Hurricane Power Outage Help

[clockwurk]

I live in Miami and there is a hurricane coming.

I wanted to know what are the best ways to support my tank during a power outage?

I was thinking of getting a battery back up, much like the ones used for computers. Does anyone here have any experiences with these?

Are are there manual things I can do to help my tank?

Do I have to have both the lights and pump on?
Or is one more important than the other?

I have a 24g Nano w/ 72watts and a 240 GPH pump.
The livestock is just a cupl eof fish and lots of softies, like leathers, ricordeas, zoos and xenias..

I'm trying to avoid buying a generator, because they run about 500 dollars and I really don't have the money right now, so I'm hoping there are alternatives.

Thank you all in advance.

[kevinohio]

the problem with battery backup will be life span. I am not sure how long they will work. I would think generator would be the way to go.

[clockwurk]

Do you have any ideas as to how I can calculate how long a battery will go depending on my lights and pump?

[NeveSSL]

Definitely a generator. The battery backup will only be good if you're planning on your power being out for an hour or two... and I would imagine with a hurricane that probably won't be the case. :)

If you need an inexpensive generator in a pinch, check with Northern Supply. Not sure if there is one near you or not, but here's a link: http://www.northerntool.com/

Brandon

[ljosh]

You should be able to get a small generator for $200 dollar price range.

[NeveSSL]

A battery is not going to sustain your lights for very long at ALL. Also, a lot of battery backups don't have a true-sine output, which means your pumps may run roughly.

You really need to get a generator. A battery backup will literally run your system for a few hours IF its one of the biggest, which are as much as a generator.

Brandon

[clockwurk]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10566248#post10566248 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ljosh
You should be able to get a small generator for $200 dollar price range.

Where????
Really?

[Randall_James]

battery backups have a built in problem... they only last a couple hours and most tanks can survive (barring overstocking) 8 to 12 hours pretty easily without any pumps or circulation.

I think a genset is the way to go also, for $200 you can have a basic (although noisy) generator

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=94678 for a 1000W (will run your pumps without any problem at all)

[NeveSSL]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10566331#post10566331 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by clockwurk
Where????
Really?

Like I mentioned above, Northern Tool. ;)

They have one for $149 (sometimes $129 when on sale).

Brandon

[clockwurk]

cool ill check out northern tool.

ok, another question..

Lets say I can power the light somehow...

I know this is a RIG but im not sure exactly how much water flow a reef tank needs...BUT, is having a batter powered pump or two, on a large airstone enough to provide current?

[wharfrat48]

A battery back-up should be fine. There is no way I would buy a generator to power a 24g nano. Of course all this depends how long you will be without electricity and what type of battery back-up you have. Your tank should have no problem surviving a week without lights (even SPS could last that long), so all you really need is to keep the water aerated with your pump. If you really wanted to conserve your battery you could power the pump on/off every 3-4 hours. If you expect to be out longer than a week or two than get a generator.
A better solution than a battery backup might be a deep cycle battery and an inverter. Depending on the power your pump draws, this could last quite a long time. This is what I have for my 180g and have not had any problems yet.

[DSKinchen]

OK, since we're neighbors, here are my thoughts:

1) No hurricane! At least not this round...

2) Battery backup is a great solution for our time-to-time power outages. Get a basic 12v unit off ebay and swap the battery for a larger marine deep cycle battery. Depending on what you need to run, you can get a 12 hours or so out of it. The key is "WHAT" you run. You don't NEED to run your lights, and skimmer and whatnot if the power is only out for a short period. You need to have circulation and oxygen exchange. I can keep my 90 running perfectly with a large powerhead for at least 12 hours (I know this not because I was testing it, but because I was stupid enough to forget to turn my pump back on after feeding).

3) If the power is out like it was after Wilma or Katrina, you have two choices, a generator or someone with power you can take your batteries (you'll need more than one) to charge up while you're draining the other one running your tank. The problem becomes that the longer your power is out, the more items you will need to run, resulting in shorter service from your battery and a lot of running to and fro, that is if you can find someone you know with power...

I believe that ultimately, you need a generator if you plan on staying here. Invest in one that will supply the wattage you will need to run the tank essentials and you might want to consider a couple other creature comforts as well. Nothing worse than spending two or three weeks in the dark, with no TV, light, etc.

