Surviving a power outtage

mskvarenina · 08/21/2014, 07:35 PM

My primary biological filter is in the sump with MarinePure ceramic media. Just how long can the bacteria living on the media last without a fresh flow of oxygenated water?

I'm wondering if I put a small powerhead in the sump on the return side and direct it to the biomedia end and connect it to a UPS it would probably run for hours and hours. I guessing this simple water circulation of water through the sump should keep the media alive until the power comes back and send water from the tank back into the sump.

What do you think?

pyithar · 08/21/2014, 07:54 PM

do you not have fish/corals in the display tank? you should worry about them first before bacteria. small powerhead with ups would work. as the last resort, battery opearted air pumps work too.

mskvarenina · 08/21/2014, 09:15 PM

Yes I have a ton of fish but that's not really where the biological filter lives. Should I be equally concerned with the fish?

Macimage · 08/21/2014, 10:34 PM

I would be much more concerned with the fish during a power outage. They will die from lack of oxygen long before your biological filtration dies off.

Use the small powerhead on the UPS to break the surface of the water to provide oxygen to your fish.

pyithar · 08/21/2014, 10:53 PM

if you have a ton of fish, use the powerhead in the display for surface agitation for gas exchange like that guy^^ said. also don't forget to check the temperature if the weather is very hot where you live. you can put some ice in a bag like ziplock, seal it well and float the bag to cool the tank down.

johnike · 08/22/2014, 04:59 AM

I have a generator but before I fire it up, I drop a pair of air powered bubblers in the tank.
You can get them in the sporting good dept next to the minnow buckets.
When the power is out, I usually just plug in the return pump in the sump.

mskvarenina · 08/22/2014, 05:18 PM

Interesting replies. I figured the fish would be fine for a while just swimming around but the biological once it's dead would cause the ammonia to go through the roof once the water started flowing again.

So how many hours do you think fish can live in a tank without waterflow and how many hours would the biological last? When I do water changes everything is usually off for 30 minutes and everything is fine.

dmh41532 · 08/22/2014, 07:09 PM

most efficient and stress free way, a small generator. I've tired all the 'other tricks' such as battery pumps, but if you need to heat or cool it,

dmh41532 · 08/22/2014, 07:10 PM

a small generator will run the whole tank, plus other essential appliances (refridgerator and such)

electrotech · 08/22/2014, 07:29 PM

Couldn't afford a generator last time power was out for extended period, ended up using my car as a generator and a inverter with a extension cord to run the return pump and skimmer for a hour, then off for 2 then repeat for 3 days. Good thing it was summer and temp didn't drop but a few degrees down to around 75 at night, during the day it was up around 82.

Troio2 · 08/22/2014, 07:41 PM

82 in the summer, are you in Canada or something?

electrotech · 08/22/2014, 07:50 PM

Tank water up to 82, wasn't too terribly hot outside, mid to high eighty's outside, early September so late summer. This was in 2004 when hurricane Ivan came through Ohio, knocked out power for 3 days and I was lucky, others around here went weeks.

Troio2 · 08/22/2014, 08:28 PM

I lived in Orlando that summer. Hit directly by 3 hurricanes in 6 weeks. Didn't have an aquarium but quite an interesting summer

mskvarenina · 08/22/2014, 08:40 PM

We've got a portable 8,000 watt generator that runs the whole house minus the central air. the problem is if I'm not home to connect it the tank may sit for hours.

ChrisKirkland · 08/22/2014, 08:50 PM

Speaking of power outage, just came out of a 4 hour one due to a severe thunderstorm. I have a generator, after about an hour of no power I pulled it out started it up and plugged the apex in and the tank was running like normal. Of course my neighbors were jealous.

electrotech · 08/22/2014, 09:01 PM

I've been thinking about a generator. Buddy of mine was selling one cheap but it wasn't a inverter generator. I would be nervous about plugging in sensitive electronics like a controller or LEDs into a traditional generator.

clockman · 08/22/2014, 09:48 PM

Look for a model with an automatic voltage regulator. The better brands have this. You'll have no worries with sensitive electronics. I've used mine several times since we got it last winter during a nasty ice storm hear in South Eastern PA. The kids use their computers, I use mine and we watch TV with no problems. Never had a problem w/ the LEDs over the tank either.

