I Feel A Power Cut Coming On

[ShinySideUp]

In the past I have used an inverter and a 12V battery to keep my filter running but since upgrading my tank and -- by definition, my filter -- the inverter I have won't run the impeller motor so I am thinking abiout buying a generator as I can also power my heaters as well.
 
Anyone got any recommendations for a decent generator at a less-than-stupid price that will supply about 600W?
 
UK prices please; sorry U.S.A. but your stuff is always so much cheaper than our rip-off society and we have no comparison.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

No offense taken, difficult to make a purchase internationally anyway.

 

[KirkyArcher]

I thought the idea of putting filter media in the tank was so that the bacteria can help process any ammonia that the fish produce in the tank, rather than worrying about the bacteria surviving.

Your filter Bacteria won't do much processing of Ammonia or Nitrites without having a supply of oxygen

 

[Ch4rlie]

A petrol generator is a decent theory but no everybody can have one of these, I can't anyway since live in a flat, imagine running a petrol powered genny in a flat, not the best idea.
 
Expensive too and storage might be tricky for some. If you can, great, but for most not a real practical solution.
 
To be honest, a blanket or insulation around the tank will help keep tank temps at a controlled temp for a while and a battery operated air pump as suggested by Eaglesaquarium will be fine. 
 
This will keep water aerated and creates a little bit of flow.
 
Something like this perhaps....
 
http/www.amazon.co.uk/Portable-Battery-Operated-Fish-Aquarium-Pump--Grey/dp/B008P54BHU/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1387839199&sr=8-5&keywords=battery+powered+pump+for+aquarium
 
EDIT - tank will not need a light as plants and fish will be fine for several days without any lighting.
 
And heres why having a battery operated heater theory will not really work, too much of a power drain really.
 
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/373288-battery-operated-heaters/

 

[eaglesaquarium]

 

I thought the idea of putting filter media in the tank was so that the bacteria can help process any ammonia that the fish produce in the tank, rather than worrying about the bacteria surviving.

Your filter Bacteria won't do much processing of Ammonia or Nitrites without having a supply of oxygen
 

 

And you don't believe that if it were floating in the tank with an airstone there wouldn't be more oxygen available there than sitting in the filter?
 
If not, then the fish would be in big trouble.

 

[KirkyArcher]

how do you run an airstone without power?

 

[eaglesaquarium]

As I mentioned above, a battery powered device, like the one Ch4rlie linked...
 

Even so, if the media is floating in the water, there will be more oxygen there than in the filter, and the most important thing is not that the bacteria survive, but that the fish survive.

 

[KirkyArcher]

The less oxygen flowing over it the less nitrifying it will be able to do so will be virtually useless just left floating in the tank.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

I mentioned that the BIGGEST concern in the power outage is the ammonia building up, and mentioned that floating some media with an airstone was a way of "helping" to deal with it.  Certainly its not ideal, but let's remember that we are discussing a power outage.  And with prolonged power outages, floating the media could mean the difference between life and death for the fish based on increasing ammonia levels.  Of course its not ideal, but a power outage isn't ideal.
 
 
ALL surfaces in the tank can house nitrifying bacteria, so adding the airstone to keep oxygen levels up - as much by increasing surface agitation as anything else, floating a bit of media, and creating SOME current in the tank is a better solution than doing nothing at all.

 

[KirkyArcher]

just do water changes with temperature corrected heated water from a gas hob/stove, that would be of more use at removing Ammonia & nitrites.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Yes, it would if you have access to heating the water to temp match.

 

[daizeUK]

Fortunately I have a gas stove so heated water changes are an option, for me.
Sheesh it's blowing a gale out there and my lights keep flickering...

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Well, that also assumes you are home to do the water change, as well.    
 
Personally, I'm a 'belt and suspenders' kind of guy.

 

[ShinySideUp]

Whatever solution anyone uses there is one thing that is crucial: If the filter is off for a long time and the power comes back on you will, and I stress, you will, put seven shades of shite back into the tank from the filter that has had no movement for hours. Someone mentioned above that when the power comes back on, ensure that the water in the filter is not allowed to re-enter the tank; DO THIS, it is important as the water from the filter is toxic and will kill your fish. In my lifetime of fish-keeping this has happened to me twice as I didn't learn from the first mass extinction.
 
The best thing when the power goes off is to disconnect your filter so that when it comes back on you don't automatically start it. Purge the water into the drain for a couple of minutes then reconnect everything. Your toxins will have (mostly) gone and your bacteria will still be functioning.

 

[daizeUK]

The advice is much appreciated.  I tend to clean my filters every week, in fact I cleaned the main one earlier today, should I still worry about stale water in them?