POWER OUTAGE?????

[SnowManSnow]

ok im in NE Ga. and we are expecting an ice storm tonight...

what do i do if the power goes out? I won't leak or anything.. but should i be concerned about water movement for 5 or 6 hrs? The temp should be fine..

B.

 

[Anonymous]

Battery powered airpumps. They're worth every penny and they only cost between $10 to $15.

Regards,
David Mohr

 

[Anonymous]

Agreed...they have saved many a tank.

Including Louey's, iirc.

 

[Anonymous]

Yes, a battery powered airstone can keep your tank alive for quite awhile. My 75G tank lasted four days without power during Hurricane Charley.

Heat is the other main concern. Your problem will be that your tank will get too cold. Do anything you can to insulate the tank. Styrofoam sheets, blankets, or anything else will help.

I think Rich Durso has soon expertise in this area. Hopefully he will chime in.

Louey

 

[ChrisRD]

The battery powered airpumps are great to have, as mentioned above. Having a generator is the nicest option IMO because you can also keep your household stuff running too. Of course, they are expensive (although if you consider losing your whole tank - not so much ) and are not feasible in some living arrangements though. Another, cheaper alternative to look into is a DC to AC power inverter that can run off your car (or a car battery).

 

[Anonymous]

I keep an DC to AC inverter on hand, with a charged motorcycle battery, and I agree that battery powered air pumps are worth every penny.

 

[Tackett]

I bought my battery powered airpumps from the local sporting good store. They are the ones that they use for live bait. They were under 10 bucks and I bought two of them. Put out alot of air.

 

[Chemical_Whore]

I am trying to figure out a plan for this as well, I was planning to get the battery powered air pumps, but I was also looking into a UPS (sense most of my tank will be computer controled) for outages up to 3 hours long. anything else ( I have not started a plan for long term outages)


UPS will heat for 15 min then off for 30 min controled by X10 also during this heating a pump will kick on for 15 this is one acrost the top of the water for air exchange.

 

[Tackett]

how long will the battery keep a charge? how many watts is your heater. Look at it this way...My computer is on a UPS and drawing a nominal 200 watts average. The ups wont las longer than 10 minutes when the power goes. Gives me enough time to save and turn off the machine.

 

[ben3343]

I have a "20 minute" UPS hooked to one of my tanks. Sure it will only run my PC and monitor for 20 minutes. However, I've had the power go out at least 5 times in the past year, and the UPS runs my Bak-Pak for hours on end, I've gotten 5 hours out of it before. I'm using a maxi-jet 900. I supplement that with a battery operated pump. Both are very wise investments.

Ben

 

[Anonymous]

If I may temporarily steer the topic in a slightly different direction...I have an IBM UPS that isn't being used. However, the outlets in the back are what I call squishied 3-pronged...a regular three pronged plug won't fit. Are there adapters available, and where would I get one? TIA.

 

[Chemical_Whore]

I was going to go with a 1000W one (actuly two if I can go that far) just to be safe one for the controler and another for the jet and the heater. but if a 200W will go 5 hours I think I can do alot more.