45 hours without power and counting...

[Anonymous]

Lost my power with hurricane Jeanne. It is now 45 hours and no sign of power coming back on. I have been running my return pump every 4 hours for about 20 minutes using an inverter from my car. My biggest concern right now is the heat and my ability to keep this schedule as I return back to work. Any other suggestions??

Wish me well!!!

 

[Anonymous]

Louey had his power out for a few days, and he stated that a few battery-powered air stones really helped him out.

In terms of keeping the water from overheating, I unfortunately don't have too many suggestions. Some ice in a floating bag might help a little, but prolly not much.

Let me be the first to wish you well! Good luck, and keep us posted!!

 

[Anonymous]

Here's hoping for you!

Go get some battery airstones and extra batteries. You won't regeret it. I think Louey ran the airstones constantly for a few days on one set of batteries. That way you won't have to keep running the extension cord out to the car.

To keep the heat down, can you take the canopy off the top of the tank to help evaporation?

B

 

[Fastmarc]

Just went through the same with Ivan (Jamaica).
It's very important to keep the oxygen in the water. As stated before, battery pumps would go a far way (in the tank and sump). It saved my tank until I got a generator to borrow.
Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[Anonymous]

So Jeanne also affected the west coast of Florida even though landfall was on the east coast of the state? I'm amazed at the size of the hurricanes when they show them on the satellite pictures. Clearwater's a beautiful city, and I loved staying at the Sheraton there. I hope everything gets back to normal as soon as possible.

Regarding the maintenance for your tank, I concur with the others that airstones are your best bang for the buck.

 

[Anonymous]

Interestingly, my LFS owner (who is great) is down on these battery operated air stones. He feels they will not save a tank with no circulation. Apparently, they do not work with any kind of head pressure. I suppose it wouldn't hurt along with my continued use of the inverter.

Thanks for all the wishes.

mitch

 

[Anonymous]

70 hours without power now. Still running my return pumps for 30 minutes every 4-6 hours. Tank temp is holding steady at 81. No loss of life at this point. Corals seem generally unhappy without any MH lighting for the past 3 days.

Still keeping my fingers crossed.

mitch

 

[Anonymous]

The airstones did work for me for 4 days without power. I didn't lose anything. I was setting up a portable generator when the power came back on. I felt that another day without skimming and light would be very bad for the corals and clams. I did not feed my tank the whole time I was without power. That would just help create waste.

Can you get a generator?

Louey

 

[Anonymous]

No generators available here. I also have not fed while the power has been out. I usually only feed once a week.

The battery operated airstones are on backorder here. I checked 4 pet shops yesterday.

mitch

 

[Anonymous]

Continuing to use the inverters will still accomplish aeration.

Splashing the water around with your hands works too.

Good luck.

Louey

 

[Anonymous]

When do they expect the power to come back on?

 

[Reef Guy11]

Hey there I hope that it will come on soon. My friend she lives in Avon Park I beleive. That is a Half hour from Tampa. She said that there area will mostly likely be without power for 2 weeks. I hope that is not the same for you hope they can get your power ASAP. Those Damn Hurricanes. Well keep doing what your doing and hopefully it will work out.

 

[Anonymous]

Good luck!

I have used those battery powered air stones in a time of power outage, and even seen the fish visibly "perk up" soon after they were put on the tank (we were not home when power went out) so I think they do help.

I have also used a soup ladel and periodically give the tank a good stir, trying to create some nice chaotic water movement, when the power was out.

 

[HClH2OFish]

How long are they on backorder for and are you getting mail/fed ex?
If so, I get paid Friday and could pick up a couple and send off to you...I've heard parts of Fl are gonna be w/out power for a few weeks maybe....

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the offer!! I'm hopeful my power will be back on within the next two days. The soup ladle is a good idea. I have been using a baster to stir and aerate in between running my pumps.

I've also been taking pics of the tank which I will hopefully be able to post if my power ever comes on. My only access to computer right now is at work.

Thanks again for the good wishes.

mitch

 

[Speckled Grouper]

I got my battery air pumps at Wal Mart in the Fishing Department for like six bucks. Saved me from Francis. Ice packs where a drop in the bucket, I opened the canopy and had two fans blowing across the surface. My temp was up to 88 degrees at one point, I didn't loose a thing.

 

[ricky1414]

Do the water drop method, it worked for me many moons ago when I lived in Florida during outages. Take a brand new plastic water pitcher, fill it with tank water, and from about a foot over the water, dump/pour it in. Extremely frugal water surge device. Just my .02

 

[Anonymous]

At 100 hours, my power finally came back on. My thanks go out to a power crew from Texas that came to Florida to lend a hand after the hurricane. Amazingly, I did not lose a thing!! My corals and clams have perked right up after the MH kicked on.

Thanks for all of your advice and best wishes. I can't wait to get a good night sleep with air conditioning and not having to get up several times to plug my pumps into my car inverter!

mitch

 

[Anonymous]

Good to hear, Mitch!

 

[Anonymous]

Wow, 100 hours. That's about the same as mine was out. Aeration is the key to keeping it alive.

I'll bet any nuisance algeas that you may have had are now gone. That was the one nice side effect that my tank had. Four days with no light and little fish waste, and Viola! No algea. Not that I really had any, it's just that the tank was sparkling clean afterwards!

Louey