Ice storms and power outages - how do you keep tanks warm?

Marlene327
  • #1
Much of the U.S. is now facing further ice and snow storms that will go on through the week. Ours will be starting later tonight with Monday and Tuesday looking the worst. Power outages throughout the South have already happened with 2 storms, and there's at least 1 more storm coming the same way soon.

I'm not asking just for myself, maybe others would like some ideas too. I have a 40 gallon, 20 gallon and 2 - 10's. I know the larger they are, the longer they'll hold their temperature. We do not have a generator (stubborn husband.)

Here's some things I've done and things I'm thinking about. I have saved empty 1 gallon jugs from distilled water I've had in the past, and can put hot water into them and float them in the 2 larger ones (of course will drain some water first!) I can find other plastic containers that are smaller for the 10s and will do that BEFORE trouble happens. I'm lucky because we have a gas stove, we can heat water. In fact when our power goes off, I fill a 5 gallon canner with water and put it on the stove at the very lowest heat. It warms and radiates heat, helps keep the upstairs warm. We can make hot drinks and food with no problem.

The smaller tanks concern me, especially with shrimp. I have 10 or so culls in one tank and I think just 2 or 3 in another. I'm going to move those 2 or 3 over, and if I can, will move fish around tonight and keep one tank empty. The 10s are mostly male guppies, just trying to keep my girls from breeding. I can move the girls into the larger tank and put the boys into the 20 if necessary, with fry. I guess I'm most worried about my shrimp. In different tanks I have amanos, red cherry and blue, and a few ghosts.

Okay, the next thing is to get some blankets gathered and get ready to cover the tanks. I have ONE battery powered pump I've never had to use, will have batteries in it and will rotate it between whatever tanks I have as I can. I hope it's enough, but it's better than none. I have all my tanks in a spare bedroom. I'd love to place an oil lamp in there just to make any heat at all, but besides the floor, there's no place to sit a lamp, and I don't want to do that. We do have a gas heater in the basement that will keep us above freezing but not much.

We lost our power for 3 days about 3 years ago and it was so cold outside. Some went to hotels but we stayed home, bundled up, made soup, etc., and stuck it out. I did not have fish yet at that time.

What other ideas do you all have?
 
StarGirl
  • #2
You could get some of the hand warmer packs and when you wrap the tank with a blanket put them against the glass then wrap and cover the tank up.
 
Marlene327
  • Thread Starter
  • #3
You could get some of the hand warmer packs and when you wrap the tank with a blanket put them against the glass then wrap and cover the tank up.

I do have a lot of handwarmers, never thought of that. Took a couple with me to the fish store last week to keep them warm coming home, in a cooler.

I want to get everything out and organized and ready tonight. I can prepare my husband and I pretty good but worry about "the kids"!
 
RedOnion
  • #4
I actually went out and bought 2 battery powered pumps because where I live, this is the coldest its ever been and I am pretty sure the powers gonna go out soon. My only issue is I need to keep them warm, so Ive wrapped them in blankets now but Im not sure if it will hold.
 
Marlene327
  • Thread Starter
  • #5
I actually went out and bought 2 battery powered pumps because where I live, this is the coldest its ever been and I am pretty sure the powers gonna go out soon. My only issue is I need to keep them warm, so Ive wrapped them in blankets now but Im not sure if it will hold.

I'm sorry you're in the midst of it too. I'm near Pittsburgh, it hasn't gotten here yet but the South is getting pummeled. Do you have any plastic bottles you can put hot water into? Or do you have a gas stove to warm your water?
 
RedOnion
  • #6
I'm sorry you're in the midst of it too. I'm near Pittsburgh, it hasn't gotten here yet but the South is getting pummeled. Do you have any plastic bottles you can put hot water into? Or do you have a gas stove to warm your water?
Yeah Im in the south and its just starting to hit now. I do have a gas stove so Ill probably warm up some water and put it in a bottle. I hope the power wont be out for long tho. Good luck with your tanks, hope all your fish make it!
 
aquachris
  • #8
I'd also imagine if you could get yourself a low cost cheap generator might not be a bad idea.. something just enough to keep the area the fish are in warm or run bare essentials they need. Hardest is running an extension cord from outside to inside and not making other areas cold...

Otherwise like the article Lucy posted is some great ideas... I thought for a while about doing computer UPS's, but we are in process of getting a whole house generator soon.
 

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