Power out!

[Brando457]

My power went out! I have my return pump connected to a ups but idk how long it will last for. Once the ups goes out what should I do!?

 

[debfife]

We had to rent a generator from Home Depot once. It was cold, like today and we knew we wouldn't have power/heat back until some time the next day.

 

[Phyl]

If you're afraid the UPS won't last then run it for 15m on and 30 off, breaking the surface as much as you can. You'd be better off with a MJ pump breaking the surface than running a power hungry return pump in a situation of long down time. Hopefully it won't last for long.

 

[Brando457]

thankfully the power went back on!

Wheew disaster avoided.

In the future what do you suggest I have on hand incase it does go out again?

I knew surface agitation was necessary that is why I plugged only the pump in from the biocube.

I'm thinking when I setup my 135 buy 2 of the battery backups for my MP40s and god forbid if it does go out again I'd be safe for a few hours.

 

[9supratt4]

I bought a 400 Watt power inverter from Home Depot. I used it once during a 4-5 hours outage. I connected it directly to the car battery, ran extension cords and I was able to run heater, PH's and 1 return pump. Best thing I could have ever bought!!

 

[Brando457]

Not a bad idea Steve!

I am posting a new picture of the tank as I have moved it and remounted the lights

 

[Jcurry@wesketch]

I use a battery operated air pump. It runs on 2 D batteries.

 

[Brando457]

Is that sufficient enough though for circulation

 

[Baxreefs]

In a bad situation like that, keeping the surface moving, even a little, and keeping temps within tolerence are the keys to limiting negative impact. If you go with the backups on the Vortechs you'll be pretty well covered for flow to be sure. Keeping a heater going is a biger challenge due to the power draw.

 

[mgonz]

I lost about 90% of my livestock to a power outage once. It's not fun. I've never gotten a battery backup but do keep a vatery drill with two fully charged batteries on hand along with a paint mixer. If it happens again I will put the clean never used paint mixer on my batter drill and let it run. A fellow reefer gave me the idea and it has worked for me. It's kind of silly but I really don't have the place to do battery back up.

 

[Rbu1]

invest in a generator

 

[gregsreef]

I completly agree. They aren't very costly. For most of us it's a small fraction of our stock. I just had a 3 hour scare I'll be picking mine up in the morning. Thank god it came back on

 

[mnat]

So we just lost power as well and it looks like the whole street did not good. Now I charged my dremel and we can attach something to it to stir the water surface. Problem is three tanks so for how long and at what intervals to run it

 

[GregW]

Power Inverter. You can get a 400 watt for $40 or 1200 watt for $100 at Walmart. It plugs into you car's cig lighter.

Mike - I have a 400 watt if you can get here tonight. I'll stay on line till midnight.

 

[mnat]

Greg thanks for theoffer but can't in the snow with my car. Just will be wait and see. Snow is pretty bad here right now going on 1 hour without power

 

[GregW]

does a gas stove work without electricity? I know the spark wont but if you can light it with a match you can at least heat up some salt water to keep the tanks warm. Maybe some blankets around the tanks would help too. I've never done any of this - just throwing ideas out there. Good luck guys.

 

[mnat]

Everything in here is electric kinda sol

 

[GregW]

is that gas station at Main St and Taylor ave open? I'll bet they have hand warmers that you could drop in a zip lock and float in the tanks. again - never tried this , just thinking

 

[George]

there are a few different companies in new jersey who install generators that run on natural gas. ive seen these installed and they are great. you can get units small to run a few things and if you have 5 grand laying around you can get a unit to run your whole house. but im thinking one running a few things including your tank is more that enough.

 

[mikem]

Mike. I have a gen. you can borrow. It's big enough to run your whole house. I can deliver it if you need it.