ccajigas07
Active Member
how do you guys prepare for a power outage? we are in hurricane season and im worried about having a power outage what should i do if lets say my power is out for a week or even a day? what should i have?
how do you guys prepare for a power outage: Saltwater Aquarium Prepared
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TheReefShack
Community Member
Buy a $10,000 automatic power generator like I did 
cdness
2006 - Present
TheReefShack
Community Member
Peka
Community Member
For the longest time I did not prepare because my area NEVER loses power. In the 15 years that I have been here, the power flashed out 2 times for seconds.... but then, a storm came through two years ago.......I lost all power and it wasn't coming back on... I had at least 8 tanks of baby seahorses set up along with my DTs.... 2 hours into the outage, I went to home depot and bought a gas powered generator and got everything going. It was the best purchase that I have made in a long time. I haven't used it since but it gives you a real sense of calm when you see storms approaching It is a good investment for you to make....
It is a good investment for you to make....
Sacohen
Valuable Member
Battery Backup for short term outages (2 hrs maybe) and only put equipment that is absolutely necessary on it.
Generator for longer outages. Again only put equipment that is absolutely necessary on it.
You can use the generator to recharge the battery in the battery backup so if you are courteous to your neighbors and turn you generator off at night you can hopefully get through the night on the battery backup. At night you may be able to get away with some power heads in the tank for water movement. No need for lights at night and maybe only run your return pump during the day.
Generator for longer outages. Again only put equipment that is absolutely necessary on it.
You can use the generator to recharge the battery in the battery backup so if you are courteous to your neighbors and turn you generator off at night you can hopefully get through the night on the battery backup. At night you may be able to get away with some power heads in the tank for water movement. No need for lights at night and maybe only run your return pump during the day.
jcdeng
Valuable Member
Buy a $10,000 automatic power generator like I did
Is that labor included? I am thinking about a 20kwatt power generator for the whole house but I heard the installation can be expansive.
akabryanhall
2500 Club Member
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1. Cross fingers
2. Hope for the best
2. Hope for the best
Sacohen
Valuable Member
Would definitely suggest it in So FL. Even if you didn't have a tank.
I got min about 5 years ago when we had those 4 storms come thru.
It was like 1 every other week.
TheReefShack
Community Member
Yea that was with labor fully installed to turn on automatically. I can run everything in my shop for about 10 days with no power.
Short term I have a couple battery air pumps and one that plugs in the wall and comes on automatically on batteries when it senses a power outage.
Long term I have a 4000w generator gassed up with Sta Bil in the gas and ready to go. I keep extension cords and outlet strips wired to the frame so I don't have to waste time looking for them when they are needed in a hurry. The bad thing is the generator is portable and not auto transfer so I have to be around somewhere to plug it in, if I'm away it does little good unless I can call a neighbor of family member to do it for me.
I have used it a couple times and it has paid for itself just in peace of mind!
Long term I have a 4000w generator gassed up with Sta Bil in the gas and ready to go. I keep extension cords and outlet strips wired to the frame so I don't have to waste time looking for them when they are needed in a hurry. The bad thing is the generator is portable and not auto transfer so I have to be around somewhere to plug it in, if I'm away it does little good unless I can call a neighbor of family member to do it for me.
I have used it a couple times and it has paid for itself just in peace of mind!
bucksfan1976
Well-Known Member
Battery air pumps
I have a Toyota Tacoma that has a 120 volt plug in the bed, The gas tank is currently filled and basically Ill run a cord from the bed of the truck to my return pump, remote start the truck , let it run for 30 min then repeat every couple of hours. If I find out its gonna be longer then a day, I go to my cousins house and get his generator and run everything including TV, fans, tank and dvd player ( to keep son happy)
I have a Toyota Tacoma that has a 120 volt plug in the bed, The gas tank is currently filled and basically Ill run a cord from the bed of the truck to my return pump, remote start the truck , let it run for 30 min then repeat every couple of hours. If I find out its gonna be longer then a day, I go to my cousins house and get his generator and run everything including TV, fans, tank and dvd player ( to keep son happy)
TheReefShack
Community Member
Our store is kinda out in the sticks so if power goes out cus a bad storm it can be days before its restored.
powers2001
started reefing 1999
Sears has a wide range of generators to choose from. I might get one for my camper and it would double for my fish tank.
cultivatedcoral
unregistered
My 16kw whole house generator cost only about $6,500 installed but that was 6-7 yrs ago. It's cheaper if you have natural gas running into your house already otherwise you have to go with LP and they have to dig a huge hole in your yard and drop a tank in.
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