Loss of Power Question

jdk504 · 02/25/2007, 12:12 PM

Quick question, I'm expected to lose power this coming Wednesday from 8 am - 4pm, would my tank be ok for that period of time with no
power? I have fish, lps, sps, zoas, etc,. Any suggestions?

commandertekki · 02/25/2007, 12:14 PM

gas driven power generator.

electric130 · 02/25/2007, 12:29 PM

even a battery powered airpump with an air stone would be better than nothing. if this is a one time thing, a generator isn't needed (good to have for emergencies though, i have one). the main thing is to circulate water for oxygenation. if it's only off during that time period, some moderate circulation should be enough. if it's going to be longer, i'd do something for heat too. lighting isn't a issue. i lost power for 5 days during an ice storm and never turned my lights on once. just kept the tank circulating with powerheads and kept the temp above 75 and didn't loose a single thing. all corals and fish lived.

mrrrkva · 02/25/2007, 12:47 PM

It just depends! Are you willing to chance it. I am with Electric 130. AT LEAST get the battery backup airpump. Some of these even work and kick on when the power goes out. You need some gas exchange. Once things start dying your tank goes down hill FAST!! I have a back up generator. YOu can get a used one fairly cheap and its good insurance. If you do a search there are LOTS or people who have lost everything (me included)

mrrrkva · 02/25/2007, 12:47 PM

It just depends! Are you willing to chance it. I am with Electric 130. AT LEAST get the battery backup airpump. Some of these even work and kick on when the power goes out. You need some gas exchange. Once things start dying your tank goes down hill FAST!! I have a back up generator. YOu can get a used one fairly cheap and its good insurance. If you do a search there are LOTS or people who have lost everything (me included)

AZDesertRat · 02/25/2007, 01:11 PM

I would say no. I had a GFCI trip a few weeks ago for 6.5 hours and lost a Six Line Wrasse and all the other fish were laying on the bottom gasping. My corals are still slowly recovering but it does not appear I lost any.

electric130 · 02/25/2007, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AZDesertRat
I would say no. I had a GFCI trip a few weeks ago for 6.5 hours and lost a Six Line Wrasse and all the other fish were laying on the bottom gasping. My corals are still slowly recovering but it does not appear I lost any.

lack of oxygen. you can easily set up a circuit to turn on a battery air pump automatically when power is lost. just need a relay.

AZDesertRat · 02/25/2007, 03:43 PM

I now have some of the battery powered pumps that come on automatically when the power goes off! I had some plain battery pumps and even a 3500w generator but was not home at the time and both my wife and son don't pay any attention to the tanks anymore.

scunan · 02/25/2007, 06:41 PM

If you do manage to get yourself a generator make sure you run the generator outside and not in your basement or house. I am sure most people already know this but I have heard to many people dieing from this because they did not know.

jdk504 · 02/25/2007, 10:03 PM

Thank you everyone who responded quickly. You guys pretty much
proved what I was thinking in the first place. What about heat though? Should I have the tank running at a higher temp when the power goes out or is there alternative resources beside electricity? I haven't seen any battery powered heaters, am I mistaken?

dermer · 02/25/2007, 11:05 PM

good luck im having the same prob as you i feel the pain

BigBadBlenny · 02/25/2007, 11:24 PM

you can get a battery powered air pump in the fishing section of a sporting store. i cut 1" Styrafoam Insulation to fit each side of my tank and the top. if the power goes out i just duct tape them up and it helps keep the heat in. you can try blankets

Icefire · 02/25/2007, 11:30 PM

Boiling/warm water in bottle floating

commandertekki · 02/26/2007, 06:15 AM

The only reason I have a gas driven generator is because of the size of my tank and the amount of corals that I have in the tank.

02/25/2007, 12:12 PM	#1
jdk504 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 66	Loss of Power Question Quick question, I'm expected to lose power this coming Wednesday from 8 am - 4pm, would my tank be ok for that period of time with no power? I have fish, lps, sps, zoas, etc,. Any suggestions?

02/25/2007, 12:14 PM	#2
commandertekki Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Fort Worth, Texas Posts: 212	gas driven power generator. __________________ 560g Oceanic RR custom tank.

02/25/2007, 12:29 PM	#3
electric130 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Lowesville/Denver, NC Posts: 4,646	even a battery powered airpump with an air stone would be better than nothing. if this is a one time thing, a generator isn't needed (good to have for emergencies though, i have one). the main thing is to circulate water for oxygenation. if it's only off during that time period, some moderate circulation should be enough. if it's going to be longer, i'd do something for heat too. lighting isn't a issue. i lost power for 5 days during an ice storm and never turned my lights on once. just kept the tank circulating with powerheads and kept the temp above 75 and didn't loose a single thing. all corals and fish lived. __________________ J.R. Current Tank Info: None

02/25/2007, 11:30 PM	#13
Icefire Seasoned reefer Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: In Quebec, Canada Posts: 3,653	Boiling/warm water in bottle floating __________________ Temp 80F, PH 8.5-8.0, Alk 6.8-7.2, Ca 430, Mg 1700, NO3 0-0.25, PO4 0.04, 34.4 PPT Lights @ 100% all others, 35% White Current Tank Info: 60g Cube, 120lbs live rocks, Hydra52 2x120W, 2 MP40+ 1 MP10 @ 70%, Phosban 550 GFO+Carbon, 200W Heater, SWC Skimmer, Kalk ATO, 150 gpd RODI

02/26/2007, 06:15 AM	#14
commandertekki Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Fort Worth, Texas Posts: 212	The only reason I have a gas driven generator is because of the size of my tank and the amount of corals that I have in the tank. __________________ 560g Oceanic RR custom tank.

02/25/2007, 12:47 PM	#4
mrrrkva Registered Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Staunton, VA Posts: 851	It just depends! Are you willing to chance it. I am with Electric 130. AT LEAST get the battery backup airpump. Some of these even work and kick on when the power goes out. You need some gas exchange. Once things start dying your tank goes down hill FAST!! I have a back up generator. YOu can get a used one fairly cheap and its good insurance. If you do a search there are LOTS or people who have lost everything (me included)

02/25/2007, 01:11 PM	#6
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	I would say no. I had a GFCI trip a few weeks ago for 6.5 hours and lost a Six Line Wrasse and all the other fish were laying on the bottom gasping. My corals are still slowly recovering but it does not appear I lost any.

02/25/2007, 03:43 PM	#8
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	I now have some of the battery powered pumps that come on automatically when the power goes off! I had some plain battery pumps and even a 3500w generator but was not home at the time and both my wife and son don't pay any attention to the tanks anymore.

02/25/2007, 06:41 PM	#9
scunan Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Maine Posts: 298	If you do manage to get yourself a generator make sure you run the generator outside and not in your basement or house. I am sure most people already know this but I have heard to many people dieing from this because they did not know.

02/25/2007, 10:03 PM	#10
jdk504 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 66	Thank you everyone who responded quickly. You guys pretty much proved what I was thinking in the first place. What about heat though? Should I have the tank running at a higher temp when the power goes out or is there alternative resources beside electricity? I haven't seen any battery powered heaters, am I mistaken?

02/25/2007, 11:05 PM	#11
dermer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Illinois Posts: 523	good luck im having the same prob as you i feel the pain

02/25/2007, 11:24 PM	#12
BigBadBlenny Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Thunder Bay On Canada Posts: 598	you can get a battery powered air pump in the fishing section of a sporting store. i cut 1" Styrafoam Insulation to fit each side of my tank and the top. if the power goes out i just duct tape them up and it helps keep the heat in. you can try blankets