Surviving power outages

First, thoughts and prayers for te people in the areas without power.

While trying to plan for such an event and being new to this hobby I was wondering what are the bare necessities during such an event.

I am aware that flow is very important. Although we seldom have lengthy power outages it wasn't long ago we were without power for 9 days due to tornados in north Alabama. I have a generator but didn't run it 24/7 as gas shortage was also an issue. With that said, what would minimals be?

1. How long can a reef/fish tank go without flow. How often and long would be considered safe if the generator couldn't run 24/7

2. What would be a safe temp range to prevent major loss?

3. How long without lights would be ok?

4. Keep same feeding schedule or would it need modified?

5. Without power, is there anything a person could if they had no generator or the generator failed?

Just thought it would be nice to have a contingency plan in place and may help other inexperienced people as well.

 

Good questions! It is easy to survive a day or a few hours without power with a battery operated air pump, but 9 days in the brutal heat?

1. Don't know about the no-flow timing. Can't imagine it is too long.

2. Temps - protracted time in the low 90's isn't good for them, but what can be done except fans and ice? And if power is off for a while, the ice is for the food and in short supply and the fans aren't going to be running.

3. I'm assuming lighting isn't even on the concern list - coral can survive fine for a couple of weeks without light.

4. Feeding - cut way back or nothing at all. Fish can survive without food for a while. Not nice for them, but any extra organic matter needs to be avoided at all costs.

5. Pay a neighbor kid to blow on an air tube or stir the tank :

How did your tank survive and what did you do?

 

These are actually great questions... Tagging along.

Btw... Regarding scadsobees response to #5, blowing in an air tube would be carbon dioxide Also, stirring the tank seems a bit dangerous.. I would probably remove water and pour it back in.

 

Propane generator. Cheap, effective, fish saving.