Loosing Electricity??!?!?

Baby Ray · Jan 22, 2016

Hey everyone,
I live in central VA so I am supposed to get hammered by this winter storm coming up. What would your recommendations be if I lost power? The smallest generator I could find was $1,000!
What are some other alternatives?

Joe parrish · Jan 22, 2016

A battery back up for the pumps but kind of late

air stones
put a blanket over the tank to keep heat in

SeahorseKeeper · Jan 22, 2016

With the cold coming, a generator. If that's not possible and you lose power, wrap the tank in blankets and cover the top of the tank to prevent heat from escaping. If you have a gas stove, you can heat water on the stove and put it into bottles to try and up the tank temp. Also, you can use a battery back up to power a power head. You can also get an inverter to hook up to your car (lighter outlet) or rig it to work with a car battery. Also, you should get battery operated air pumps. I would also make some fresh saltwater.

TheEngineer · Jan 22, 2016

Harbor Freight has less expensive generators, but they are probably sold out at this point. Go to a sporting goods store and get a battery powered air pump from the fishing section. They are usually with a bucket to keep minnows alive. They run for about 30 hours on a set of D batteries.

Baby Ray · Jan 22, 2016

Thanks for all your replies. I feel kind of stupid for mot having a plan already but this is my first tank and I am still learning. I am going to go get a better operated air stone right now before the snow hits. I will look for a small battery backup also. If I can't find one I will just swipe my glass cleaner across the tank a couple of times to get a good current.
Thanks

TheEngineer · Jan 22, 2016

If you have the bubbler you are good for water movement, no need to do the swiping. You'll have an issue with heat still, but the heating of hot water idea works well for that.

redfishbluefish · Jan 22, 2016

A thousand bucks for a generator???? That must be a big generator. I purchased mine at Sam's for $299 and it ran 24/7 during Sandy for over seven days. It ran my entire tank, refrigerator, boiler, television, and a few lights.

Breadman03 · Jan 22, 2016

redfishbluefish said:
A thousand bucks for a generator???? That must be a big generator. I purchased mine at Sam's for $299 and it ran 24/7 during Sandy for over seven days. It ran my entire tank, refrigerator, boiler, television, and a few lights.

Or a Honda or Yamaha inverter generator, which is what I chose because they are big enough, quiet, and fuel efficient. Oh, and my wife can move it.

TheEngineer · Jan 22, 2016

I bought a generator for this storm thinking I could hook it to my generator panel.... NOPE! My panel is a 4 pin, the generator is 3 pin. DANG IT!

Baby Ray · Jan 22, 2016

Breadman03 said:
Or a Honda or Yamaha inverter generator, which is what I chose because they are big enough, quiet, and fuel efficient. Oh, and my wife can move it.

It was a honda generator.

redfishbluefish · Jan 22, 2016

Baby Ray said:
It was a honda generator.

That explains it. I had a hard time considering a Honda because of the likelihood that I will not be using this generator again. Very nice generators....and quiet. (Mine is loud!) It is rare that we lose power, and if we do, it typically is for a moment, and the power is back. Sandy was the exception.