Power out - temperature down to 45 F

[rpkneumann]

All good now.
My toadstool has its tentacles out half way, the trumpet is still mall but the rest are all back.
The only really hurt one seems to be the fire shrimp.
He sits in the same spot day and night and looks poorly with bend antennas. I had the same look on my cleaner shrimp before he "disappeared" . Literally.

The snails took care of the dead xenia heads and it seems to come back already.. I can see some pulsating hands on the left side.

 

[Jekyl]

I read these horrific posts. I am assuming you guys use electricity for heat down there? Or is there no heat in most buildings and only air conditioning?

Just curious, I guess. We have gas in the midwest, so power outage is not a factor when it comes to temperature in the house.

Gas doesn't matter when the furnace blower can't run.

 

[((FORDTECH))]

agree with the above on lessons learned.. I will be buying a solar powered generator in the coming months. Like many, I lost my entire tank.

Why solar powered ? Your reef only needs power during the day?

 

[davidcalgary29]

Why solar powered ? Your reef only needs power during the day?

Combined with a battery, it can be a useful backup system for some parts of the continent. I've been looking at these setups and they're pretty pricy: $600-$700 for solar panels and a generator than can generate about 300w for 12 hours. That's only enough for an aquarium heater, which isn't great -- more powerful generators would push this type of system past $1200 CAD. A gas-powered generator and transfer switch is just much more economical, and probably the only option for colder climates (translation: northern Alberta).

 

[Jekyl]

Combined with a battery, it can be a useful backup system for some parts of the continent. I've been looking at these setups and they're pretty pricy: $600-$700 for solar panels and a generator than can generate about 300w for 12 hours. That's only enough for an aquarium heater, which isn't great -- more powerful generators would push this type of system past $1200 CAD. A gas-powered generator and transfer switch is just much more economical, and probably the only option for colder climates (translation: northern Alberta).

For $700 you could get a 5500w generator and power the whole house

 

[ReefHomieJon]

Pretty cool how resilient everything was in your tank.

 

[((FORDTECH))]

Combined with a battery, it can be a useful backup system for some parts of the continent. I've been looking at these setups and they're pretty pricy: $600-$700 for solar panels and a generator than can generate about 300w for 12 hours. That's only enough for an aquarium heater, which isn't great -- more powerful generators would push this type of system past $1200 CAD. A gas-powered generator and transfer switch is just much more economical, and probably the only option for colder climates (translation: northern Alberta).

For 1000$ you could get a 7000w gas generator and power your whole house. The solar option you speak of just sounds silly

 

[davidcalgary29]

For 1000$ you could get a 7000w gas generator and power your whole house. The solar option you speak of just sounds silly

First, it's a viable option. Second, it wasn't even my recommendation -- I provided an explanation of leftfootedjedi's post. And third, I ended my post by stating that it wasn't appropriate for my area.

 

[HuduVudu]

We’re still waiting, this whole thing has me disgusted with Texas.

Texas has a natural disaster and you are disgusted with it? Really!?!?!?

 

[Jedi1199]

For $700 you could get a 5500w generator and power the whole house

For 1000$ you could get a 7000w gas generator and power your whole house. The solar option you speak of just sounds silly

How much is the fuel source for these generators? How readily available is that source of fuel over an extended period of time of crisis? The storm is over. How many other people need the same fuel as you? Where are you on the waiting list for a refuel? Can the delivery driver reach your home?...

The sun doesn't go away.

 

[Jekyl]

5 gallon can will make it a whole day

 

[HuduVudu]

Combined with a battery, it can be a useful backup system for some parts of the continent. I've been looking at these setups and they're pretty pricy: $600-$700 for solar panels and a generator than can generate about 300w for 12 hours. That's only enough for an aquarium heater, which isn't great -- more powerful generators would push this type of system past $1200 CAD. A gas-powered generator and transfer switch is just much more economical, and probably the only option for colder climates (translation: northern Alberta).

I went down this path when I was researching back up plans. Here is what I found out ...

First you need double the energy that you calculate because the solar has to charge the battery during the day even while it is providing energy for your stuff. During my time here in Houston I had 1000w Honda generator. I needed all of that for the heaters. Nothing else but the heaters. That means I would have needed a solar panel of 2000w. Ohhh wait. During the freeze it was cloudy. I am not sure how much of the solar would have been degraded but you will need to add more capacity for that.

