What Do Youu Guys Do When The Power Is Out

reefer4eva · 07/05/2007, 01:10 PM

i was really wondering what people who have hugeeee tankss do when the power is out???? Give some suggestions PLZZZ

AquaReeferMan · 07/05/2007, 01:15 PM

I pray for it to come back on. Some battery powered air pumps work wonders. I use them and a plastic spatula to swirl the water around every now and again. I really need a generator.

reefer4eva · 07/05/2007, 01:15 PM

kk thankz aquareeferman

Prater · 07/05/2007, 01:26 PM

Use a generator, even a small one for a couple of powerheads can save the tank.

kau_cinta_ku · 07/05/2007, 01:29 PM

i agree a generator may cost a bit now but look at how much it can save even if you only use it a couple of times.

acrodave · 07/05/2007, 01:29 PM

i use a straw and blow in the tank lol

reefer4eva · 07/05/2007, 01:30 PM

LOL!!!!

dc · 07/05/2007, 01:33 PM

I use several battery operated air pumps. I also siphon out a couple gallons of water out of my 75 and dump it back in for extra circulation.

Travis L. Stevens · 07/05/2007, 01:47 PM

This should help answer a lot of questions: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1154895

jnc914 · 07/05/2007, 02:09 PM

Bought a Honda generator from Lowes during one of the times that my power went out longer than an hour and I had just added new fish the week before that I did not want stressed or worse--dead. It cost me $650 and I have used it roughly twice in the last year, still worth it in my opinion. It can actually power the entire system if needed, although I only utilize the main pump, air pump, and Tunze powerheads.

drstupid · 07/05/2007, 02:19 PM

do you live in an area prone to outages? how long does it take for them to get fixed?

for short outages, as long as you keep your main pump running, you should be good for oxygen. i used to have a cheap UPS on my old system, that would run the main pump (a MAG 5 i think that one was) for like 20 hours. but my new system has nothing on it, for two reasons: 1) turns out cheap UPS's aren't meant to be mounted near salt water. i practically electrocuted myself when something internal corroded, and 2) my new system's main pump is a sequence 4300. i need a big battery to run that thing for any length of time, and unless you get an expensive true sine wave UPS you can destroy a pump pretty quickly. it's one thing to destroy a mag 5, totally different thing to destroy a sequence.

i'll probably get a couple battery powered air pumps. my problem with the battery powered air pumps is you need to be good about checking them to make sure the batteries are still good, and your airstones haven't calcified over. i am not good about that.

Mr31415 · 07/05/2007, 02:42 PM

I have a 2000VA UPS system that can carry my three aquariums (145g, 30g, 480g) for roughly 4 hours.

I exclude the heaters, lights and chillers since in the time it takes to drain the batteries, the tank's temperature would not have dropped/raised by too much.

If the power outage is longer, I use my 2.8kW Honda generator.

dcombs44 · 07/05/2007, 03:02 PM

battery powered air pumps here.

samherston · 07/05/2007, 03:03 PM

I pray that it is not out for very long and if it is, then I try and get something to get the water moving so that there is oxygen in the tank till it comes back on!

MTB · 07/05/2007, 04:10 PM

Before my battery powered air pumps and now generator, I covered the tank so no one would jump. I also syphoned out water and dumped it back in every 30min. I had two fish jump when the power was out. That's why I cover it now.

ChrisB · 07/05/2007, 04:29 PM

I have an oxygen tank set up next to the tank and an airline running from it into the tank. The airline is hooked to an air difuser at the bottom of the tank. I crack it open and it puts fine oxygenated bubbles into the tank. Works great and will last for days.

Actually I just made this up, but I wonder if it woud work?

JStorey · 07/06/2007, 08:53 AM

Bought a 750 watt inverter from Lowe's I can plug into the car and run an extension cord to the house which I can plug my main pump into until the power comes back on. That will work short term. we rarely have outages here thankfully.

