how do you handle power outages?

We pretty much do what AZ does...we have several battery-op air pumps that we use, but for extended runs, we have a generator...i think it's the same 4 kW model (came from Auto Zone when they had a sale).

We don't keep gas in ours tho as it almost never gets run...I don't think gas stabilzer works in our case.

 

Generators would be ideal. I went a little smaller:
http://www.3reef.com/forums/general-reef-topics/apc-bx1500g-battery-backup-review-121517.html

I also use a battery air-pump. That saved my tank:

http://www.3reef.com/forums/general...ered-air-pump-saved-my-fish-today-116690.html


matt

 

I currently use 4 D battery powered air pumps for my SW tanks, cost was I think $10 each and will provide enough flow to keep them alive for at least a few hour I believe. I've only had to use them once and only for a few minutes. I am also going to get a generator as my biggest concern would be heat in an extended power loss in our AZ summer months. This happen a few years ago and we were black for 11 hours when an out dated grid blew a transformer. I had only FW then and lost half the fish to 95+ water temp's.
I now have a power inverter that I can plug into my cars that will suffice until I budget in a generator big enough to power my portable AC and pumps.

I believe this will eventually be a major problem in the country with our totally out dated power grid and we really need to be prepared to keep our creatures alive and us for that matter!

 

Word

 

I bought a 1000 watt 2-stroke generator from a guy off CL for $75, have not had to use it yey, but I am ready when needed. I always have 2-stroke gas on hand, I also have a battery powered air pump. For added oxygen, you can also add hydrogen peroxide to your system, if you add 1ml/8gallons of 3% H2O2, you can raise the peroxide levels in the tank by 15mg/l and it will not hurt your fish or corals.

 

FWIW, we kept a dozen SW setups alive and well for 72 hours with battery-op airpumps. That particular outage prompted us to get the generator, which we have yet to use.