation??

 

[jassermd]

Like I stated above. I cannot have a gas powered generator because I live in a condo. A hurricane last about 2/3 days. Sometimes 2 day at the MOST. After a storm, we have near perfect weather with a lot of sun.

I do not care to run my lights or anything else. I can buy a very cheap powerhead place it at hitting the water surface and thats it.

I have 2 air bubbler things. The kind people use for fishing.

You may want to look at dual fuel inverter generators. They run off gas or propane and are quiet. A regular propane tank will last you 24+ hrs, and even more depending on the load.

 

[DDenny]

You may want to look at dual fuel inverter generators. They run off gas or propane and are quiet. A regular propane tank will last you 24+ hrs, and even more depending on the load.

Doesn't sound like they have a balcony to have a gas/propane generator. The solar power would be their only option. I would have multiple of them if possible.