RocketCityNano · 08/22/2014, 10:03 PM

Just make sure to get an inverter generator. This can be pretty important especially if you plan on getting a controller later on.

mskvarenina · 08/23/2014, 05:07 AM

All this generator talk is fun but nobody has really answered the original question of how long a biological or tank full of fish could survive without power. If I'm away at work and there is nobody here to fire up a generator how long really do I have?

johnike · 08/23/2014, 05:16 AM

It depends on the size of the tank, and the bioload.
The biological load in the sump will live a lot longer than the fish will, fish can start hurting soon after oxygen is depleted.

clockman · 08/23/2014, 10:07 AM

Tough question to answer as most of us have a tank full of live rock for the primary source of biological filtration. Do you have a tank full of live rock? If so, most of your biological filtration is taking place there and not in your sump. If you don't have live rock then you will have a build up of nitrogenous wastes that will harm the fish but they will die long before that if you don't aerate the water. Keeping your biological filter alive is important but I do believe it will recover quickly even without the addition of a power head to the sump. Dead fish in your main tank.......well, that's another story.

acabgd · 08/23/2014, 07:21 PM

With lots of fish anything more than 45-60 minutes without water movement already becomes critical.

tom g · 08/23/2014, 07:51 PM

I have my tank run for a few hours with no power and no ill effects . after our ice storm we had here at x mas time in Toronto , I did purchase a generator . but as for fellow reefers several lost there complete tanks and livestock after a few days .

tom g · 08/27/2014, 05:11 AM

I just ran a test with my 1000 watt inverter /battery from my old car charged with a trickle
charger./2 korailia water pumps and a heater. In a large pail of water.

Results 4.5 hours on straight battery.....

Jimbo530 · 08/27/2014, 10:55 AM

i always just drain my sumps water into a bucket and put it back in the diplay tank letting it overflow back down several times a day. figured this created water movement and oxidized the water from pouring it in as well as filtered the water with sump still. temp always seems ok but never had extended black out.

08/21/2014, 07:35 PM	#1
mskvarenina Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 286	Surviving a power outtage My primary biological filter is in the sump with MarinePure ceramic media. Just how long can the bacteria living on the media last without a fresh flow of oxygenated water? I'm wondering if I put a small powerhead in the sump on the return side and direct it to the biomedia end and connect it to a UPS it would probably run for hours and hours. I guessing this simple water circulation of water through the sump should keep the media alive until the power comes back and send water from the tank back into the sump. What do you think?

08/21/2014, 07:54 PM	#2
pyithar Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: yangon,burma(myanmar) Posts: 1,786	do you not have fish/corals in the display tank? you should worry about them first before bacteria. small powerhead with ups would work. as the last resort, battery opearted air pumps work too. __________________ take it easy, pyithar Current Tank Info: 150G display, 50G sump, mixed reef

08/21/2014, 10:53 PM	#5
pyithar Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: yangon,burma(myanmar) Posts: 1,786	if you have a ton of fish, use the powerhead in the display for surface agitation for gas exchange like that guy^^ said. also don't forget to check the temperature if the weather is very hot where you live. you can put some ice in a bag like ziplock, seal it well and float the bag to cool the tank down. __________________ take it easy, pyithar Current Tank Info: 150G display, 50G sump, mixed reef

08/22/2014, 08:50 PM	#15
ChrisKirkland Reef and Coral Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Lexington, Ky. Posts: 1,739	Speaking of power outage, just came out of a 4 hour one due to a severe thunderstorm. I have a generator, after about an hour of no power I pulled it out started it up and plugged the apex in and the tank was running like normal. Of course my neighbors were jealous. __________________ Chris Kirkland Reef Nerd. Current Tank Info: Getting back into the hobby.

08/22/2014, 09:48 PM	#17
clockman Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Downingtown, PA Posts: 121	Look for a model with an automatic voltage regulator. The better brands have this. You'll have no worries with sensitive electronics. I've used mine several times since we got it last winter during a nasty ice storm hear in South Eastern PA. The kids use their computers, I use mine and we watch TV with no problems. Never had a problem w/ the LEDs over the tank either. __________________ The seagrass is always greener in the other tank. Current Tank Info: 90 gal w/ sps and soft corals

08/21/2014, 09:15 PM	#3
mskvarenina Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 286	Yes I have a ton of fish but that's not really where the biological filter lives. Should I be equally concerned with the fish?

08/21/2014, 10:34 PM	#4
Macimage Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Quartz Hill Posts: 4,078	I would be much more concerned with the fish during a power outage. They will die from lack of oxygen long before your biological filtration dies off. Use the small powerhead on the UPS to break the surface of the water to provide oxygen to your fish.

08/22/2014, 04:59 AM	#6
johnike Moved On Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bureau County Illinois Posts: 5,406	I have a generator but before I fire it up, I drop a pair of air powered bubblers in the tank. You can get them in the sporting good dept next to the minnow buckets. When the power is out, I usually just plug in the return pump in the sump.

