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HELP- Power Outtage

DREUTZ

DREUTZ

Reefs R Madness!
Manhattan Reefs
Location
LONG ISLAND NEW YORK
Rating - 100%
10   0   0
The power has been off for about 2 hours. I am starting to get worried. My Royal Gramma did not look too good, my BSJ is running around the bottom freaking out and my clowns were slowly swimming in areas of the tank that they never go. Temp has been stable at 76-77. I started to stir the water and blow water from above the waterline into the tank with a turkey baster for increased oxygen.

How long does it take for dieoff to start?

Do I need to keep stirring all night or can I set my alarm for increments of time so I can sleep a little between stirring sessions?
 
C

Chiefmcfuz

Guest
Rating - 99.1%
225   2   0
With all due respect to the battery powered air pumps theory, the UPS is the better option in my opinion and experience. Most of the time when power goes out you have to either run around and take of other pertinent issues first, the family and the house should be the number one priority. The UPS starts right away and lets you attend to the tank some time after while it keeps your return pump running it frees you up to check on things like the fam and the house etc. Secondly the power goes out the other half of the time when you aren't home. In this instance the return pump is powered instantly for an extended period of time until you can get home. I don't know about all jobs but most jobs don't really like you running home to check your tank in the event of a power outage. Mine doesn't.

My feeling is buy the biggest possible UPS you can afford that will power your return pump and only your return pump for a time period that you are comfortable with. Also buy the battery powered air pump and use that when/if the UPS dies as a backup to your backup. Remember these air pumps can impact your evaporation rate so you will need top off water in reserve to combat that. All backup and emergency measures should be tested on a regular basis. I test my UPS whenever I do my second water change of the month.

In addition there is a thread listing emergency measures and a few other power outage threads that have a great deal of information in them that you should look at.

Give them a read.

The link can be found here: http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/general-discussion/42407-emergency-measures-use-now.html
 
ed4

ed4

Idling
Manhattan Reefs
Location
Great Neck
Rating - 100%
31   0   0
Although I agree that a UPS is the better solution,(funds permitting), getting most any pump that can move water in the display is paramount. It doesn't have to be the return pump. Circulation pumps (Vortechs, Tunzes, Korallias, et al) also work IMO.

One has to consider the existing return pump being used. Not everyone can use their return pump on a UPS and yield decent run times. Imagine a Mag 18 or a 3,000 GPH external pump on a UPS. The run time will either suck or the pumps will pull more current than a bargain UPS can output.

The common denominator between the different solutions is to get some kind of flow going to keep the water somewhat saturated w/ oxygen.
 
Q

qy7400

Member
Location
Long Island
Rating - 100%
28   0   0
Not sure I agree with UPS being the better option, for $20 you can get an automatic air pump with batteries that should last almost a day; the largest UPS that will still use a 15A plug will only last 5 hours running a 50 watt pump but cost over $500. Also keep in mind some UPS will not run an AC motor.

For those that can a generator is still the best choice as you can power part of the home as well.
 
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