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Bit of a disaster (& HC update)

Mark_C

Staff member
Officer Emeritus
NJRC Member
Moderator
HOLY COW UPDATE!

Last night filefish was on its side unmoving, large clown about the same, all zoas closed, all SPS withdrawn and fading color.
Left for work this morning and came home tonight to count my losses.

Everything is OK, I mean everything (except for those SPS that were acclimating, which are toast).
All fish back up, sea hares feeding again, all zoas opened, inverts out scavenging.
This is after 11 solid hours without power, zero circulation.

Makes me wonder if we worry too much about our tanks being down for a few hours.
Where do we get our information on survivability and power loss from?

Edit, just snapped a quick pic, no filters...
IMG_9282.jpg
 
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I read some reviews for the on Msrk_C posted and most people said only ran an hour with smallest one.

Those are made for power interruption so you don't lose computer data. Not really useful for our hobby.

Loss of power can cost you thousands. It pays to have serious backup. I have the ecotech, a transfer switch for a huge gas generator and of course Apex for the early warning. Also some cheap bubblers.
 
HOLY COW UPDATE!

Last night filefish was on its side unmoving, large clown about the same, all zoas closed, all SPS withdrawn and fading color.
Left for work this morning and came home tonight to count my losses.

Everything is OK, I mean everything (except for those SPS that were acclimating, which are toast).
All fish back up, sea hares feeding again, all zoas opened, inverts out scavenging.
This is after 11 solid hours without power, zero circulation.

Makes me wonder if we worry too much about our tanks being down for a few hours.
Where do we get our information on survivability and power loss from?
HOLY COW UPDATE!

Last night filefish was on its side unmoving, large clown about the same, all zoas closed, all SPS withdrawn and fading color.
Left for work this morning and came home tonight to count my losses.

Everything is OK, I mean everything (except for those SPS that were acclimating, which are toast).
All fish back up, sea hares feeding again, all zoas opened, inverts out scavenging.
This is after 11 solid hours without power, zero circulation.

Makes me wonder if we worry too much about our tanks being down for a few hours.
Where do we get our information on survivability and power loss from?

Edit, just snapped a quick pic, no filters...

If it was winter, what do you think would of happened?
 

Mark_C

Staff member
Officer Emeritus
NJRC Member
Moderator
If it was winter, what do you think would of happened?

Fishcicles, coralcicles, snailcicles, and such.
But, one can argue that in a well insulated house, over a few hours, with the water buffer, and a tank kept at 79-80F, the temperature drop may be negligible over a few hours, especially in larger tanks.
Even if a drop of 4-5 degrees occurs over a number of hours, its still within survivability range.

Statement I made was a bit broad. I was thinking in terms of circulation and oxygenation of the tank.
For all my reading it seems to many that a tank void of circulation or oxygenation for 2 hours means disaster.
When I returned home and was informed the power was out for 11 hours a panic ensued.
But everything from fish, to sea hares, acro, zoas, shrooms, and algae (damn), pulled through.
Zero circulation, no oxygenation, no natural light to tank, house at 78F (didn't check tank temp).
 

DangerDave

NJRC Member
That wont run much and not very long. Try an Ecotech battery backup/ Will run my mp 40 for 12 hours or 2 for 6 hours,

VorTech Battery Back-up - EcoTech Marine

Do you have one of these? I'd like to hear about how it works. I was reading about them on r2r, but decided against it. Many people posted how the batteries were shot after a year or so, even with no power outages for it to run. It seemed like the charger used never conditioned the battery. That said, most people are quick to complain, but if it's working good most people won't post about it.

Dave
 

Hallowhead

NJRC Member
My thought process:

We all spend thousands on our reefs. Corals alone are probably several thousand. A standby generator costs ~5-10k. (I use this number as my standy generator cost somewhere in there. This generator is immesnly grossly overpowered. My family lives at very cold temperatures, the thermostat is pegged at 68). Our generator is capable of cycling our AC on and than powering our double stacked simultaneously while taking care of the rest of the house. So take 5-10k with a grain of salt. This generator kicks on after 10 seconds of no power and produces clean reliable power.. don't get me wrong I have stuff behind UPS as precaution anyways.. my point is you can get a simple 10kw standby generator with auto transfer switch for less than I stated and just have it run several breakers in your panel ie. Fish / fridge .. life support.

Go 2 months without buying an upgrade or 100 of dollars of corals and back your investment up.

Very happy everything turned out okay !
 
Glad to hear most of your fish and coral are ok.

FWIW, this is one of the reasons we are so "understocked" vs. the bioload our tank can theoretically handle. We've had power outages overnight (and longer) with nothing but a battery operated bubbler or two and had minimal losses. I doubt your fish were having a temperature problem - I bet they were low on oxygen, which is a little surprising because I would have bet your tank was understocked too.

We have several of these: Top Fin Battery Operated Aquarium Air Pump)
 
Do you have one of these? I'd like to hear about how it works. I was reading about them on r2r, but decided against it. Many people posted how the batteries were shot after a year or so, even with no power outages for it to run. It seemed like the charger used never conditioned the battery. That said, most people are quick to complain, but if it's working good most people won't post about it.

Dave

I do have one and its saved my bacon a couple of times. You should get a few years out the them and their is a cheap DIY replacement video. About $30

 

erics210

NJRC Member
Sorry to hear Mark.

I have an APC backups with a powerhead and heater in the main tank. If power goes off I get a good 80 hours of flow and warmth to get things in order. Picked up at a garage sale for $10
 

MadReefer

Staff member
NJRC Member
Moderator
Sorry to hear Mark.

I have an APC backups with a powerhead and heater in the main tank. If power goes off I get a good 80 hours of flow and warmth to get things in order. Picked up at a garage sale for $10

Nice deal or is it nice steal.
 

MadReefer

Staff member
NJRC Member
Moderator
Sorry to hear Mark.

I have an APC backups with a powerhead and heater in the main tank. If power goes off I get a good 80 hours of flow and warmth to get things in order. Picked up at a garage sale for $10

Eric, How many watts is it?
 
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