[windstorm]

I am in the panhandle of Florida and Hurricane Ivan is starting to take it's position in our area. I have been extremely busy preparing for the storm and helping friends and family get boarded up. I did not even think to ask my aquarium supplier/service tech what to do while there is no power. I have a generator but I will need it to use for necessary equipment (fridge, lights, etc...). How long can I let the aquarium just sit with no power? How long do I need to run the system before shutting it down again. I hope someone can answer quickly and/or give some advice before loosing power and I won't have internet access.

Thank you in advance!

Steve

[Poseidon]

Hey Steve...

Good Luck first off. Second I would head over to a LFS and buy a few battery operated pumps, I think PennPlex makes one that runs on 2 D size batteries.

Depending on exactly what you have, 48 hours is about the best you can hope for without any casualties. If you get a few airstones moving water around in there then that wil extend the time significantly. Maybe to as much as 4-5 days??? Just a guess there. Also Temp will play a role, hopefully it won't get TOO COLD where you are so that shouldn't be any trouble.

With the generator I would try and have at least ONE pump hooked to it, it shouldn't draw too much!

Once again, GOOD LUCK AND WELCOME TO REEFLAND!!!

[Reefland]

Hi windstorm, Welcome to Reefland!

Best of luck to you during Ivan.

I agree with Mike; adding a pump and heater to your generator for your tank shouldn't draw a lot of power and would be worth it to prevent deaths in the aqaurium. I'm not sure what kind or how complicated your system is but that should be sufficient. Otherwise, your looking at 24-48 hours if you can keep the temp from dropping.

Good luck!

[Ninong]

Hi windstorm, welcome to Reefland!

First of all, as you and I both know, you do NOT need a heater. The overnight temps along the Gulf South do NOT get below the mid 70's this time of year.

Thank goodness you have a generator. We have one, too. You need to keep your main system return pump running. You can turn off your skimmer if you don't have enough power to run the skimmer pump. You can turn off your main lights, too. If possible, run your actinics, if you have any, for at least six hours per day.

It is very important that you keep your pump running at all costs. If you positively cannot run your pump, then you should run at least three or four battery operated air bubblers but I would urge you to simply run your pump on the generator.

Your tank cannot survive more than several hours without power, especially if you have a sand bed in your tank because it will use a lot of oxygen from the water. I would rather lose everything in the refrigerators/freezers before losing everything in my tank.

Right now it looks like the eye will go inland between Biloxi and Mobile so you may luck out, relatively speaking. I'm located at the northwest corner of Lake Ponchartrain in Louisiana and it looks like we dodged the bullet on this one. I doubt if we will get winds higher than about 85 mph tonight. I don't know how far west you are in the panhandle area but if you are at least 50 miles to the east of where the eye makes landfall, you should be in relatively good shape.

Good luck!



P.S. -- Is this your first hurricane? It's my sixth or seventh, so I'm sort of used to them by now.

P.P.S. -- Live satellite IR loop of Ivan: http://www.intellicast.com/Local/USN...=none&pid=none

[cybratel]

I truly whish you the best of luck up there in the panhandle. After going through Charley and Frances, I'm just west of Daytona Beach, I know you are in for some tuff times. I was about to add a salt tank to my collection until the storms changed my mind for me.

Those battery powered pumps are like gold and kept both my buddies salt tank and my fresh water tank going. He lost a flame angle but that was it. During Charley he was out of power for a week. If you can, leave the lid open a bit they may also help some.

Another great weather site is Weather Underground

[mchud]

i have an idea that would let you run the tank , especialy if you have a sump. or even if you dont have a sump. what you can do is put it in place of your return pump they come in many diferent gph. then all you would have to do is get a deep cycle battery and a small battrey charger that you could run off your genarator evry oce and a while. its just a thought somebody with alot more smarts then me hopefuly will comment on this. this is what i do in my large koi pond when i lose power. good luck and i hope everything works out for you.