[NeveSSL]

Whats even better from your spouse's point of view, if you have one, is sitting in the dark for a couple of weeks with only the tank running and no TV, light, etc. :lol: :D

Brandon

[clockwurk]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10567303#post10567303 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DSKinchen
OK, since we're neighbors, here are my thoughts:

1) No hurricane! At least not this round...

2) Battery backup is a great solution for our time-to-time power outages. Get a basic 12v unit off ebay and swap the battery for a larger marine deep cycle battery. Depending on what you need to run, you can get a 12 hours or so out of it. The key is "WHAT" you run. You don't NEED to run your lights, and skimmer and whatnot if the power is only out for a short period. You need to have circulation and oxygen exchange. I can keep my 90 running perfectly with a large powerhead for at least 12 hours (I know this not because I was testing it, but because I was stupid enough to forget to turn my pump back on after feeding).

3) If the power is out like it was after Wilma or Katrina, you have two choices, a generator or someone with power you can take your batteries (you'll need more than one) to charge up while you're draining the other one running your tank. The problem becomes that the longer your power is out, the more items you will need to run, resulting in shorter service from your battery and a lot of running to and fro, that is if you can find someone you know with power...

I believe that ultimately, you need a generator if you plan on staying here. Invest in one that will supply the wattage you will need to run the tank essentials and you might want to consider a couple other creature comforts as well. Nothing worse than spending two or three weeks in the dark, with no TV, light, etc.

argghh, nothern tool is out of the cheap generators :(

"deep cycle battery and an inverter"
umm..whats that. im looking it up now, but you gotta speak english wharfrat48. Im not that smart :)

DSKinchen, dude, I was here during Andrew. People didnt know that was hitting til that same morning. After that, Ive been paradoid lol.

Yeah, Ive been looking at some generators on homedepot... I might just have to drop 500 bucks. I figure, why pay 400, if I can pay an extra 100 to triple the power. Man, this reef tank keeping is expensive biz.

[ljosh]

I bought a generator to run my 10.5 Gallon. Ive already used it 3 times since march of this year. I originally got a 5kw diesel but returned it when I found out my ballast wouldnt power up off it at all and got a small one to run pumps and heaters

[clockwurk]

Ok, is there ANY WAY to calculate how long a Battery backup with these specs:

"1000 VA / 600 Watt"

run a 15 watt pump?

[kamico]

i purchased a generator for my 55gal! I also use APS computer battery back up, they keep the filters running while i have to add gas to the generator or have to turn it off for a few minites.

[jimbo78]

try pep boys, and also harbor frieght on US1 and eurika

[wharfrat48]

search inverter on ebay I think mine (700W) was less than $40. It is used to convert DC power to AC power. A 700W inverter can power up to 700W of AC equipment (realistically around 500W). You just have to make sure that whatever battery is powering your inverter will last as long as you need it too. Some of the inverters can plug into the cig lighter of your car--- so you could (although I wouldn't recommend it) plug your inverter into your car, run an extension cord from your pump to your inverter, and run off your car battery. You would have to run your car every so often to charge your battery but it would work almost forever. Or you could buy marine/rv deep cycle batteries to use with your inverter. They are designed to hold a charge much longer than a car battery. I actually have 2 6V golf cart batteries wired in series that I use--- but I am powering a 200W pump pushing 2000gph you can get away with alot less than that. Sometimes there are problems with firing ballasts, but I wouldn't worry too much about running your lights..... I dont.

[bigginapk]

In my opinion its alot cheaper to use a deep cycle battery and a inverter!! You can get a inverter with two plugs and hook one running a powerhead and one running air pump or lights !! When the battery run low or needs a charge just hook it to your car. or if you are going some where just take the battery with you and charge it on the run !! I went a week this way and my tank wasn't even phased !! Well I am sure it phased it a little ! Just a fiqure of speach !! :D

[Maxi]

I wouldn't worry about that hurricane. Its going to go threw south of cuba, not florida.

[JEFFTHEREEFER]

Schucks and or Checker have lesser expensive generators also, If you have either of those in FL.

I purchased one from there last year and have used it 10 times this year for my 100gal.

They only problem I ran into is when the power is out- there is no gas- or atleast the stations here had no power to pump the gas they had. I had to drive 30 miles to find power to get gas for the first couple days of a winter storm we had roll thru

[clockwurk]

Ok, heres what I found out.

