What to do if you run out power

Dalmatia · Dec 25, 2013

Ya me too, maybe on Boxing Day

mtnrunner · Dec 25, 2013

I learned my lesson the hard way, I lost nearly everything after a 3 day power outage in June 2012. I hope I'm prepared now after having to tear down and start my 90 gal tank again.

I have a vortech MP40 attached to their battery backup unit. When the power goes out, the backup keeps the MP40 running at a slow speed. Circulation is key during a power outage. This all kicks in automatically.

I now have purchased a large portable generator that I can hook up to my main electrical fuse box for my house and pretty much power my whole house.

I have purchased a cam that I can view remotely from my iPhone, iPad or PC so that if I find my cam is not available, then likely my power is out at the house and I can get home to start the generator.

Good luck and with today's severe storms that we seem to be experiencing, it is worth the investment to save what you have worked so hard to build in your tanks. It really is an awful feeling to watch your tank die when you can't do a thing to help.

tearlessnikon · Dec 25, 2013

We just got our power back on it has been off since Sunday at 7am and I lost everything. We just moved to a new house and after closing costs money was tight so didn't have the budget for a generator.....needless to say I will have one for next winter..

aslmx · Dec 25, 2013

I hope no one actually runs their generator in their garage. That's a good way to wake up dead. Carbon monoxide

Dalmatia · Dec 27, 2013

tearlessnikon said:
We just got our power back on it has been off since Sunday at 7am and I lost everything. We just moved to a new house and after closing costs money was tight so didn't have the budget for a generator.....needless to say I will have one for next winter..

Ouch!!! That sucks, I feel so bad for people when I hear stuff like that!
I don't know how I'd manage to cope with that

Good luck on your new tank. Hopefully you'll make the best out of it and start enjoying once again!!

McAllyn · Dec 27, 2013

A 2200VA UPS would run a small powerhead and a small heater for quite some time (4hrs or so nonstop.) If you turned it off and on for a little while every couple hours (15min every 2 hours) it would get you through a couple days. Just enough to make sure the water moved a bit and stayed within safe temp zone. The 2200's are quite big, and pretty pricey, about $1000US, but being in an apartment severely limits your options.

I will say that as much as I love my tanks, if my power was out for a couple days or more, I'd have A LOT bigger problems to worry about than my reef's survival.

Mac