Prep for power outage.

[TexasTodd]

Just some suggestions especially for new reefers.

Here's what I'd do.

Fill a large cooler with ice and have bags without holes ready.

Do a good sized water change today or tomorrow.

Put fresh carbon on your system.

CLEAN YOUR SKIMMER TODAY AND RUN IT "WET" from now through Sunday. Wet means so the bubbles are right up to the top of the spill over area----not dry bubbles but the kind that don't look like they have any gunk in them.

Pick up some low wattage pumps like cheap MaxiJets that give good flow for low power usage.

Don't feed your tank at all from now through Sunday. IT WILL NOT HURT YOUR ANIMALS-------really!

Cars batteries can run some items for a little while if needed.

Turn your house AC LOW on Friday night before you go to bed.

An airpump and stone use low amounts of power.

Buy some Amonia Detox stuff at a local fish store.


Heat and related oxygen loss is what will take your animals down. If some start to go then they will rapidly take others down. Bio-load in the tank to start can make this all happen faster and more extremely.

Buy getting your system as clean as possible and having Ice and some low power pumps on hand you will greatly improve your odds. This is CHEAP stuff to have/get..............GET IT.

FWIW all IMO.

Todd

[::pete::]

A cheap power inverter (40.00) from Sams will run my Dart for 3 hours before I need to start the truck ;)

[LoneStar]

And a 1/5th of Jack Daniels as a contingency plan :mellow

[MikeyBoy]

Good stuff Todd...............thanks for the hints...........I think I had most of that planned, except the preimtive water change.
I dont think I can enough water made, this **** RO/DI unit is ****ing me off!!

[Belowh20]

Another good addition is a Bubble Box. They have these at Walmart, basically a battery powered air pump to aerate buckets with live bait. They run off 2 DD batteries for a time period of 28-33 hours. They can also be powered by a single D battery, but they last only half the length. Best of all their only $5 plus some change.

[TroyPham]

anyone look into putting in a backup generator? not the little portable one but a true backup with a transfer switch. i'm look'n a the kohler 12 res or the generac 15k. for $3-4k these things will run most homes and a 4ton central air unit.

what are your thoughts?

no need to worry about your corals with this.

[TexasTodd]

Get one! Then we'll all come see how it works! :)

A bit of a "stepper" on cost. These are the ones that run off propane right? Down the road a bit for me, but they look great. No problems storing fuel or having it go bad!

Todd

[GaryP]

Anyone want to buy a 20 KW diesel generator? Its killing the grass in my backyard.

[TroyPham]

how much u want for it gary?... i might now someone that wants it...

yea Todd.. it runs on propane or natural gas. i'm try'n to keep from having to run city gas lines so i might get a 50 or 100 gallon tank to store the fuel in. that way no worry when the pump station is not working when a hurrican or power goes out in the town.

[AlexKilpatrick]

I've seen generators for a few hundred dollars in the 1-3KW range. Are those enought to run a typical tank? Or just the pumps? Theoretically, a 1KW should run my lights and pump, but I know you have to scale it up by some factor. I don't know what that factor is.

[TroyPham]

a 2500w would run your tank and a fridge. i'm look'n at something bigger to run my a/c too. i don't think the family( i don't have one right now) would like the fact of the fishs being in comfort while they suffer in the heat. hehe

[LoneStar]

TroyPham, I have been following along to PClausen's setup on RC and remembered he has a generator with a 500g in ground propane tank. Here is the link:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=589483&perpage=25&highl ight=black%20sand&pagenumber=2

He seems pretty cool and will probably answer any questions you have (not to mention this is a good story on how he converted his freshwater to saltwater reef). ;)

[AlexKilpatrick]

Well, I think you need plan on the most likely contingencies. In this area (Austin, anyway), I don't think we have ever had a power outage of more than 6 or 7 hours. If we have a power outage of a week, then I think I am just going to throw up my hands and assume a total loss. It is going to be pretty expensive to get a generator that will run an air conditioner.

So, my guess is that it might be better not to run the lights, since things can survive without that for a few days and they generate heat. I would run my pumps, skimmer (part time), chiller, and fridge (to save the food).

[TroyPham]

well your look'n at about 3-4k for the setup. and your right.. u guys up in austin have to worry about hurricans.

[TroyPham]

thanks lonestar for the link...i looked at that link awhile back........ i'll check it out again