When Disaster Strikes

[invincible569]

Usually when there is a Disaster, it is not planned. During this time, saving time is very crucial therefore planning ahead for a disaster is important. I've been watching the New Orleans hurricane and supposedly they will not have power for about 3 weeks!!! How have you prepared for a disaster? Share your tips and experiences please.

For myself, I have an APC battery backup running a single power head. I have tested it many times and works when the electricity goes out. It has ran for several hours without the aid of electricity. I also have another one that runs the main pump. This one only last for about 20-30mins, but is worth it for those on/off glitches you cannot control. I also have a battery operated air pump sitting on standby. Another thing that helps is having a water reservoir with 20g's of water ready which is controlled by a Kent auto top off. One thing that scares me is if electricity was off for 24 hrs during a hot day, what could you do? I guess use a generator.

[Heinz]

i got a generator, which is larg enough to run the whole house, including heater/AC, tank, i had to deal with powerlose a few times in the past years, the generator is usally used to run a welder when used on the fields,
money well spend on a generator, i got mine in 1980 and have used it a lot of times,

[ldrhawke]

....... One thing that scares me is if electricity was off for 24 hrs during a hot day, what could you do? I guess use a generator.

The cheapest and easiest insurance you can buy.....Penn Plax SILENT-AIR SAB11 Auto/On Battery-Powered Air Pump. The automatic back-up system that can keep fish alive... battery power goes ON when electric power goes OFF.

These are great little units and cheap. They will run for 36 hours on a pair of D cells. It should be manditory to have two or more on every reef tank. Even if you get a power plimp they instantly come on and go off automatically. I didn't lose any coral or fish when the last hurricane hit and I was without power for a couple of days. I have a generator now that will run everything, but these are still the best insurance you can add to any reef tank.

Cheap Insurance

[SEAREEF]

i RUN A APC 1000XL WITH 600 LBS OF APC XL BATTERY I CAN RUN MY 3 TANKS FOR 26 HRS AND I WILL GET A PHONE CALL EVERY 5 MINS SAYING POWERS OUT..i ALSO HAVE A GENERATOR THAT I USE WHEN IM HOME TO SAVE MY BATTERIES ..

[7thheaven]

I also have a battery operated air pump..

Dear Hawke~~
Cheap insurance you recommand is really silent?
Mine are so loud...(other brand)

[Diesel3443]

Generator and a window a/c. Keeps you cool and the tank cool at the same time. I bought mine after losing everything due to the hurricanes last year. I lost power for a week, the first three days were fine, then the sun came out and my tank cooked to 96 degrees---and I lost 30-40 col of sps and my fish. All my clams survived, 2 of them spawned which also attributed to the deaths im sure

[SEAREEF]

I also have my tank insured for 60 grand ,just incase the worst happend ..along with california earth quake ins ....

[Ger]

Going to use a gas powered emergency generator that kicks in when the electricity goes out.

SEAREEF, do you have more info on that insurance you could e-mail or PM me please. Sounds like a good idea...

[mshur]

hm..i never knew that we can insur reef tanks..
do u guys have more info?

mike

[o2manyfish]

Invinc,

Heat usually is not that much of an issue when the power fails. Given that your tank is inside (at least everyone else's is - LOL) - Unless you live in an area where the temperature is over 105 degrees - The interior temperature of the house should not rise to the same level. Adding a fan to your back up power to blow air across the tank will help maintain the temperature.

Without power, the heat transfer into your tank drops dramatically. More often people have an issue with temperature dropping. And need heaters on the back ups.

I picked up a new 6500w gas generator for under $600. It runs about 20 hours on 3-4g of gas. Last week I went and bought a couple of spare sparkplugs just to be prepared. Other than keeping the spare gas fresh. It's pretty much the safest way to go. It will provide enough juice to keep the tanks alive, the food fridge and beer fridge cool and the Tivo and big screen running.

Dave B

[majesticangelfish]

You can put a low wattage pump (say Tunze 6060) on a UPS.- run for hours when the power goes out.

[SEAREEF]

The problem with out having your main pump run on a ups/generator is that your water level will drop ,now if you are gone for a day your acros will be sticking out of water ,at least mine would ....

[Ruth]

I went the generator route. I also use it with my camper trailer. I live quite far out of town and get power outages all the time. I have a battery powered air pump as well. I bought one of the new Honda 3500 generators that runs really quiet and are electric start. I always have plenty of gas (if my 19 year old son who always seems to be broke does not find it and put it in his PU) here so am good for a couple of weeks.

[Aged Salt]

[QUOTE=Ruth I always have plenty of gas (if my 19 year old son who always seems to be broke does not find it and put it in his PU) here so am good for a couple of weeks.[/QUOTE]
Well then, Ruth, I assume you're prematurely gray Bob

[o2manyfish]

Ruth,

That's cool that your generator runs quiet. I have a Coleman, it fricking loud, and is a pull start.

Dave B