Winter Storm. What if power goes out?

Emma1234 · 01/22/2016, 11:07 AM

Hi. I live in NJ and we are about to be hit by a major blizzard.

I was wondering if there is anything I can do to prepare in case we lose power.

I have an air stone. Anything else I can do or buy to keep the tank alive in the event of a loss of power and heat?

Thanks!

gone fishin · 01/22/2016, 11:15 AM

This time of the year temp is a concern. I would have a blanket ready to cover the tank to try and conserve heat. If you will have a way to heat some water then placing some warm water bottles in the tank may help as well. The other factor is aeration the airstone will help with this. Also a down and dirty way is to use a pitcher to scoop water out of the tank and pour it back in.

I have always kept the tank dark to minimize fish movement and have fed very sparingly.

I have survived a few hurricanes and outages from snow doing these things. Good luck and sending good vibes for no power outage.

laga77 · 01/22/2016, 11:19 AM

Get a generator.

soulpatch · 01/22/2016, 11:24 AM

generator obviosuly but outside of that you can use a gas stove (firepit, propane stone, fireplace, ect) to heat up water inside mason jars or such and use those as a heater for the tank. Dont dump the water in the tank but let the container float in your tank to heat the water.

Emma1234 · 01/22/2016, 11:50 AM

Thanks all!

oh207 · 01/22/2016, 02:34 PM

A generator is good. And if you have a car, a power inverter is good as well. Although it would be able to operate your entire tank, you can either keep flow going or heat.

crankbait09 · 01/22/2016, 02:36 PM

I just bought a generator last week for this exact reason, it's supposed to be delivered some time today via UPS. Hopefully they can make it here. It is for nothing more than my "fishy life support"

Sk8r · 01/22/2016, 03:09 PM

Cold is not your enemy: it helps...but you must keep the tank above 61.1 degrees. THat lessens the oxygen demand and puts fish and corals somewhat to sleep...
What you need most is aeration. A battery powered bubbler (Plax brand: your local Petco) is key. Plus a supply of batteries. But if you can't get one, get up on a chair with a pitcher, dip water and pour it steadily until the amount of your pouring has equalled tank volume. Then you can rest for four hours. Ace Hardware sells a hunter's propane stove with little bottles of propane that are safe for heating indoors IF you crack a window---otherwise it can kill you. Got it? I did that for 8 days and pulled several of my fish through plus the tank, plus all the corals. Inverts, only snails and crabs lived.

laga77 · 01/22/2016, 03:14 PM

When my power went off a couple of months ago and I lost eight fish, the temp never went below 75F. It was the lack of water movement that killed them.

01/22/2016, 11:07 AM	#1
Emma1234 Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: New Jersey Posts: 167	Winter Storm. What if power goes out? Hi. I live in NJ and we are about to be hit by a major blizzard. I was wondering if there is anything I can do to prepare in case we lose power. I have an air stone. Anything else I can do or buy to keep the tank alive in the event of a loss of power and heat? Thanks!

01/22/2016, 11:15 AM	#2
gone fishin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wyocena Wi Posts: 6,936	This time of the year temp is a concern. I would have a blanket ready to cover the tank to try and conserve heat. If you will have a way to heat some water then placing some warm water bottles in the tank may help as well. The other factor is aeration the airstone will help with this. Also a down and dirty way is to use a pitcher to scoop water out of the tank and pour it back in. I have always kept the tank dark to minimize fish movement and have fed very sparingly. I have survived a few hurricanes and outages from snow doing these things. Good luck and sending good vibes for no power outage. __________________ Tony Current Tank Info: 180gal DT, BM NAC77 skimmer,3 Maxspect razors, Maxspect Gyre 150, 30g QT

01/22/2016, 11:19 AM	#3
laga77 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Alsip, IL Posts: 1,133	Get a generator. __________________ Four legs good. Two legs better. Current Tank Info: 50G SPS/NPS Reef, 120G Mixed Reef, 120G FOWRL, 29G Seahorse tank, 20G Observation tank,

01/22/2016, 11:24 AM	#4
soulpatch Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Downingtown, PA Posts: 4,017	generator obviosuly but outside of that you can use a gas stove (firepit, propane stone, fireplace, ect) to heat up water inside mason jars or such and use those as a heater for the tank. Dont dump the water in the tank but let the container float in your tank to heat the water. __________________ 150 SC tank build: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2550948 Some have bar tabs. I have a coral tab at my LFS. Life goals.

01/22/2016, 02:34 PM	#6
oh207 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Amityville, NY Posts: 762	A generator is good. And if you have a car, a power inverter is good as well. Although it would be able to operate your entire tank, you can either keep flow going or heat. __________________ -oh207 Current Tank Info: DB 65g RR Tank, 30g Sump w sock & fuge, EHEIM 3000 Rtn. Pump, Araganite 40lbs, 40lbs base rock, 60lbs LR, EHEIM 150W Jager Heater, Ecotech MP40wES & MP10wES Vortech Propeller Pump, Ecotech Radion XR30w LED, Seaside Aquatics Protein Skimmer (CS7-150g)

01/22/2016, 11:50 AM	#5
Emma1234 Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: New Jersey Posts: 167	Thanks all!

01/22/2016, 02:36 PM	#7
crankbait09 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 932	I just bought a generator last week for this exact reason, it's supposed to be delivered some time today via UPS. Hopefully they can make it here. It is for nothing more than my "fishy life support"

01/22/2016, 03:09 PM	#8
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Cold is not your enemy: it helps...but you must keep the tank above 61.1 degrees. THat lessens the oxygen demand and puts fish and corals somewhat to sleep... What you need most is aeration. A battery powered bubbler (Plax brand: your local Petco) is key. Plus a supply of batteries. But if you can't get one, get up on a chair with a pitcher, dip water and pour it steadily until the amount of your pouring has equalled tank volume. Then you can rest for four hours. Ace Hardware sells a hunter's propane stove with little bottles of propane that are safe for heating indoors IF you crack a window---otherwise it can kill you. Got it? I did that for 8 days and pulled several of my fish through plus the tank, plus all the corals. Inverts, only snails and crabs lived. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

01/22/2016, 03:14 PM	#9
laga77 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Alsip, IL Posts: 1,133	When my power went off a couple of months ago and I lost eight fish, the temp never went below 75F. It was the lack of water movement that killed them. __________________ Four legs good. Two legs better. Current Tank Info: 50G SPS/NPS Reef, 120G Mixed Reef, 120G FOWRL, 29G Seahorse tank, 20G Observation tank,