I Feel A Power Cut Coming On

[daizeUK]

It's looking stormy outside and there are already thousands of homes in my area without power.
I've been lucky so far and somehow dodged all the power cuts this year but it's only a matter of time.

What can I do in the event of a prolonged power cut?

Bubble wrap around the tanks
Filter media from external filters inside the tank
Float bottles of hot water if necessary
That's all I can think of, is there anything else?

I've got three tanks and no battery-operated equipment as backup. What are the best life-saving products to have handy in case of power cuts?

 

[DrRob]

Well the obvious answer is a generator.
 
I've seen set ups using old computer UPS's that have been saved from recycling and running 12V marine bilge pumps as well. The biggest thing you need is warmth and flow.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Generator would be a nice option.
Battery powered backup equipment would work as well.

 

[PrairieSunflower]

I've been wondering about that too.  We don't tend to have power cuts where we are but I'm not sure what I'd do if we did!  I was thinking duvets over the tanks as I can't think what else I'd have to use.

 

[l_l_l]

An UPS is a great idea, I do have a couple of survival sheets in my cabinet, just in case something really bad happens!
I don't have any battery operated options right now.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

The tank won't really drop lower than the temp of the room, so unless you lose your heat as well, the temp dropping too low isn't really a major concern, unless you are keeping discus or other high temp loving fish. 
 
The bigger concern would be an increase in ammonia in the tank... Adding a battery powered air pump, and floating some filter media in the tank itself can help with that.

 

[KirkyArcher]

Filter media will be fine in filter all the poop and debris that is trapped in the canister will create ammonia, and bacteria would survive for several days on it's own, heat Your hot water filled bottles idea would help but would probably only have an effective warming up life span of no more than 2-3 hours.

 

[EllieJellyEllie]

Emergency blankets! We had a power outtage last winter and I wrapped two around the tank along with a hot water bottle inside, and it kept the hermit crabs at a toasty 82 degrees!
 
Now we have a small generator for the tank, and a large one for the fridge, freezer, and ac in the lower levels of the house

Also, a mini propane stove so you can heat up water to a warm (use a thermometer) 78ish degrees and add it to the tank.
 
I did this with out 300 gallon (Except on a grill and with 5 gallon buckets, 4 going at a time)

 

[star4]

Filter media will be fine in filter all the poop and debris that is trapped in the canister will create ammonia, and bacteria would survive for several days on it's own, heat Your hot water filled bottles idea would help but would probably only have an effective warming up life span of no more than 2-3 hours.

 
Ditto: I went through a 9 hour powercut with 14 tanks, no real point in hot water bottles as each time you lift the lid you are letting warm air out a blanket is more affective. The only thing I would suggest is you turn off your filters so you can start each one manually when the power is back on, attach a hose to the outlet and run it for a few seconds to clear out and stale water and debris into a bucket rather than your tank.

 

[Blubble37]

a generator would really help
 
anything from a little honda pull-start to something like i have, a building site generator meant to supply power to hoists, lights and angle grinders
 
if not, then leave the media in the filters, monitor the temperature and keep it constant

 

[PrairieSunflower]

So... in the event of a power cut and you don't have a generator.  Are you then better off removing the filter to a bucket of dechlorinated water as to protect the tank from releasing ammonia?  Then running it briefly before replacing it into the tank?

 

[Blubble37]

So... in the event of a power cut and you don't have a generator.  Are you then better off removing the filter to a bucket of dechlorinated water as to protect the tank from releasing ammonia?  Then running it briefly before replacing it into the tank?

i'm not really the person to ask, our powercuts only last 3 or 4 minutes at most

 

[daizeUK]

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.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

That was my suggestion, and yes... that's the idea.

 

[Garbolino]

last winter mine went off for 3 hours, all I did was put a duvet around my tanks, & took the time to clean my external filters luckily the power wasn't off too long & everything was ok when the power came back on