Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
How has it been for you? Have you been affected by the weather, are you in a position that the next storm will hit you?With tax credits for both the solar panels and Powerwalls we calculated a 2.5 year ROI not withstanding the peace of mind in case of power failures.
Gas generator placed outside the home with an extension cord rated for the distance it will need to be to reach your aquarium.i know nothing about all those specs etc. i lost power for 12 hours a couple of weeks ago and i freaked out. But they did fine with a battery powered air pump! But i want to be more prepared and have looked a generator and i was overwhelmed with the amount of info! I wanted Propane as i dont want to deal with fuel go bad and testing. BUT i realized propane is illegal to place indoors. Unsafe regardless i guess. want to place the generator to power up the tank not the whole house. I am leaning to the natural gas option but well cost is a big concern including installation etc. Is there anything small enough to put near tank that can provide continuous power for days but do not require manual checks and automatically kicks in during power outage (i sometimes out of town for a month etc.). i do not have to wire to the whole house as long as it is covering apex and a few other low watt devices.
thanks! is it ok to place the generator and tank outdoor for a long time without worrying about weather condition etc? do i need to place the generator under something to protect or anything that i have to do with the propane tank being unused for months or possibly years? i was looking at 3500ish dual fuel inverter one but would it be sufficient to cover the tank electricity need? maybe 2500w?Gas generator placed outside the home with an extension cord rated for the distance it will need to be to reach your aquarium.
I had no idea keeping propane inside was illegal anywhere. What a strange, but I guess understandable, law.i know nothing about all those specs etc. i lost power for 12 hours a couple of weeks ago and i freaked out. But they did fine with a battery powered air pump! But i want to be more prepared and have looked a generator and i was overwhelmed with the amount of info! I wanted Propane as i dont want to deal with fuel go bad and testing. BUT i realized propane is illegal to place indoors. Unsafe regardless i guess. want to place the generator to power up the tank not the whole house. I am leaning to the natural gas option but well cost is a big concern including installation etc. Is there anything small enough to put near tank that can provide continuous power for days but do not require manual checks and automatically kicks in during power outage (i sometimes out of town for a month etc.). i do not have to wire to the whole house as long as it is covering apex and a few other low watt devices.
I'm not a generator expert, so I would consult the manual to see what type of protection it would need from the weather. Before the Generac, mine was under coverage in our front porch foyer.thanks! is it ok to place the generator and tank outdoor for a long time without worrying about weather condition etc? do i need to place the generator under something to protect or anything that i have to do with the propane tank being unused for months or possibly years? i was looking at 3500ish dual fuel inverter one but would it be sufficient to cover the tank electricity need? maybe 2500w?
how much does it cost to have Generac unit installed? i mean installation cost not the generator.
Awesome tankI went without power for 31 hrs in Houston this week.
Tried to start my 4000w Ryobi at 3am and it wouldn’t start because it was so cold the oil basically turned to syrup. Luckily, I was able to start it in the morning and it ran continuously for over 28 hrs! This thing was a champ.
I only ran my return pump, heaters and power heads and everything survived! I am so lucky and grateful. I’ve had power outages before but never anything this significant. Having had reef tanks for 30 years, I was sure this was the time it was my turn to have a crash.
a few learnings:
- don’t leave the generator outside in the cold before using (I had positioned it outside anticipating a potential outage), or get the right oil for low temp, which I didn’t have living in Texas
- have plenty of gas on hand. I had 10 gallons but it wasn’t enough. I was lucky to be able to find a gas station with power and could refuel
- have a plan to connect your apex directly to your laptop via an Ethernet cable. I had done this a million times but could somehow not get the right IP address
- have extra heaters. Without the lights and other equipment adding heat, and the temp in the house in the 40s, I needed the 2 old heaters that have been stashed in a box somewhere for years.
After this ordeal, I’m considering getting a generac, or a larger generator that I can hook up directly to my natural gas line to not have to worry about getting gas in the middle of a major weather event.
this is the tank right now, enjoying it today more than ever.
now I have just 3.5 months until hurricane season arrives...
I have a GenTent. It does the trick as long as it isn’t raining sideways.Never owned a generator before. With all the freezing rain/ice we’ve been having how do run your generator w/o it getting wet. I’ve seen different types of covers / shelters but I’m not sure which one is better. Or if a cover is just too dangerous and you need to wait for the rain to stop before using.
If you're considering something like a Generac whole house unit, the housing is waterproof and insulated. In our part of the country (Minnesota) they have a cold weather package which is a battery heater and oil heater.Never owned a generator before. With all the freezing rain/ice we’ve been having how do run your generator w/o it getting wet. I’ve seen different types of covers / shelters but I’m not sure which one is better. Or if a cover is just too dangerous and you need to wait for the rain to stop before using.