The batteries are marine deep cycle batteries and they are not cheap. You will need to calculate your needs but I think at the 1000w to have enough charge I needed 3 of the big ones. They are $100+ a piece.

You also need a transfer switch and line conditioner. Cheap ones are a couple hundred dollars. The higher energy you have the bigger you need and that really jacks up the price.

My thought after I went down that rabbit hole was that it would just be better to set up the whole house on solar permanently then I wouldn't have to worry. Needless to say the solar is a VERY expensive solution, and not very flexible.

The solution that I chose came in at about $850 with gas storage, generator and gas. The crappy thing about gas of course is the storing enough so that you have what you need but not so much that you have to deal with it all of the time. Everything has downsides.

FWIW.

 

[HuduVudu]

The sun doesn't go away.

Maybe the sun doesn't go away but it can certainly get covered in clouds. With the TX mess it did indeed get covered in clouds.

 

[HuduVudu]

How much is the fuel source for these generators?

Some cost as the gas for your car. Plus fuel stabilizer which adds about 10 cents a gallon to the cost.

How readily available is that source of fuel over an extended period of time of crisis?

It's not, that is why you plan on storage. You don't buy during the crisis for multiple reasons first gas stations don't likely have power. The gas will be rationed. Getting gas that way could get you killed ... seriously ... don't do it.

The storm is over. How many other people need the same fuel as you? Where are you on the waiting list for a refuel? Can the delivery driver reach your home?...

Everybody needs fuel after the storm is over. There is no waiting list. In a hurricane, it is very unlikely someone will come to your home, and honestly you don't want them to because it is dangerous for them.

As per my previous post gas generators are the most flexible solution for emergencies.

 

[AcanthurusRex]

Maybe the sun doesn't go away but it can certainly get covered in clouds. With the TX mess it did indeed get covered in clouds.

I generated about 50KWh during the power outage. I also have battery storage on the solar. My power never went out so I don't know what would have happened. Certainly would not have been business as usual.
I have a big DIY battery on the Vortechs and a Honda generator so the tank would not have died.

 

[Jedi1199]

Maybe the sun doesn't go away but it can certainly get covered in clouds. With the TX mess it did indeed get covered in clouds.

It's not, that is why you plan on storage. You don't buy during the crisis for multiple reasons first gas stations don't likely have power. The gas will be rationed. Getting gas that way could get you killed ... seriously ... don't do it.

Gasoline deteriorates over time. The longer you store it, the worse it gets. Also an unused generator can have gasoline that degrades within the lines. It dries out into a crystalline structure that can be a large problem later.

I generated about 50KWh during the power outage.

I have about 40 solar panels on my home. I am completely "off the grid". When a storm rolls in, I generate 20-30% of what I make on a sunny clear day, but I always make power. If its bright enough to see, its bright enough to generate.

 

[Jekyl]

Well for everyone else without their big boy pants on the generator is the better option.

 

[Mical]

I feel for you guys/gals going through this. Pics of frozen fish tanks in Texas is beyond my wildest nightmares. I pray for you and your families and your pets you get through this with minimum effects.

Living in Minnesota (and upper midwest) forces us to plan for these occasions - we stock our cars with extra winter gear, sand/salt for traction, blankets etc - the the "just in-case". Heavy snow and/or ice and power outages happen and again we have to be cognizant of the possibilities, it's not just an inconvenience, it's life or death. That's why when I could afford it I bought a whole house generator. I had portables in the past, inverters & marine batteries and other "band aids" but the peace of mind the whole house was an insurance policy/plan. (Try starting a portable generator at 2am in 10 below weather, routing extension cords through a patio door or window, making sure you had fuel then waiting for results - it's painful)

This is basically why I have a generator...

 

[ReeferMaddne$$]

I lost power in Houston for 2 days. I was lucky in that my tank is still new and I only out of cycle for 2 months and only houses a starcki damsel with no coral.

My ecotech battery backup kept my mp10 running just fine for those 2 days and I was able to float hand warmers in ziplock bags and when I ran out of those, I went with just bags of hot water floated.
When the power came back on, the controller for my Helio system said the tank temp was at 50 degrees.
Once the tank temp stabilized, the damsel came out of the cave looking for food.

I did a 10 percent water change today. Next year, I will plan to make room on my generator to add my tank heater if need be.

 

[Jedi1199]

Guys, the debate on solar vs. gas could go on for days and never be resolved. Everyone has their opinion on what is best. Personally I like solar, but to each his own. After all, what is important here is the aquarium, not our opinions, right?