Lost Power! I think I just Dodged a Bullet!

120reefkeeper · Jul 25, 2016

So I go into work tonight at 6pm. While at work we got slammed with some really nasty thunderstorms. It got me thinking about my tank so I text my daughter and ask her if everything is ok. She didn't answer for awhile . Finally she replies that the power has been out for 2 hours.

My tank is a 120 and is currently lightly stocked . I have a blue green chromis , starry blenny, and 2 snow flake clowns along with CUC . This tanks only been up for 4 months so no corals yet thank goodness!

Hmmmm I say and I start getting concerned. Now mind you I have a portable generator , but that does me no good when I'm at work. So I tell my daughter to keep me up to date with the power situation .

One more hour goes by and still no power . That's it I can't take it anymore. I tell my supervisor I've got an emergency and I gotta split.

I rush home , grab the generator and start moving wires around and getting everything plugged in.

I kid you not ! As soon as I start the generator , the power comes back on!!!!!!!!! Ughhhhhh!!!

So after a lot of head shaking, I decide to check on the fish. Not looking so good at first.... Swimming funny but not dead and seem to be recovering ok. After about 20 min or so everyone seems fine.

So question one

1. What do you use for a backup ?

2. How long is to long to wait ?

3. How will I know for sure I dodged this bullet?

Untamedrose · Jul 25, 2016

I have a cheap as hell back up air bubbler(talking 10-15.00)that turns on auto runs off batteries when the power turns off.
Would have helped in your situation..... least if you have one or two open plugs.

Sabellafella · Jul 25, 2016

Aw, yea the same happened with me yesterday morning. Lost power for a good 3 minutes from the heat but trust me I WAS FREAKING out untill it went back on. Made me start to get the ball rolling for situations like this. With my old tank and hurricane sandy, it took about 4 hours before all my fishys passed =(. Now you dont know for sure if you dodged the bullet, im positive everything should be ok giving the size of your tank and the temp prob didnt flux much. But for some security, eventually youll need something to control temp,oxygen,and some flow if it were to ever happen again.

Ontheway · Jul 25, 2016

Hi, I am using one of these. I decided to connect it to breaker box but you can install it just for aquarium. It acts as ups and immediately continues after power failure. Its a pure sine inverter so safe for motors (Dont try modified sine versions, tested once. Noise from return pump was ugly). Main advantage is, cheap batteries, ability to add more battery... also, unit setup is very flexible, check features. I am quite happy with it.

trmiv · Jul 25, 2016

Is that a Maxspect Gyre on the right there? Why not just get the IceCap Battery Backup and hook it to that?

RyanCSGO · Jul 25, 2016

1. Ecotech battery back up. (kicks on the moment the tank loses power)
2. if i'm not mistaken, beneficial bacteria begins to die after about 6+ hours of no circulation, which then turns into ammonia...killing everything else

3. if your fish seem to be acting normal, you should be fine.

i lost power at my house a couple months ago, spent about an hour and a half scooping up water from the tank and dumping it back in for circulation and gas exchange, (so much fun)
immediately went the next day and got my battery back up.

R_C · Jul 25, 2016

I just recently added an APC XS1500 battery backup. I have the heater and my RW Powerheads plugged to it. As soon as the power goes out it starts beeping like crazy and gives me about 3 hrs of time.
As per how long is too long, if I did not have a backup then I would give it an hour before heading home to get things going.

Breakthecycle2 · Jul 25, 2016

Two hours is nothing to worry about. I've lost power for 10 hours with no issues...still I get what you mean. Battery backups or generators are a must in this hobby. Neither of which I have yet.

120reefkeeper · Jul 25, 2016

Untamedrose said:
I have a cheap as hell back up air bubbler(talking 10-15.00)that turns on auto runs off batteries when the power turns off.
Would have helped in your situation..... least if you have one or two open plugs.

Yes I've been looking into those and they seem to be the cheapest option. Brs carries some that cost like 22 bucks each and sense when there is a power loss and come online. I'd need a couple of them. The only downside is they have to remain in the tank all the time :/. Great suggestion though !

120reefkeeper · Jul 25, 2016

Sabellafella said:
Aw, yea the same happened with me yesterday morning. Lost power for a good 3 minutes from the heat but trust me I WAS FREAKING out untill it went back on. Made me start to get the ball rolling for situations like this. With my old tank and hurricane sandy, it took about 4 hours before all my fishys passed =(. Now you dont know for sure if you dodged the bullet, im positive everything should be ok giving the size of your tank and the temp prob didnt flux much. But for some security, eventually youll need something to control temp,oxygen,and some flow if it were to ever happen again.

Yes I was in freak out mode when it hit three hours! I drove home in about 25 minutes.... Normal time is 45 minutes! Lol

The good thing is that all is well this morning and you'd never know anything has happened.