Steve01 · 07/06/2007, 09:08 AM

I bought a UPS but returned it because the instructions said not to use it for aquarium pumps. Those of you using UPS... what kind did you get? Apparently most UPS's made for computers put out a simulated AC sine wave, which is stepped, and motors don't like that. Computers have power supply filters that take care of the "non-pure" AC. Motors do not. You can get a "pure sine wave" output UPS but the cheapest I found was $300.

Growurown · 07/06/2007, 09:20 AM

Honda Generator HERE

bought it after a storm and only had to use it a couple times but great piece of mind.

Will run all my tunze's and most importantly will power up my Direct TV service to boot

Teeka · 07/06/2007, 09:20 AM

Living in florida I have a portable generator. In acouple years we will be adding a permant one to run the whole house on.

three-spot · 07/06/2007, 09:29 AM

I've got a power inverter if I need it... not exactly sure how much it will power, but it should power enough... Overall I'm not that concerned, blackouts aren't a major issue for me...

07/05/2007, 01:10 PM	#1
reefer4eva Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 265	What Do Youu Guys Do When The Power Is Out i was really wondering what people who have hugeeee tankss do when the power is out???? Give some suggestions PLZZZ

07/05/2007, 01:15 PM	#2
AquaReeferMan Got Reef? Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Under the Sea, Pa Posts: 4,593	I pray for it to come back on. Some battery powered air pumps work wonders. I use them and a plastic spatula to swirl the water around every now and again. I really need a generator. __________________ Couple SPS/Zoanthid tanks and a couple of FW planted tanks. Current Tank Info: 5 pieces of glass with some silicone and plastic frames holding them together

07/05/2007, 01:26 PM	#4
Prater Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Blanchard Posts: 1,103	Use a generator, even a small one for a couple of powerheads can save the tank. __________________ Steven Cell 401-7748 Tank Flunky

07/05/2007, 01:29 PM	#6
acrodave REEF NERD Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: maryville tn-- work in knoxville Posts: 4,187	i use a straw and blow in the tank lol __________________ Peace,Dave Superman puts on Tim Tebow pajamas when he goes to bed The Heisman as a sophomore nuff said Less technology more biology Tattoos are the only art you can take to the grave Current Tank Info: 26gal bow,20gal mantis tank/fuge150wHQI,20k AB Seio 620 maxijet1200x's 2 on a wave maker. all sps

07/05/2007, 01:33 PM	#8
dc Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Wyoming Posts: 44,684	I use several battery operated air pumps. I also siphon out a couple gallons of water out of my 75 and dump it back in for extra circulation. __________________ Debi ~60 Cube~ Why? Because I said so of course. -Sent via Tapatalk Smoke Signals-

07/05/2007, 01:29 PM	#5
kau_cinta_ku Moved On Join Date: May 2005 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,669	i agree a generator may cost a bit now but look at how much it can save even if you only use it a couple of times.

07/05/2007, 01:30 PM	#7
reefer4eva Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 265	LOL!!!!

07/05/2007, 01:47 PM	#9
Travis L. Stevens Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Perry, OK Posts: 13,946	This should help answer a lot of questions: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1154895 __________________ Travis Stevens Current Tank Info: Restarting 28g Bowfront

07/05/2007, 02:09 PM	#10
jnc914 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 2,008	Bought a Honda generator from Lowes during one of the times that my power went out longer than an hour and I had just added new fish the week before that I did not want stressed or worse--dead. It cost me $650 and I have used it roughly twice in the last year, still worth it in my opinion. It can actually power the entire system if needed, although I only utilize the main pump, air pump, and Tunze powerheads. __________________ "Great things are not accomplished by those who yield to trends and fads and popular opinion." -Jack Kerouac 13 years strictly salty Current Tank Info: 180 gallon FOWLR Angel dedicated tank

