Lucy

Hi everyone.
The weather is beginning to change it's time get prepared for those power outages that bring a fish keeper to panic.
Of course outages can happen anytime of the year so it's great to always be prepared.

There are several threads with great suggestions, but they're kind of spread out.
I'd like us to compile suggestions for outages in one thread.

Our power went out last night. I wrapped my tanks with blankets to keep the heat in, luckily it wasn't too cold.

Last winter, I wrapped my tanks with blankets and used those hand warmers that you shake to activate. I put them in a zip lock baggy and floated them in my tanks.

Red provided this great link in another thread:
When the Power Fails

How have you and your fish survived power outages?

aquarist48

Great Thread Lucy. I had to learn a lesson the hard way by losing 15 Discus during a 3 day power outage years ago. I have 2 generators now. I can light up this house like a Christmas Tree at any given moment! I have so many candles I could heat my aquarium room for days on end with no other heat source.

If you have the means a generator is the way to go.
Ken

ABCDemily

I'm really lucky when it comes to power cuts. We're hooked up to the same system that runs the countys only hospital, and if it's out, then it's normally for an hour max. Our heating isn't hooked up to the mains, we run off an oil tank, so normally the ambient temp of the rooms never drop below 73 on a super duper cold day.

I'd advise those who aren't luckily 2 miles away from a massive hospital to always have some of the hand wamers as Lucy said. Also, battery powered anything.

If the fpower's out for a long time, do a few water changes and stir the water around a bit to make sure it's not stagnating. I'd also hold back on feedings as there isn't a filter in use.

Tony G.

My aquarium light is battery powered (it works when unplugged and charges when plugged) it causes my tank's temp to rise about 3 degrees which can be life saving.

aquarist48

http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/212719/product.web
The above link has a battery powered back up air supply that plugs into an outlet and it comes on when the power goes off. I have 1/2 doz. of them. Love 'em!
Ken

CHoffman

Our heat for our house is gas, as is our water heater. So i guess if need be I would be doing lots of wc with warm water..lol..That's a whole lot of work and I'm hoping I don't have to do it..My hubby is a Power lineman so hopefully I can sweet talk him into getting us back on asap. . We also have a wood burning stove and a fireplace. This summer Walmart had 5 buckets with battery powered airpumps for fishing use on clearance for $7.00. I picked up two of them. Most of my tanks are in the fishroom which i can close off and turn our gas heater on in there and keep the temps just right. The only tank that isn't is my 120 and that is in my dining room right by my fireplace. ..I've thought this through like a thousand times so hopefully I'm prepared. Great thread Lucy!!.

iloveengl

OH Thank you so much for this reminder Lucy and for all the helpful suggestions everyone. My power flashed off during a bad storm last night (we get some doozies in Iowa) and of course the first thing I started worrying about is what if that happened during the winter.

Great advice! I'm going to Walmart today to get those hand warmer thingys. That sounds like the most economical option for us. Maybe this is a good excuse to go all the way to Petsmart for some battery-powered stuff....

bolivianbaby

Lucy, thanks for starting this thread and everyone, thanks for the great information and advice! This is definitely some information I will keep within easy access in case of emergencies. I'm also going to be putting the motion controlled hand warmers on my shopping list.

ATP

I should actually spend money on a generator instead of buying corals non stop or buying another tank

Tavel

my tanks are on battery back-ups. I have 6 hours of runtime (no lights, no heater)..and can easily add more by plugging in car batteries

Tony G.

my lights were out last night! they cameback ike 3 minutes after though

DrGueedo

Im lucky im on the same power grid has the hospital!! can get a grid that come back faster then that!!

Lucy

Can you link to what you use?

BassNFool

I have two inverters. I hook them to marine deep cycle batteries. I can use my everyday equipment with them. I have not had a power outage since I got my tank. I have, however, run my 32 inch TV all day during outages along with my DirectTV receiver.

BassNFool

Betafish305ca

any ideas for what you should do for a bottomless fish tank

speed0factory

wow that's alot of work for you guys to have a power outages, lucky for me i do not have much power outages here. But still there's still power outages but it's kinda rare, and the weather here is much warm then in US.

sirdarksol

I've never had a long-term power-outage, but it certainly is possible. Like Aquarist, I've got tons of candles. My in-laws also have a dozen of the rechargeable hand-warmers. All it takes is boiling water to get them to work again. If need be, I can borrow most of those.

Is there a pump that continually keeps the water in the upper tank? If not, if it's just keeping filled by basic physics, then you don't have any more problems than a normal tank.
However, if you've got a pump that's keeping the upper tank filled, make sure that there's enough room for the upper tank to empty into the base tank without spilling.

Lucy

There are a few threads flaoting around about this topic.
(A good reason to use the search feature before asking a question)
Here's one:
What to do in a power outage?

I came across these articles:
When the Power Fails
and this one:
Preparing for a Power Outage in Winter

One on the opposite end:
How to Keep Your Aquarium Cool