Back-up power

[Chuck239]

I lost all my fish in a freshwater tank a couple years ago due to a long power outage.

The thought of having some prolonged power outage and losing everything in my reef tank scares me.

Do most people have generators or are there some tricks of the trade for getting your animals through a long power loss?

 

[Scott]

Many people have generators, but I'd guess that most don't and live with those same fears.

If you're morbidly curious, look for some threads from this past December when we had the ice storm. Lots of people lost a lot of corals and fish.

But you'll also see in there lots of people lending help. That's one of the coolest things about BRS. Emergency help is never far away.

 

[wbrodeur]

i have one of those emergency generators that can be charged by car ac/dc, etc. haven't used it yet but just in case. Also have a huge generator. But I always have my battery airstones that you plug into the powerstrip and once it senses loss of power it goes on. Was only like $12 for one...just plop in a couple in you sump/fuge/or even tank, at least the tank will be getting oxygen (just also have lots of d batteries on hand).

 

[Bobbofin]

I lost power for two days and did not lose one fish or coral. I kept my fish and coral alive by running the stove to heat a 8 quart pot of water causing steam to rise and air movement in the home. It heated my home to 78 degrees. A battery operated air pump dangled in a 5 gallon bucket with 6" of scoulding hot water and a cover. The airstone goes at the bottom of a candy cane shaped 1-1/2" pvc tube creates water movement and heats the water! Who cares if the $12 airpump dies in a few days from moisture. Here's a pic.

 

[jbishop]

I use a generator for long term but if not long term I use the battery air pumps that auto kick on.

 

[ReeferMedic]

I bought a generator a couple of years ago. It saved one member's system last December. It's one of those things that sits in my shed and I am happy if I never have to use it. I start it every couple of months to make sure it WILL start when I need it to. It's a small investment when compared with how much cash some of us have tied up in our systems.

 

[paulthomas]

What generator do you have Don?

 

[pillowfish]

I suggest getting at least one of the battery air stones as stated here. Oxygen in the water is the first to go and cause fish to die(IIRC G. Hiller's speech clearly) I also have a UPS power converter that I keep a powerhead and heater plugged in to. I need to get a geny.....

 

[delta]

I have had a generators for many years. A couple years ago ai put it on a gentrans switch so I can run my heat in the winter. As well as my fridge TV and other necesary items like my well pump.
However a few battery operated air pump will save you for short term outages. they are about $15bucks or so and come on once the power is out.

 

[focus]

After 12 days with no power from the December Ice Storm we would never rely on Unitil again. We now have a diesel generator and transfer switch which I hope is never needed. Battery back ups will save your tank 99% of the time, I guess last Dec falls into the 1% category.

 

[number1gsxxr]

PetSolutions has a sale on battery powered airstones. I just ordered 2. Hopefully two is enough for a 46-gal tank.

 

[paulthomas]

PetSolutions has a sale on battery powered airstones. I just ordered 2. Hopefully two is enough for a 46-gal tank.

It sounds like you got that pretty well covered.

 

[molsen187]

ive also heard that in a pinch you can use those hand and feet warmers that hikers use. you just pop them and put them in a plastic bag and float them on the top of the tank, it doesn't help with o2 but it will help with temp.

 

[cakemanPA]

Along with o2 deprivation, lack of water movement causing pocket of amonia in the water is a big issue. I lost half of the fish in my tank during an 8 hour power loss. There was no rhyme or reason as to which fish survived. So o2 deprivation does not explain the loss. I have battery backups on my vortech mp40s and airstones now. As luck would have it, not 1 power loss since then.