07/05/2007, 02:19 PM	#11
drstupid Aquarist emeritus Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Narberth, PA Posts: 760	do you live in an area prone to outages? how long does it take for them to get fixed? for short outages, as long as you keep your main pump running, you should be good for oxygen. i used to have a cheap UPS on my old system, that would run the main pump (a MAG 5 i think that one was) for like 20 hours. but my new system has nothing on it, for two reasons: 1) turns out cheap UPS's aren't meant to be mounted near salt water. i practically electrocuted myself when something internal corroded, and 2) my new system's main pump is a sequence 4300. i need a big battery to run that thing for any length of time, and unless you get an expensive true sine wave UPS you can destroy a pump pretty quickly. it's one thing to destroy a mag 5, totally different thing to destroy a sequence. i'll probably get a couple battery powered air pumps. my problem with the battery powered air pumps is you need to be good about checking them to make sure the batteries are still good, and your airstones haven't calcified over. i am not good about that. __________________ i'm not a real doctor, i just play one on tv. Current Tank Info: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2429266

07/05/2007, 02:42 PM	#12
Mr31415 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Surrey, Canada Posts: 1,926	I have a 2000VA UPS system that can carry my three aquariums (145g, 30g, 480g) for roughly 4 hours. I exclude the heaters, lights and chillers since in the time it takes to drain the batteries, the tank's temperature would not have dropped/raised by too much. If the power outage is longer, I use my 2.8kW Honda generator.

07/05/2007, 03:02 PM	#13
dcombs44 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 2,913	battery powered air pumps here. __________________ Current Setup: 10 Gallon Skimmerless Zoanthid Tank Lighting: Single 175 Watt Metal Halide (14,000 K Hamilton Lamp) Filtration: 10 gallon sump/refugium and Phosban Reactor Return: Mag Drive 700 Controller: ReefKeeper Lite (Basic Version) Circulation: TBD Age of System: Build is in Progress

07/05/2007, 03:03 PM	#14
samherston Moved On Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 126	I pray that it is not out for very long and if it is, then I try and get something to get the water moving so that there is oxygen in the tank till it comes back on!

07/05/2007, 04:10 PM	#15
MTB Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Illannoy Posts: 1,365	Before my battery powered air pumps and now generator, I covered the tank so no one would jump. I also syphoned out water and dumped it back in every 30min. I had two fish jump when the power was out. That's why I cover it now. __________________ Got Frags? Current Tank Info: 40 breeder. Kessil lights. Reef octopus skimmer. Vortec mp40 x2.

07/05/2007, 04:29 PM	#16
ChrisB Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Decatur, Alabama Posts: 543	I have an oxygen tank set up next to the tank and an airline running from it into the tank. The airline is hooked to an air difuser at the bottom of the tank. I crack it open and it puts fine oxygenated bubbles into the tank. Works great and will last for days. Actually I just made this up, but I wonder if it woud work? __________________ Chris Current Tank Info: Working on it...

07/06/2007, 08:53 AM	#17
JStorey Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Lubbock, Texas Posts: 457	Bought a 750 watt inverter from Lowe's I can plug into the car and run an extension cord to the house which I can plug my main pump into until the power comes back on. That will work short term. we rarely have outages here thankfully.

07/06/2007, 09:08 AM	#18
Steve01 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Southern CA Posts: 33	I bought a UPS but returned it because the instructions said not to use it for aquarium pumps. Those of you using UPS... what kind did you get? Apparently most UPS's made for computers put out a simulated AC sine wave, which is stepped, and motors don't like that. Computers have power supply filters that take care of the "non-pure" AC. Motors do not. You can get a "pure sine wave" output UPS but the cheapest I found was $300.

07/06/2007, 09:20 AM	#19
Growurown Moved On Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 198	Honda Generator HERE bought it after a storm and only had to use it a couple times but great piece of mind. Will run all my tunze's and most importantly will power up my Direct TV service to boot

07/06/2007, 09:20 AM	#20
Teeka Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Palm Bay, FL Posts: 75	Living in florida I have a portable generator. In acouple years we will be adding a permant one to run the whole house on.

07/06/2007, 09:29 AM	#21
three-spot Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: windsor, ontario, canada Posts: 201	I've got a power inverter if I need it... not exactly sure how much it will power, but it should power enough... Overall I'm not that concerned, blackouts aren't a major issue for me... __________________ Julian