Generator Suggestions for IM Nano 20

[nautical_nathaniel]

Hi all,

With Hurricane Irma posing a threat to pretty much all of Florida at this point, I have begun my search for a reliable power solution in the event I'm left without power for a day or so. I've started looking at portable "quiet" generators and found a couple that seem to meet my conditions of price vs. quality.

My question is, what is the power limit I need to be shooting for in one of these generators?

I have the following equipment running on my tank at the moment:

Jebao DC-2000 Return Pump 20w
Jebao PP-4 Wavemaker 10w
Eheim Jager 150w Heater
SB Reef Lights 16" LED Light 165w
Innovative Marine Ghost Desktop Skimmer 6.5w
Tunze Nano Osmolator/ATO

During an emergency, I can easily turn off all but the necessary equipment (return, heater, skimmer [skimmer for aeration purposes mostly]) since I use a multi-switch power strip/surge protector. If I'm without power for more than three days, I would like to be able to switch on the lights for a couple of hours so my corals don't starve.

Right now this is the generator I'm looking at: link

If you have any other suggestions, I'd be happy to hear them.

 

[Brew12]

Hi all,

With Hurricane Irma posing a threat to pretty much all of Florida at this point, I have begun my search for a reliable power solution in the event I'm left without power for a day or so. I've started looking at portable "quiet" generators and found a couple that seem to meet my conditions of price vs. quality.

My question is, what is the power limit I need to be shooting for in one of these generators?

I have the following equipment running on my tank at the moment:

Jebao DC-2000 Return Pump 20w
Jebao PP-4 Wavemaker 10w
Eheim Jager 150w Heater
SB Reef Lights 16" LED Light 165w
Innovative Marine Ghost Desktop Skimmer 6.5w
Tunze Nano Osmolator/ATO

During an emergency, I can easily turn off all but the necessary equipment (return, heater, skimmer [skimmer for aeration purposes mostly]) since I use a multi-switch power strip/surge protector. If I'm without power for more than three days, I would like to be able to switch on the lights for a couple of hours so my corals don't starve.

Right now this is the generator I'm looking at: link

If you have any other suggestions, I'd be happy to hear them.

You would be fine with 500W but I doubt you will find a generator that small. The one you have listed will work just fine (if it is reliable, not familiar with the brand) and you could use it to power other loads, charge your phone, etc.

Also, if you are only going to be without power for a day or two, you could leave your lights off and use even less power.

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

Also, if you are only going to be without power for a day or two, you could leave your lights off and use even less power.

That was the plan, I just wanted to have enough backup wattage in case I was without power for longer than that. Thanks for the input!

 

[johnzena]

Hi all,

With Hurricane Irma posing a threat to pretty much all of Florida at this point, I have begun my search for a reliable power solution in the event I'm left without power for a day or so. I've started looking at portable "quiet" generators and found a couple that seem to meet my conditions of price vs. quality.

My question is, what is the power limit I need to be shooting for in one of these generators?

I have the following equipment running on my tank at the moment:

Jebao DC-2000 Return Pump 20w
Jebao PP-4 Wavemaker 10w
Eheim Jager 150w Heater
SB Reef Lights 16" LED Light 165w
Innovative Marine Ghost Desktop Skimmer 6.5w
Tunze Nano Osmolator/ATO

During an emergency, I can easily turn off all but the necessary equipment (return, heater, skimmer [skimmer for aeration purposes mostly]) since I use a multi-switch power strip/surge protector. If I'm without power for more than three days, I would like to be able to switch on the lights for a couple of hours so my corals don't starve.

Right now this is the generator I'm looking at: link

If you have any other suggestions, I'd be happy to hear them.

To calculate your need simply add the wattage of your device LEDs 165 plus heater 150= 315 watts and so on. You will have a total wattage needed. I personally would double that number just to be safe. Motors use more power at start up.Take into consideration the heat in Florida. If your without power for a few days your tank is done. If you have a house generator you can make saltwater ice cubes.

 

[lauderdalestunner]

I like the small Honda generators. Thing to worry about is temperature, after the storm the house heats up fast. I use my home a/c to keep the tank cool but have a drop in wond type chiller I haven't had to use. After putting ice cubes in my tank after Wilma figured I needed an emergency plan. The tank is the only thing keeping me from driving to George.
Fort Lauderdale is in the cross hairs

 

[lauderdalestunner]

If I had a 20gal tank I'd pack it in the car with an air pump and drive out of town

 

[Brew12]

To calculate your need simply add the wattage of your device LEDs 165 plus heater 150= 315 watts and so on. You will have a total wattage needed. I personally would double that number just to be safe. Motors use more power at start up.Take into consideration the heat in Florida. If your without power for a few days your tank is done. If you have a house generator you can make saltwater ice cubes.

That is good advice on both counts.

As far as generator sizes, it feel it is better to add all your pumps and LED's, double it, then add the heaters. The voltage regulators on some generators can struggle with the harmonics created by LED's and pumps so you need to oversize them to account for this.

 

[johnzena]

I am designing 12volt car batteries into my build as a future back up system with many bottles frozen in deep freeze. At the bottom of the freezer they will stay frozen for a week.

 

[Chitown tom]

Have you looked into harbor freight?
You might be able to get a bigger generator and power a window a/c unit too if needed?

