Power outage what do you do?

[stylaster]

Its going to happen sooner or later are you prepared for a power outage? I currently have an apc 1500 server battery backup that i plug my two mp40's into to keep the water circulating. In the event of that going down i keep a couple batter powered air pumps. Someday i hope to get a gas generator.
What do you do?

 

[mainereefer]

I pull the cord on the generator and flip the switches on the manual transfer switch

decent generator- $500
transfer switch $200

for the amount of $$$ we have in our tanks a generator is a no brainier!!

you can also find cheap little gas generators that will run just your tank for around $100 (inverters cost more than that)

 

[bucksfan1976]

I live in a condo, we had a 6 day outage about a year and a half ago. for the first 24 hours i simply ran a inverter from my car and plugged in the return pump for 30 min every 4 hours. After that I had a friend lend me a HUGE generator, It ran our entire place. The rest of the development was mad because at 9 pm they had no lights and me and my neighbor were playing PS3 and having some cold ones.....

 

[AZDesertRat]

I have a couple of the AC/battery air pumps that come on automatically when AC power goes off for short term. For longer term I have a generator gassed up and ready to go with extension cords and outlet strips setting on it so I don't have to search for anything. The generator is manual so I have to be home but the air pumps will last quite awhile on the D cell batteries by themselves to keep the water aerated.

 

[Troylee]

Nothing lol... Corals can survive for weeks not sure about fish thou... Here is a funny thing I just experienced.. I swapped tanks like 3 months Ago and left a few corals that didn't look well in my old cube no lights no circulation nothing but old water and sand... Completely forgot about them and like 3 weeks later I glanced in my old tank and they were still alive and doing good.. There was like 3 chalices and couple zoos... Dropped them in my new tank and there taking off lol...

 

[AZDesertRat]

I lost a 90G tank full of fish and stony corals some years ago in a 7 hour power outage. Many of the fish were in the 7-10 year old range and very healthy. The LFS down the street was affected by the same power outage and a 7 yeard old, beautiful Niger Trigger I had traded in 3 months before plus a bunch of othet trophy specimens was also casualties when their huge display went down.

I wouldn't chance it again myself which is why I went and spent the $250 on a gas generator on wheels and some StaBil stabilizer for the gasoline. Only had to use it a few times but it has been worth its weight in gold when it was used.

 

[mainereefer]

Nothing lol... Corals can survive for weeks not sure about fish thou... Here is a funny thing I just experienced.. I swapped tanks like 3 months Ago and left a few corals that didn't look well in my old cube no lights no circulation nothing but old water and sand... Completely forgot about them and like 3 weeks later I glanced in my old tank and they were still alive and doing good.. There was like 3 chalices and couple zoos... Dropped them in my new tank and there taking off lol...

I am guessing the tank was in an air conditioned house or atleast at stable temps?

winter time in maine without power my box of water would be a box of ice

 

[mfinn]

I have a 6500 watt generator.
When the power goes out I hit the start button on the generator and flip 6 switches on the gen tran and about 3/4 of my house is powered up.
Including my hot water heater.

 

[memontgo]

12,000 watt whole house generator runs on natural gas. Automatically kicks on 20 seconds after power goes out. :bigsmile: I've had flooded basement 3 times (not tank water, ground water!) and do not want THAT again!

 

[NanaReefer]

Battery powered air pumps x3 and 1g WC every 2-4hrs. Have had to do this 1x in 4yrs. Power was out for 7hrs.


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[mainereefer]

we should get everyone to put there tank size also. I wonder if its mostly ppl with smaller tanks that use batteries or if ppl with bigger setups use something besides a generator

 

[_Alex_]

I pull the cord on the generator and flip the switches on the manual transfer switch

decent generator- $500
transfer switch $200

for the amount of $$$ we have in our tanks a generator is a no brainier!!

you can also find cheap little gas generators that will run just your tank for around $100 (inverters cost more than that)

Where did you get the transfer switch? All I'm finding are 250-350 lol

But yes bought a 6500w generator just for that ... I in process of getting every thing to swap out house breaker box to a 32 slot, and then move my electric meter to side of my shop and build and little a canopy over my generator so it can sit there. But till than extension cords it is.


And tanks sizes are....

40b w 20l sump, mag 5 and mp 10

90 gal w 25g. Sump iwaki external and 4 hydors on a wave maker

4' 120 with 40b sump and little giant 3, swc 160 Mp 40 and 3 hydors a

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[Dtech07]

Gas generator purchased during the summer when there cheaper.

 

[kacrocorals581]

Well for those of us that can't spend 800$ on a huge generator look at some sporting magazines and find the harbor freight coupons and a lot of times they have a 800w generator for 89$ that's enough to run a tank generally great to have will save big $$$ in the long run

 

[navila06]

I have a small 2000 watt generator that I use for the tank in case of an outage, so far only had to use it once. (knock on wood)

 

[Keepnitreel]

I use a marine boat battery connected to power inverter.

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[kschweer]

I lost my entire display tank when hurricane sandy hit the east coast. I do plan on buying a generator when I set it back up but the only problem for me is that I live directly across the street from the beach and was evacuated and not allowed back home for about a week. The generator will help with normal power outages for me but god forbid another big storm comes through and we are evacuated I'm up the creek without a paddle.

 

[LivinTheSwreefLife]

I lost my entire display tank when hurricane sandy hit the east coast. I do plan on buying a generator when I set it back up but the only problem for me is that I live directly across the street from the beach and was evacuated and not allowed back home for about a week. The generator will help with normal power outages for me but god forbid another big storm comes through and we are evacuated I'm up the creek without a paddle.

I bought my 2000 watt generator for my 120g about 6 months before Sandy... once I hit a certain amount of money invested in my tank I figured it was worth it.

The biggest problem I foresee other than being evacuated and unable to run a generator would be a gas shortage like the ones experienced in NY/NJ after Sandy... a lot of good it does you to have an expensive generator without enough gas to run it :/

 

[navila06]

one reason why i like the small 2000 watt generator, then sip gas compared to the 4000 and 6500 generators, It would be a good practice to keep gas stored just in case, other wise your generator is useless.

I bought my 2000 watt generator for my 120g about 6 months before Sandy... once I hit a certain amount of money invested in my tank I figured it was worth it.

The biggest problem I foresee other than being evacuated and unable to run a generator would be a gas shortage like the ones experienced in NY/NJ after Sandy... a lot of good it does you to have an expensive generator without enough gas to run it :/

 

[Sacohen]

Living in Florida and going through several hurricanes a generator is SOP.
I have a small generac generator that will take care of the fridge, microwave and some TV's and fans.
I'm sure it will handle the tank return pump at least.
Looking at putting an APC battery backup to for brief outages.
The summer in FL you had brown outs or brief glitches every afternoon.