I think I'll take a multiple option selection on this one. It's a terrible feeling when you feel powerless!

120reefkeeper · Jul 25, 2016

Ontheway said:
Hi, I am using one of these. I decided to connect it to breaker box but you can install it just for aquarium. It acts as ups and immediately continues after power failure. Its a pure sine inverter so safe for motors (Dont try modified sine versions, tested once. Noise from return pump was ugly). Main advantage is, cheap batteries, ability to add more battery... also, unit setup is very flexible, check features. I am quite happy with it.

Wow I didn't know these even existed ! Sweet! I'll be checking them out! Thanks for the info!! [emoji16]

trmiv · Jul 25, 2016

Oddly my IceCap Battery Backup just showed up for my Maxspect Gyre a few minutes ago. This is all you need! Doesn't matter if that's a Jebao pump in your tank either, because the IceCap battery backup is literally the Jebao battery backup with a sticker over the top. I can see the Jebao label right under the IceCap sticker. Same price though, so it doesn't matter. Got mine here: http://www.aquacave.com/icecap-battery-backup.html

BRS also has them.

120reefkeeper · Jul 25, 2016

trmiv said:
Is that a Maxspect Gyre on the right there? Why not just get the IceCap Battery Backup and hook it to that?

Yes it's a maxspect gyre 130 and that is definitely an option for me. I think you need the icecap battery backup and the icecap interface module ? Correct me if I'm wrong. This is most certainly one of the options I believe I will go with! Thanks [emoji16][emoji41]

trmiv · Jul 25, 2016

I verified with CoralVue before I bought it that a module is not needed. The only rub is without the module when the pump is on the battery it will run at whatever speed and setting you normally have it at. With the module it sets it to 30% constant to save battery power.

120reefkeeper · Jul 25, 2016

RyanCSGO said:
1. Ecotech battery back up. (kicks on the moment the tank loses power)
2. if i'm not mistaken, beneficial bacteria begins to die after about 6+ hours of no circulation, which then turns into ammonia...killing everything else
3. if your fish seem to be acting normal, you should be fine.

i lost power at my house a couple months ago, spent about an hour and a half scooping up water from the tank and dumping it back in for circulation and gas exchange, (so much fun)
immediately went the next day and got my battery back up.

It's not a good feeling is it!??! My fish are fine today so yes indeed I believe I dodged a bullet!

The ecotech is another great option , the down side is cost. I'd have to buy a ecotech pump and battery backup. Can you say cha Ching $$$$$$$$$$$$ . Lol thanks for the great suggestion! [emoji51]

120reefkeeper · Jul 25, 2016

R_C said:
I just recently added an APC XS1500 battery backup. I have the heater and my RW Powerheads plugged to it. As soon as the power goes out it starts beeping like crazy and gives me about 3 hrs of time.
As per how long is too long, if I did not have a backup then I would give it an hour before heading home to get things going.

Another great option ! I gotta get moving on this, not a good feeling when it happens to you. :/

I agree I waited a little to long before heading home, but at that point the tank had been down for 2 hours already. Close call I think and everyone is ok! [emoji28]

120reefkeeper · Jul 25, 2016

Breakthecycle2 said:
Two hours is nothing to worry about. I've lost power for 10 hours with no issues...still I get what you mean. Battery backups or generators are a must in this hobby. Neither of which I have yet.

Wow 10 hours! That would give me a heart attack! Yep I have a generator but I need to do something that can act if I'm not around. I believe a multiple attack approach is in order!

120reefkeeper · Jul 25, 2016

trmiv said:
I verified with CoralVue before I bought it that a module is not needed. The only rub is without the module when the pump is on the battery it will run at whatever speed and setting you normally have it at. With the module it sets it to 30% constant to save battery power.

Thanks for the clarification ! Since I already own the pump I believe this is the first option I will go with and maybe a couple of bubblers as backups for that if the battery dies!

So it would be icecap backup, battery bubblers and I still have the generator also.

120reefkeeper · Jul 25, 2016

During this entire power outage I kept thinking of this poor reefer and what she went through!

I thought I'd put this up to remind everyone what happens when the power goes out!

My Tank crash - Hopefully you can learn from my experience
https://www.reef2reef.com/index.php...ully-you-can-learn-from-my-experience.248900/

RyanCSGO · Jul 25, 2016

120reefkeeper said:
It's not a good feeling is it!??! My fish are fine today so yes indeed I believe I dodged a bullet!

The ecotech is another great option , the down side is cost. I'd have to buy a ecotech pump and battery backup. Can you say cha Ching $$$$$$$$$$$$ . Lol thanks for the great suggestion! [emoji51]

Terrible feeling. luckily it was a Saturday and i was home, sitting right next to the tank lol.