Help - what to do after power outage

[BlueSallymandr]

Hi, my power has been out for about six hours now, and I'm starting to be worried. I have one portable airstone on each tank (two 40 gallons) but that's all the backup I have. Is there anything special I should do when the power comes back on? Or in the meantime? Waters at about 73 (I normally keep it at 78).

 

[Turkeysammich]

Best to see if someone can lend you a power brick. I have a big generator you can borrow. What does pge say about the power coming back on ? It’s time to take action now or things will start to die depending on the bio load.

 

[BlueSallymandr]

So it's not pge, it's like the world's worst contractors. Unfortunately I can't leave the house with these guys here.

 

[psidriven]

Ask neighbors if you can run an extension cord

 

[BlueSallymandr]

The situation is resolved, thanks! I'm ramping up the temp slowly rather than all at once

 

[richiev]

Future hack: if you have a gas stove or gas water heater you can float bags of hot water in the tank to try and boost the temp. Similar to floating bags/bottles of frozen water to cool it.

A secondary electric source of course is an ideal, eg an ecoflow or a generator or just a neighbor you can run the extension cord to.

 

[MolaMola]

Update on Friday how your tank inhabitants look. What a stressful situation.

 

[BlueSallymandr]

Update on Friday how your tank inhabitants look. What a stressful situation.

Everyone is looking good! No doubt they were stressed a bit yesterday but I've been keeping a close eye on them and bringing the temp back up. Fish, inverts, and corals all acting normal.

However the work is likely to fail inspection and the power will need to be cut off again, so I'm going to buy a power brick for it.

 

[Darkxerox]

The airstones should be enough for most of the day next time. Don't worry about running the heater since it's not going to matter during summer and lower temps actually increase oxygen solubility.

 

[Srt4eric]

However the work is likely to fail inspection and the power will need to be cut off again, so I'm going to buy a power brick for it.

What are you having done?

 

[MichaelB]

I'm personally just thinking of investing in a gas generator for those rare power outages. Something small i can throw in the garage when not needed. Enough to run the return pumps maybe a heater if needed for a while. It could also be used to charge phones or other random small appliances beyond just the tanks. So more a general mutl purpose back up measure also a selling point for the pitch to my wife anyway. There are
Several for only a few hundred that probably wouldn't break the bank.

 

[RandyC]

I'm personally just thinking of investing in a gas generator for those rare power outages. Something small i can throw in the garage when not needed. Enough to run the return pumps maybe a heater if needed for a while. It could also be used to charge phones or other random small appliances beyond just the tanks. So more a general mutl purpose back up measure also a selling point for the pitch to my wife anyway. There are
Several for only a few hundred that probably wouldn't break the bank.

Consider propane. Propane provides less power in the same size unit as gas, but gas requires adding stabilizers to the fuel or cycling through the gas before it goes "bad." Propane storage requires no maintenance.

 

[PjFish]

Theres duel fuel, tri fuel generators also that run on gas, propane & natural gas as well

 

[MichaelB]

Theres duel fuel, tri fuel generators also that run on gas, propane & natural gas as well

Price would be a consideration. Though I haven't offically decided yet. Just been kicking it around in my head.

 

[MichaelB]

Consider propane. Propane provides less power in the same size unit as gas, but gas requires adding stabilizers to the fuel or cycling through the gas before it goes "bad." Propane storage requires no maintenance.

I'll consider that if I decide to get one. Thanks

 

[Nastinor]

Your airstones will keep oxygen flowing, so that’s good. Don’t feed your fish until power’s back.
When power returns, raise the temperature slowly from 73°C to 78°C to avoid stress. Check filters and heaters for proper function.