What to do when power goes out?

[Tim gixxerman]

What to do when power goes out? Battery back up generator any other ideas?

[cm11599ps]

Try plugging a single powerhead into a different circuit then the rest of your tank. That way if you trip breaker controlling the tank you at least have water movement on a different circuit from that one powerhead.

They do sell battery operated pumps. I believe they also have air pumps that will only activate when the power goes out.

I've heard of people using styrofoam and blankets to keep the tank warm too.

[lacosta28]

I have the vortech battery backup. It will keep my pump running for up to 36 hours.

[fishboii]

hope everything will live though it..

[sbabs]

I use a battery backup air stone, which hopefully holds me off long enough to get the generator fired up.

[Dre59]

I say get your self a gas generator (small one)... Learned the hard way when my tank reached at 63 degrees and lost my Kole Tang.. I spent 150 for a 1000 watt and was able to run everything.

[Tim gixxerman]

It has not happened yet BUT it is that time of the year!

[hpfunk]

When setting up your system, do a simulated power outage and see if your sump overflows, test how long it takes for the temp to drop unacceptably. Turn the power on all at once and see if you trip the circuit, or if any equipment fails to restart properly. These basic test should give you a starting point for things that need to be addressed. A battery back up will only last for a period of time, but the generator is the only good option to an extended power outage.

[snulma1]

The problem with battery backups is that it can only power pumps and not heaters. So if your house temp is on the colder side and you lose power for more then a few hrs, your tank temp will drop with it. While the battery backups can get you through up to 12+ hrs, for areas that are prone to longer outages, I would look to a generator.

[Useful_Idiot]

I bought a apc ups that runs 300 watts for 45 minutes. Thinking it would run my 18 watt mp10 for hours and a small air pump. Nope 45 minutes and it shut off, I turned it back on and it shut off in 30 seconds again. So for now if it happens again I'm going to use my ac converter that plugs into my car cigarette outlet and run them. It was only $20 and it's enough to run those 2. Until I get more money into the tank and buy a used generator. Cutting up a Styrofoam top ahead of time would have made things easier that day too.

[Uncle Salty 05]

A generator is worth it's weight in gold when the power goes out for any extended period of time like after a hurricane or ice storm. They can run your entire tank, lights and all if you want and you can alternate between your tank and your refrigerator and save all your food and have cold beer.

[mwminer]

We have an 8000 watt gas generator and it powers not only the tank but most of my house as well. I can laugh at the neighbors with no power as I watch TV! Here in Montana we can go days without power sometimes (bad, bad electric co-op!)

[socalsalttank]

It depends how big your tank is. My 120 was out of power for more than 4 hours and fish still OK.

[snulma1]

Originally Posted by Useful_Idiot

I bought a apc ups that runs 300 watts for 45 minutes. Thinking it would run my 18 watt mp10 for hours and a small air pump. Nope 45 minutes and it shut off, I turned it back on and it shut off in 30 seconds again. So for now if it happens again I'm going to use my ac converter that plugs into my car cigarette outlet and run them. It was only $20 and it's enough to run those 2. Until I get more money into the tank and buy a used generator. Cutting up a Styrofoam top ahead of time would have made things easier that day too.

You should have your battery tested and maybe conditioned. It should run your mp10 for longer then 45.

[carpenterman23]

Just get a small generator. Watch craigslist. I pick them up on there all the time.

[b0bab0ey]

For apt dwellers (like myself), a generator is not always practical. A battery operated air pump and some ice cubes in a zip-lock bag go a long way.

[RegalAngel]

Originally Posted by Tim gixxerman

What to do when power goes out? Battery back up generator any other ideas?

Well, it certainly depends upon how much power your system uses.
In my case with a 350g system, I would like to power a couple of pumps and heaters.

So, my plan is to drive about 2 miles to the local rental store and rent an emergency generator for the time needed. Normally, where I live power outages are rare and if they happen only last 3-5 hours, ie blown transformer.

For smaller systems, a battery backup like used for a PC would probably suffice.

[kzooreefer]

+1 on the gas generator.

I lost power for 4 days in February, outside temp around 20 degrees that week, and ended up borrowing a 5500 watt generator from a friend on the second day. Running an air pump was the least of my worries when the water temp dropped down to 50 degrees on the first night without power. Running a heater off a battery backup wasn't an option here as it would only last a few hours at most. I tried boiling water but you have to do it non stop to keep the temp any where near normal and I didn't have enough propane. Stores were out too as about 30,000 people (1/3 the population) were without power for the week.

I ended up buying my own 5000 watt generator at Home Depot for $600 so this way I can power up my entire aquarium (500 watts), the frig (1000 watts), the entertainment system (500 watts) and run a small heater (1500 watts). I get about 12 hours off 6 gallons of fuel at this load (70%). I thought about just getting a 1000 watt generator for the aquarium but then I thought I might as well go higher and enjoy some creature comforts too as I lose power a lot for long times.

[evoi19]

i pray for the electricity to come back...