The spec wattage for a battery backup is equivalent or close to how much watts it can deliver in 1 hour. So, having a 600 watt battery backup means that it back sustain 600 watts of equipment for 1 HR. A pump that does about 240 GPH needs about 15 watts, so 600/15=40HRS of operation from a battery backup that is spec at 600watts.

Hope that makes sense :)

Im really gonna look into that inverter. Im still doing my resaerch. I figure if the hurricane hits, it wont be til monday or tuesday.

Oh BTW, i know the hurricane is not predicted to hit FL. But seriously folks, how often have they been wrong? Like I said, I saw what andrew did first hand and no one expected that to hit. Plus, Id rather be prepared than sorry.

Thank you all for the info. I know the battery info above can help some of you all. :)

[NeveSSL]

The inverter is definitely the way to go. It would be a fun challenge to go out and run your car during the hurricane. If you wanted to, you could make an obstacle course on the way to it!

:lol: I'm COMPLETELY kidding... but I do find it funny to recommend using your car during a hurricane. :)

Brandon

[Randall_James]

batteries, inverters, charging, off and on every 4 hours... (deep cycle battery $100-150, inverter $50-75 + headaches... I think a 1000w generator for $200 seems like a lot less hassle

[bigginapk]

I dont know where NeveSSL got that I recommended that you run your car during the storm ! your deep cycle battery will last several hours after the power goes out and the storm moves on ! Thats when you go to your car (if you still have one !! LOL !) and hook jumper cables to you deep cycle battery !! Maybe I didn't clarify myself for some people !! :rolleyes:

[NeveSSL]

Could be this!

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10570641#post10570641 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bigginapk

...
When the battery run low or needs a charge just hook it to your car.
...


With the subject being "Hurrican Power Outage Help", it makes sense to me where I got it. ;)

I was messing with you, though. I meant no offense. :)

Brandon

[thejrc]

On the subject of the whole matter.... Generator is best, supplement with either a power conditioner or battery backup, generator power usually comes out very very dirty and will reduce the lifespan of some electronics, that and if your not home and miss a 5 minute power outage a generator is useless.... battery backups are useless for extended outages.

I use two 1000VA units on my 72 reef, this gives me around 3 hours of run time but I dont exactly have a huge tank with a ton of equipment. Most of this is used by 400 watts of lighting (split between ups). Easy way to figure UPS power draw is to think VA and Watts... look for an extended runtime UPS that will let you add batteries as well. APC has a nice selector on their site at www.apc.com of course. Total wattage should not exceed 80% of VA as a general rule, personally I've always aired on the 60% side for better run time and a safety net. When you power most items up there is usually a "startup surge" and then power consumption reduces to normal so keep that in your head as well.

The nice thing about going generator and ups is the ups can hold you out in time to get the generator running and everything flopped over, if the generator overheats or needs to be shut down for fuel addition / maintenance over an extended period the UPS will help out then as well. Granted if your crazy and have the $$ you can get massive UPS units but lower cost UPS that will sustain your equipment for around 10-20 minutes is pretty much ideal, adding a low cost generator that can run most of your equipment (if not all) pretty much makes it a nice round solution.

[clockwurk]

Another thing to consider is that you cant run teh generator at night. neighbors would kill me. ANd this tiem around, I actually like my neihbors.

[Famous]

If the power is out from a hurricane I dont think you are going to be worried about the noise from the generator at night. When we had those bad storms in Florida a few years back and lost power for 2 weeks everyone was running them 24/7!

[Agu]

For your 24 gallon tank a couple of pen plax B11 airpumps fitted with airlifts will keep your tank going for several days. They'll run 24 to 48 hours on a pair of D cell batteries.

You can get by without lighting for a few days.

Cooling is the biggest issue. Fill your freezer with water bottles and use them to cool your tank as necessary. Then drink the water ;) .

Don't forget evaporation. Most likely water service will be sporadic and of questionable quality. Even if you have an RO/DI you may not be able to use it. Store several days worth of RO/DI water for topoff during the outage.

A generator is a great idea if you have a safe place to store several gallons of gasoline during a storm. Shortly after the storm and for a few days after gas will be harder to find than anything else.

[clockwurk]

Look like the hurricane might pass. I really hope it does.

I do think Florida will get the outer bands, and Im sure there will be some power outages. I have a battery back up for my comp right now, I think I'll be using that for thsi time around, and study more on generators and inverters. Thanks all!

[bllfish]

Don't worry about this hurricane, FL is safe.
Get the generator. You will be getting a larger tank shortly :D.