Disaster Preparedness

I'd like to see us develop a good reference list for steps to take to be prepared for the inevitable emergencies that a reef tank encounters. An ounce of prevention , Forwarned is forarmed, yada,yada,yada...

Please try to organize replies by type of disaster e.g.
Equipment Failure
Power Failure (winter, summer)
Tank cracked or leaking
Sick fish

 

Equipment Failure:
Have a spare return pump on hand. If your system uses multiple pumps try to use the same model pump at as many sites as possible, that way one spare covers several possible failure points.
Use 2 small heaters instead of 1 large heater to minimize how quickly a stuck on heater can raise your tank temp. Also this lets you keep a heater in your tank when you have to remove the bad one.

 

In the event of a power outage. I have a Ups Battery backup on my Red sea max power was off for 3 days over the winter due to ice storm and tank made it through unscathed. They are fairly expensive though. For larger tanks you should probably go with a generator. I keep a spare heater around in case one gets stuck as well, and a air pump for good measure.

 

Really depends on what exactly. Equipment failure, you hit it on the head with the pumps and heaters. I try to keep spares around as well. I have 2 spare heaters, and a spare return pump (all brand new). Those to me are the major things equipment wise that could cause problems. Stuff like powerheads, lights, skimmer, etc, those things in all reality would probably be OK to go without for the timeframe of ordering one and receiving it. One thing I do like to do, is I save my bulbs whenever I change them out. No, they are old and not the best, but they work better than nothing while a new one comes in the mail
Power failure, I have a Honda 2000 generator, and also an inverter wired into my truck. Generators can be expensive, but invereters are pretty cheap and anyonce can afford them, so thats what I would suggest. Just fire up your vehicle and run an extension cord, a lot less of a hassle than dealing with battery backups and what-not.
Cracked or leaking tank, well I would be pretty much screwed there. I dont keep an extra 200 gallon long laying around nor can I buy one easily locally. What I would personally do is move all creatures over to the sump (55 gallon) and fuge (20 gallon) until the tank could be repaired.
Sick fish, I keep a little 20 long hospital tank in the attic in case time ever comes. That is also a relatively inexpensive emergency investment. You can easily get a 20L hospital set up complete for around $60-$70.

 

im terrible about spare equipment, im always rushing to the pet shop when something fails. for a huge tank that leaks or cracks, buy yourself a nice size kiddie pool from toys r us and shoot as much of your tanks water as possible into the pool before it drains out. i actually had a makeshift freshwater pond in my basement for a while like that.

 

I definately wouldn't have thought of using a kiddie pool but I could get my hands on one of those faster and cheaper than another huge tank. I also hadn't thought of putting my fish into the sump. K+ for both of you.

 

I always thought 2 trash cans the brutes since mine is a 65g. at least I can save a good amount of water to submerge my fish and rock in but i still need to get a second trash can uggg i hate spending 32 bucks on a friggin plastic container. Inevitable since im east coast va we get hurricanes and when power fails we out for like a week so I have a ups to keep the return going to at least move the water and keep the fish happy.

 

I posted this link awhile ago, after hurricane Ike. I'll post again, as there are alot of new people here--good info!!!

Hurricane

 

awesome i read that and will def be doign this in case i get a hurrican since i live in virginia beach. Lol I use to pray for hurricanes now im scarred ******** if we get one.