 

[johnzena]

Irma is very real with Florida and the Gulf Coast in it's crosshairs. A 12 volt boat bilge pump will make a perfect return pump. A fish bait airator that works on DD batteries. Battery powered lights and alot of frozen bottles of water. A good car battery can run the bilge pump for days. All it is is a trip to the store and some prep work.

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

I had already planned on making several frozen water bottles and getting a couple of aquarium fans. I live right next to a series of hospitals and a power plant so I would get power back fairly quickly (hopefully). The generator is just an insurance policy in my experience with the area I live in.

I have a battery powered aerator already that I use for short blackouts.

I would pack the aquarium up and take it with me to my parents place up near the Alabama line but when Hurricane Ivan hit, they lost power for 13 days. So that's probably not a good idea haha

 

[lauderdalestunner]

Going to freeze some water bottles! Good idea thanks

 

[johnzena]

I had already planned on making several frozen water bottles and getting a couple of aquarium fans. I live right next to a series of hospitals and a power plant so I would get power back fairly quickly (hopefully). The generator is just an insurance policy in my experience with the area I live in.

I have a battery powered aerator already that I use for short blackouts.

I would pack the aquarium up and take it with me to my parents place up near the Alabama line but when Hurricane Ivan hit, they lost power for 13 days. So that's probably not a good idea haha

Good. Hospitals are priority so that is very fortuneate. Hopefully it turns out to sea.

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

Good. Hospitals are priority so that is very fortuneate. Hopefully it turns out to sea.

Hopefully it does! Fingers crossed!

 

[johnzena]

Hopefully it does! Fingers crossed!

I decided to pick up a boat bilge pump, $40, and the extra deep cycle battery off my boat. Water bottles freezing. EZ.

 

[mfinn]

Hi all,

With Hurricane Irma posing a threat to pretty much all of Florida at this point, I have begun my search for a reliable power solution in the event I'm left without power for a day or so. I've started looking at portable "quiet" generators and found a couple that seem to meet my conditions of price vs. quality.

My question is, what is the power limit I need to be shooting for in one of these generators?

I have the following equipment running on my tank at the moment:

Jebao DC-2000 Return Pump 20w
Jebao PP-4 Wavemaker 10w
Eheim Jager 150w Heater
SB Reef Lights 16" LED Light 165w
Innovative Marine Ghost Desktop Skimmer 6.5w
Tunze Nano Osmolator/ATO

During an emergency, I can easily turn off all but the necessary equipment (return, heater, skimmer [skimmer for aeration purposes mostly]) since I use a multi-switch power strip/surge protector. If I'm without power for more than three days, I would like to be able to switch on the lights for a couple of hours so my corals don't starve.

Right now this is the generator I'm looking at: link

If you have any other suggestions, I'd be happy to hear them.

I have been researching small generators and found one at Harbor Freight that is a 2000watt generator that has better specs than the similar Honda generators.
Can't say it is better than the Hondas, but for the price it looks pretty good.
https://www.harborfreight.com/engin...att-super-quiet-inverter-generator-62523.html

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

I have been researching small generators and found one at Harbor Freight that is a 2000watt generator that has better specs than the similar Honda generators.
Can't say it is better than the Hondas, but for the price it looks pretty good.
https://www.harborfreight.com/engin...att-super-quiet-inverter-generator-62523.html

The one I posted has a higher wattage version that looks just like the Harbor Freight model: link
The front panel layout is a bit different but the casing and the engine in terms of stats are almost identical.

Apparently these cheaper, not exactly name branded generators of this style have Yamaha engine clones in them. Yamaha makes generators that are on par with the Honda generators, Honda just does a better job at marketing them.

 

[Trevor Cameron]

Hi I feel your pain. I live inPort St Lucie Fl and we will get 2.5 day of hurricane winds. I know I will loose power before the storm is done, I cannot connect my generator before the winds stop so I got some bait bubblers from bass pro. Once the storm is done I will connect my generator. Hopefully I will have no loss. Spent $800 on a last minute generator because my tank is very important to me, plus I got some fans to keep my temperature in check. Wish me luck.

 

[mfinn]

The one I posted has a higher wattage version that looks just like the Harbor Freight model: link
The front panel layout is a bit different but the casing and the engine in terms of stats are almost identical.

Apparently these cheaper, not exactly name branded generators of this style have Yamaha engine clones in them. Yamaha makes generators that are on par with the Honda generators, Honda just does a better job at marketing them.

I saw 1250 watts in the one you posted. The one I posted was 2000 watts.
I have been looking at the Harbor Frieght one. I have a 6500 watt generac wired into my house. But I like to turn it off around midnight. Then I run my little Yamaha 1000 watt until about 5am just for the tank circulation.
After dealing with a pretty noisy generac for 10+ years, I am looking at quieter ones now.

 

[mfinn]

Hi I feel your pain. I live inPort St Lucie Fl and we will get 2.5 day of hurricane winds. I know I will loose power before the storm is done, I cannot connect my generator before the winds stop so I got some bait bubblers from bass pro. Once the storm is done I will connect my generator. Hopefully I will have no loss. Spent $800 on a last minute generator because my tank is very important to me, plus I got some fans to keep my temperature in check. Wish me luck.

Good luck. Generator + extension cords = temporary power.