Power outage disaster

[clownfish_reefer]

As the title says i had a power outage. It started on Wednesday morning and lasted until Thursday night. Even will all my attempts to keep livestock alive I still suffered some losses. Lost 2 clowns and some snails. It really sucks too because I just got those clowns on Monday along with a manderin dragonet. Had an air stone running in the tank along with a heater but the battery I had it on died. Resorted to boiling water and adding it to the tank. With the manderin surviving I moved it to a bucket for better temp control and oxygen. It survived the night and the next morning. Finally had power again so I added it back to main display after the temp raised back up in the display. The fish has just been at the bottom of the tank breathing but moves around once in a while. I really don’t know what I should do. I’m hoping it pulls through.

 

[~MD~Reefs~]

Not too much you can do now. I suggest you look into an EcoFlow or some other form of backup battery so this doesn’t happen in the future. Also in the event of a power outage, usually a fish will die from the lack of oxygen from the returns/wave makers being off than the heater. How much boiling water were you adding to the tank? Boiling saltwater or RODI?

 

[clownfish_reefer]

Not too much you can do now. I suggest you look into an EcoFlow or some other form of backup battery so this doesn’t happen in the future. Also in the event of a power outage, usually a fish will die from the lack of oxygen from the returns/wave makers being off than the heater. How much boiling water were you adding to the tank? Boiling saltwater or RODI?

I was adding just enough to keep the temp to at least 70 degrees as it kept dropping fairly quickly. I didn’t want to add too much as I felt the sudden temperature change would shock the fish. I was removing tank water and boiling it and then adding it back in a little bit at a time

 

[CHSUB]

Imo, preparing for power outages is as important as anything else in the hobby. Some maybe lucky and never need it or not in the hobby long enough to realize how important it is. Sorry for your loss, but now know you need to be prepared for future outages.
I have an Invertor with an automatic transfer switch and a 100 ah battery that will run critical equipment for about 12 hours. It will transfer to battery power in an outage automatically. Beyond 12 hours, I have two generators of different sizes, one uses gasoline and the smaller propane or gasoline. I have gone 9 days without electricity and had zero loss on a 300 gallon DT. In total about a $2000 investment, imo, worth every penny. I had a total loss in 2005 after a hurricane with a long outage on a tank with 7 years of work invested. It was heartbreaking so I know your pain, but I’m better prepared now. GL with your mandy..

 

[~MD~Reefs~]

I was adding just enough to keep the temp to at least 70 degrees as it kept dropping fairly quickly. I didn’t want to add too much as I felt the sudden temperature change would shock the fish. I was removing tank water and boiling it and then adding it back in a little bit at a time

Definitely invest into an EcoFlow battery. You can get them pretty cheap refurbished on eBay. They’ve saved me a couple of times. Curious because I’m also in CA, where in CA are you? LA area? I know they’re having power outages because of the fires I heard

 

[~MD~Reefs~]

Only thing I’d say you could do for your surviving fish is keep the lights off if you don’t have coral. Hopefully he pulls through

 

[clownfish_reefer]

Imo, preparing for power outages is as important as anything else in the hobby. Some maybe lucky and never need it or not in the hobby long enough to realize how important it is. Sorry for your loss, but now know you need to be prepared for future outages.
I have an Invertor with an automatic transfer switch and a 100 ah battery that will run critical equipment for about 12 hours. It will transfer to battery power in an outage automatically. Beyond 12 hours, I have two generators of different sizes, one uses gasoline and the smaller propane or gasoline. I have gone 9 days without electricity and had zero loss on a 300 gallon DT. In total about a $2000 investment, imo, worth every penny. I had a total loss in 2005 after a hurricane with a long outage on a tank with 7 years of work invested. It was heartbreaking so I know your pain, but I’m better prepared now. GL with your mandy..

Sorry to hear about your loss. Especially with all that dedication. This experience has made me realize the importance of a power backup. I really wasn’t expecting the power to be out more than 2 hours that’s why it was hard and I was trying to do the best I could. I will definitely look into a back up power supply.

 

[clownfish_reefer]

Only thing I’d say you could do for your surviving fish is keep the lights off if you don’t have coral. Hopefully he pulls through

I have a leather in there but I don’t think it will mind lights off. The fish is currently hiding under a rock just hoping for the best.

 

[VintageReefer]

This

Amazon.com

a.co

It’s normally 350-370 depending on time of year. Right now, they are selling for 350 AND including a solar panel, normally a 160$ extra to purchase.

So price of the backup station is normal, but you get a 150$ panel thrown in for free.

I have this same unit, but the bundle wasnt offered at the time. It will run the return pump on my 75g reef for almost 40 hours!

^^^thags unplugged from the wall simulating an outage. If I turn the return pump down a bit and unplug the air quality meter, it lasts over 40 hours

It’s automatic cutover ups. Power goes out, it runs on battery instantly. Power comes back, even briefly, it switches to ac power and begins recharging itself