Help first power outage!!!

[Droberts0724]

I have back up will only last another 4 mins...have wave pump on...what should I do. Tank temp is at 76.8 right now but it's freezing outside and they are hopingbto have power back on in less than 2 hours help any suggestions. Have a 32 gallon nano and also have a back up bubbler stone

 

[PghReef]

What kind of system do you have? A simple tank with powerheads, heater, and a hob filter or a full blown skimmer, sump, return pump?
Regarding unplug the heater and lights they waste juice quick and aren't needed short term. Tanks can go days without either. Also unplug skimmer if you have one. If you have a hob filter unplug that and when power comes back on CLEAN AND EMPTY BEFORE RESTARTING or you will nuke the tank. Leave a powerhead or 2 on and if you have a return pump that needs to stay on. I keep a battery powered air pump for these cases that little surface agitation will keep the tank on life support quite awhile

 

[Tuffyyyyy]

All you need is the bubbler to keep oxygen in the tank. I wouldn't panic about the temp until it gets below 70F. Fish and coral handle colder water better than warm.

 

[Qasimja]

if its just a few hours the fish will be fine

 

[MERKEY]

You're all good for 2 hours for sure!

If it starts getting longer and longer and you need to heat the tank you can heat up water bottles like you would a baby bottle back in the day, if you can still use your stove. And just drop the warm water bottles in the tank to float and that should keep you warm as long as you need. The airstone you have will be enough for movement

 

[Droberts0724]

All you need is the bubbler to keep oxygen in the tank. I wouldn't panic about the temp until it gets below 70F. Fish and coral handle colder water better than warm.

Yes I have the bubbler and it battery back up

 

[Droberts0724]

What kind of system do you have? A simple tank with powerheads, heater, and a hob filter or a full blown skimmer, sump, return pump?
Regarding unplug the heater and lights they waste juice quick and aren't needed short term. Tanks can go days without either. Also unplug skimmer if you have one. If you have a hob filter unplug that and when power comes back on CLEAN AND EMPTY BEFORE RESTARTING or you will nuke the tank. Leave a powerhead or 2 on and if you have a return pump that needs to stay on. I keep a battery powered air pump for these cases that little surface agitation will keep the tank on life support quite awhile

That's what I have battery back up bubbler

 

[Droberts0724]

That's what I have battery back up bubbler

 

[Saltyreef]

Get yourself a 12v deep cycle battery. Do your powerheads have ports for battery backup? Like ecotech vortechs?

 

[Droberts0724]

I survi

Get yourself a 12v deep cycle battery. Do your powerheads have ports for battery backup? Like ecotech vortechs?

I survived it was off 3 hours...battery back up lasted 2 hours and battery operated pump lasted entire time

 

[Saltyreef]

Im actually selling my large smart ups 1500s due to the runtime issues from the large inverter. The batteries inside have been salvaged and wired to run my ecotech pumps. They easily outlast any battery backup. Even the ecotech backups as these batteries are larger. Hoping to get atleast a solid 90hrs of runtime at 20% speed.

 

[codycolina707]

I have back up will only last another 4 mins...have wave pump on...what should I do. Tank temp is at 76.8 right now but it's freezing outside and they are hopingbto have power back on in less than 2 hours help any suggestions. Have a 32 gallon nano and also have a back up bubbler stone

Should be fine had power shut off because california and my tank did fine for 16+ hours overnight with nothing running have also forgot to plug my heater back after cleaning equipment had my tank drop to 65 overnight and only lost a couple snails

 

[Droberts0724]

Im actually selling my large smart ups 1500s due to the runtime issues from the large inverter. The batteries inside have been salvaged and wired to run my ecotech pumps. They easily outlast any battery backup. Even the ecotech backups as these batteries are larger. Hoping to get atleast a solid 90hrs of runtime at 20% speed.

Yes definitely will invest in something bigger for my 150 gallon new set up

 

[Saltyreef]

Yes definitely will invest in something bigger for my 150 gallon new set up

You dont necissarily need something bigger.
These are small 4x6" batteries and would run a couple vortech pumps easily without using all the batteries energy to power the large AC inverter thats not really needed anyways.


You just need to slightly modify the factory fused ecotech battery backup cable to attach directly to the neg and positive terminals.

 

[Samina]

Cobalt makes some nice air pumps that you can use with an airstone and are battery operated. Not sure if any stores around you carry it though.



If power is only going to be gone for a couple hours, I wouldn't worry too much about heat unless your ambient temp is really cold. Keep an eye on the temp in the ta. you can cover the tank with some blankets or bubble wrap/cellophane if you have some, or even big garbage bags. If the temp is dropping too much, you can also boil some water from the tank and add that in slowly.