Preparing for power outages - Aquarium Advice

apotocki · 04-01-2005, 11:10 AM

Now that the weather is finally starting to warm up a bit, and thunderstorms will become more frequent (and couple that with the fact that I live in an area that gets fairly frequent power outages), what can I pro-actively do to plan for power outages?
I have a 70 gallon [acronym:1351d5932b="Freshwater"]FW[/acronym:1351d5932b] tank with a XP3 canister (not sure if that matters) stocked with mainly tetra's, a couple angels, a couple clown loaches and a group of cory's.
I'm worried about what's gonna happen.....its not a matter of if it happens, but when.
Thanks
Alan

megos1 · 04-01-2005, 11:26 AM

Make sure you have a generator on hand. I live out in a heavily wooded area and I have a 110 [acronym:f5411c4b07="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:f5411c4b07] saltwater tank, if the power goes out, I lose everything. Good Luck, I'm sure you will be alright if it's not for an extended amount of time, esp if you have a little generator.

electrocutioner · 04-01-2005, 05:38 PM

I read somewhere that you should wrap a blanket around the tank,but disconnect the power so that the blanket doesn't cause a fire or anything when power is restored.

Rach101 · 04-01-2005, 05:41 PM

Newspaper, blanket, anything that can be used to keep the heat inside. Also if the tank heat is starting to lower, dumping massive amounts of heated water is - BAD-.

apotocki · 04-01-2005, 05:47 PM

Ok - good points on making sure the tank temperature remains as high as possible....but....what about filtration (especially maintaining the bio-filter). How long would I have before the bio-filter would be affected?

TomK2 · 04-01-2005, 08:01 PM

Battery operated air pumps can keep the water circulating and maintain surface agitation, so that the warm tank with all the blankets around it doesn't beome oxygen depleted. I have see [acronym:dfeb985b50="Do it yourself"]DIY[/acronym:dfeb985b50] power systems using deep cycle batteries to power some tank filters and an air pump during power outages, but these are usually in [acronym:dfeb985b50="Saltwater"]SW[/acronym:dfeb985b50] tanks with big bucks on the line. The same principle as the sump pump battery backups for the house. Generators for [acronym:dfeb985b50="Saltwater"]SW[/acronym:dfeb985b50] tanks with $$$$ at stake are also done.

How long is a good question. I heard of hurricane victims last year going days without major losses with [acronym:dfeb985b50="Freshwater"]FW[/acronym:dfeb985b50], so a few hours seems OK.

electrocutioner · 04-01-2005, 09:44 PM

There are all sorts of ups and power inverters on the market.You will have to balance price with the features you need.Ideally yould want one that would kick in when the service kicks out.

04-01-2005, 11:10 AM	#1
apotocki Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Rochester Hills MI Posts: 97 Images: 1	Preparing for power outages Now that the weather is finally starting to warm up a bit, and thunderstorms will become more frequent (and couple that with the fact that I live in an area that gets fairly frequent power outages), what can I pro-actively do to plan for power outages? I have a 70 gallon [acronym:1351d5932b="Freshwater"]FW[/acronym:1351d5932b] tank with a XP3 canister (not sure if that matters) stocked with mainly tetra's, a couple angels, a couple clown loaches and a group of cory's. I'm worried about what's gonna happen.....its not a matter of if it happens, but when. Thanks Alan

04-01-2005, 11:26 AM	#2
megos1 Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 157	Make sure you have a generator on hand. I live out in a heavily wooded area and I have a 110 [acronym:f5411c4b07="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:f5411c4b07] saltwater tank, if the power goes out, I lose everything. Good Luck, I'm sure you will be alright if it's not for an extended amount of time, esp if you have a little generator. __________________ 50 Gallon Freshwater Planted Discus Cardinal Tetra Lemon Tetra Assorted Cory Catfish 15 Gallon Freshwater Ornate Bichir 29 Gallon Reef Seabae Clownfish *6 Line Wrasse

04-01-2005, 05:41 PM	#4
Rach101 Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: North Carolina/bed Posts: 1,017	Newspaper, blanket, anything that can be used to keep the heat inside. Also if the tank heat is starting to lower, dumping massive amounts of heated water is - BAD-. __________________ We are far to young and clever

04-01-2005, 05:47 PM	#5
apotocki Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Rochester Hills MI Posts: 97 Images: 1	Ok - good points on making sure the tank temperature remains as high as possible....but....what about filtration (especially maintaining the bio-filter). How long would I have before the bio-filter would be affected? __________________ 70 Gallon Tall[acronym:f9014c787e="Freshwater"]FW[/acronym:f9014c787e] w/Rena XP3 and 300w In-line heater 15 Harlequin Rasbora's 2 Black Marble Angels 2 Striped Angels 1 Pearl Angel 6 Rummynose Tetra's 3 Long finned Rams 2 Clown Loaches 4 Cory's 1 Gold Nugget Pleco

04-01-2005, 08:01 PM	#6
TomK2 Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Glen Ellyn, IL Posts: 1,953 Images: 2	Battery operated air pumps can keep the water circulating and maintain surface agitation, so that the warm tank with all the blankets around it doesn't beome oxygen depleted. I have see [acronym:dfeb985b50="Do it yourself"]DIY[/acronym:dfeb985b50] power systems using deep cycle batteries to power some tank filters and an air pump during power outages, but these are usually in [acronym:dfeb985b50="Saltwater"]SW[/acronym:dfeb985b50] tanks with big bucks on the line. The same principle as the sump pump battery backups for the house. Generators for [acronym:dfeb985b50="Saltwater"]SW[/acronym:dfeb985b50] tanks with $$$$ at stake are also done. How long is a good question. I heard of hurricane victims last year going days without major losses with [acronym:dfeb985b50="Freshwater"]FW[/acronym:dfeb985b50], so a few hours seems OK. __________________ Tom's Tank - The web's best (only?) Motorcycling, trap shootin', aquarium site - IS BACK! With a new url. Oceanic 55+,two Fluval 404's,In-line 300W heater,Moderately planted with Polyvinylus Chloridus sp.=the only plants that last in my tank

04-01-2005, 05:38 PM	#3
electrocutioner Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 24 Images: 1	I read somewhere that you should wrap a blanket around the tank,but disconnect the power so that the blanket doesn't cause a fire or anything when power is restored.

04-01-2005, 09:44 PM	#7
electrocutioner Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 24 Images: 1	There are all sorts of ups and power inverters on the market.You will have to balance price with the features you need.Ideally yould want one that would kick in when the service kicks out.

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