What do you do when you lose electricity?

[FishRForMe]

Do you have a back up system? What is available to save your fish and tank? Thanks for the advice!

 

[knukles55]

Battery operated air stone pump from the fish store

 

[143MPCo]

depends on how long it's out for, if more than an hr, the generator gets pulled out.

 

[FishRForMe]

Battery operated air stone pump from the fish store

How long will that work? How many would you need for a 50 gal. tank?

 

[FishRForMe]

I live in Louisiana on the river. It's not uncommon for the power to be out for hours or days when we have a hurricane. After Katrina it was out 3 months. I'm a little shell shocked from that! I do have a generator. I guess I'll have to get hubby to show me how to hook it up if he's not here.....

 

[sc8kv123]

If its a short power outage I use battery backups for flow and aeration. Also I use a sealed water bottle filled with a mixture of calcium chloride and water as a heat source. If its a longer blackout then I fire up the generator.

 

[Clayalaleona]

I wait till it comes back on...
I have the whole system on battery back ups. I dont have to worry when the power goes out

 

[skydancer]

Best solution is a 5kva or 7.5kva or even larger generator with an ATS switch. I learned my lesson a few years back when the power went out and the electric company did not restore power for 24 hours!!!
Generac 7.5k va generator with an automatic transfer switch now gives me piece of mind...
It the power goes out, the ATS switches over to the gas line and within a minute the house and aquarium has power again.

 

[Triggreef]

automated battery powered aeration is in my plan book but I've slacked on it. I just need something in place for when I don't know the power has gone out. If I'm aware, I have a generator. Of course I just brought that out for service and looks like I will need a new one. At least for daytime I have solar panels for now but at night that won't help.

 

[steve&mari]

Normally we use generator but the other night we lost power for about 20 hours. We gave the generator to a 70+ year old family friend who needs it for medical reasons. So ran our battery air pump and used a cup to pull water n dump back in for oxygen and some current here and there. Wrapped tank on blankets otherwise. Got low 60s but most everyone has pulled through and doing well. Lost few delicate zoas few heads and 2 completely. Rest is good and coulda been worse so happy for how it did.

 

[AcroNem]

Ice cap battery backup with my Gyre 150 plugged into it. Still working on a whole home generator in case it lasts longer than the 12 hours (or more, haven't tested) the ice cap can do. Longest outtage I've had in five years was less than 4 hours.

 

[Salty1962]

Generator, UPS on pumps, etc.

 

[Mike in CT]

Battery operated air stone pump from the fish store

To me, this is the most basic way to start. You can pick them up for about 15 bucks, they start up automatically and will keep your tank aerated for days if need be...... Or at least until you can take further action.

 

[Lenny_S]

I live in upstate NY and we lose power almost every winter. Small battery backup and line conditioner for the apex and networking equipment. Whole house generator can keep me running for days or weeks if necessary.

 

[jerseypete]

I used the battery powered air pumps. They work great. The longest I used them for was 14hrs one time. Didn't loose anything. Got a generator after that time though.

 

[usernam invalid]

I have an 8.5kw gen but still needs to be wired to the house with ATS I just used it as a portable now

 

[redfishbluefish]

I'm in the same boat as @143MPCo , if it's more than an hour the generator comes out:

It runs my entire tank, and when we had this little blow come through here a little over three years ago, named Sandy, that little generator ran 24/7 for over seven days...entire tank, boiler for heat, refrigerator, television and a few lights. Hasn't run since....but it's there and ready to go.

 

[shoelaceike]

Ice cap battery backup with my Gyre 150 plugged into it. Still working on a whole home generator in case it lasts longer than the 12 hours (or more, haven't tested) the ice cap can do. Longest outtage I've had in five years was less than 4 hours.

I'm very curious how long this will last.....can you test? My assumption is that it will last only a few hours at 100%.....

 

[shoelaceike]

I'm in the same boat as @143MPCo , if it's more than an hour the generator comes out:

It runs my entire tank, and when we had this little blow come through here a little over three years ago, named Sandy, that little generator ran 24/7 for over seven days...entire tank, boiler for heat, refrigerator, television and a few lights. Hasn't run since....but it's there and ready to go.

Do these need to be grounded?

 

[143MPCo]

Do these need to be grounded?

Most have a ground lug that should be connected to house ground, but can be run with out it.

However this is right form what OSHA recommends: https://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/data_Hurricane_Facts/grounding_port_generator.pdf

Grounding Requirements for Portable and Vehicle-mounted Generators Under the following conditions, OSHA directs (29 CFR 1926.404(f)(3)(i)) that the frame of a portable generator need not be grounded (connected to earth) and that the frame may serve as the ground (in place of the earth): • The generator supplies only equipment mounted on the generator and/or cordand plug-connected equipment through receptacles mounted on the generator, § 1926.404(f)(3)(i)(A), and • The noncurrent-carrying metal parts of equipment (such as the fuel tank, the internal combustion engine, and the generator’s housing) are bonded to the generator frame, and the equipment grounding conductor terminals (of the power receptacles that are a part of [mounted on] the generator) are bonded to the generator frame, § 1926.404(f)(3)(i)(B). Thus, rather than connect to a grounding electrode system, such as a driven ground rod, the generator’s frame replaces the grounding electrode. If these conditions do not exist, then a grounding electrode, such as a ground rod, is required. If the portable generator is providing electric power to a structure by connection via a transfer switch to a structure (home, office, shop, trailer, or similar) it must be connected to a grounding electrode system, such as a driven ground rod. The transfer switch must be approved for the use and installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s installation instructions by a qualified electrician.