08/22/2014, 05:18 PM	#7
mskvarenina Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 286	Interesting replies. I figured the fish would be fine for a while just swimming around but the biological once it's dead would cause the ammonia to go through the roof once the water started flowing again. So how many hours do you think fish can live in a tank without waterflow and how many hours would the biological last? When I do water changes everything is usually off for 30 minutes and everything is fine.

08/22/2014, 07:09 PM	#8
dmh41532 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Bellefontaine Ohio Posts: 771	most efficient and stress free way, a small generator. I've tired all the 'other tricks' such as battery pumps, but if you need to heat or cool it,

08/22/2014, 07:10 PM	#9
dmh41532 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Bellefontaine Ohio Posts: 771	a small generator will run the whole tank, plus other essential appliances (refridgerator and such)

08/22/2014, 07:29 PM	#10
electrotech Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Cincinnati, Oh Posts: 113	Couldn't afford a generator last time power was out for extended period, ended up using my car as a generator and a inverter with a extension cord to run the return pump and skimmer for a hour, then off for 2 then repeat for 3 days. Good thing it was summer and temp didn't drop but a few degrees down to around 75 at night, during the day it was up around 82.

08/22/2014, 07:41 PM	#11
Troio2 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Clearwater Posts: 168	82 in the summer, are you in Canada or something?

08/22/2014, 07:50 PM	#12
electrotech Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Cincinnati, Oh Posts: 113	Tank water up to 82, wasn't too terribly hot outside, mid to high eighty's outside, early September so late summer. This was in 2004 when hurricane Ivan came through Ohio, knocked out power for 3 days and I was lucky, others around here went weeks.

08/22/2014, 08:28 PM	#13
Troio2 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Clearwater Posts: 168	I lived in Orlando that summer. Hit directly by 3 hurricanes in 6 weeks. Didn't have an aquarium but quite an interesting summer

08/22/2014, 08:40 PM	#14
mskvarenina Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 286	We've got a portable 8,000 watt generator that runs the whole house minus the central air. the problem is if I'm not home to connect it the tank may sit for hours.

08/22/2014, 09:01 PM	#16
electrotech Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Cincinnati, Oh Posts: 113	I've been thinking about a generator. Buddy of mine was selling one cheap but it wasn't a inverter generator. I would be nervous about plugging in sensitive electronics like a controller or LEDs into a traditional generator.

08/22/2014, 10:03 PM	#18
RocketCityNano Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 49	Just make sure to get an inverter generator. This can be pretty important especially if you plan on getting a controller later on.

08/23/2014, 05:07 AM	#19
mskvarenina Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 286	All this generator talk is fun but nobody has really answered the original question of how long a biological or tank full of fish could survive without power. If I'm away at work and there is nobody here to fire up a generator how long really do I have?

08/23/2014, 05:16 AM	#20
johnike Moved On Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bureau County Illinois Posts: 5,406	It depends on the size of the tank, and the bioload. The biological load in the sump will live a lot longer than the fish will, fish can start hurting soon after oxygen is depleted.

08/23/2014, 10:07 AM	#21
clockman Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Downingtown, PA Posts: 121	Tough question to answer as most of us have a tank full of live rock for the primary source of biological filtration. Do you have a tank full of live rock? If so, most of your biological filtration is taking place there and not in your sump. If you don't have live rock then you will have a build up of nitrogenous wastes that will harm the fish but they will die long before that if you don't aerate the water. Keeping your biological filter alive is important but I do believe it will recover quickly even without the addition of a power head to the sump. Dead fish in your main tank.......well, that's another story. __________________ The seagrass is always greener in the other tank. Current Tank Info: 90 gal w/ sps and soft corals

08/23/2014, 07:21 PM	#22
acabgd Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Belgrade Posts: 1,086	With lots of fish anything more than 45-60 minutes without water movement already becomes critical.

08/23/2014, 07:51 PM	#23
tom g Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: toronto Posts: 218	power outages I have my tank run for a few hours with no power and no ill effects . after our ice storm we had here at x mas time in Toronto , I did purchase a generator . but as for fellow reefers several lost there complete tanks and livestock after a few days .

08/27/2014, 05:11 AM	#24
tom g Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: toronto Posts: 218	fyi I just ran a test with my 1000 watt inverter /battery from my old car charged with a trickle charger./2 korailia water pumps and a heater. In a large pail of water. Results 4.5 hours on straight battery.....

08/27/2014, 10:55 AM	#25
Jimbo530 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 23	i always just drain my sumps water into a bucket and put it back in the diplay tank letting it overflow back down several times a day. figured this created water movement and oxidized the water from pouring it in as well as filtered the water with sump still. temp always seems ok but never had extended black out.