UPS? Power shut off

[Reef-Geek]

Hi, all

My apartment will have a 8 hours(high chance it will be shorter than that) power shut off from 11pm-7am and I need you advice.

I have a 34 gallon mixed reef tank, water volume is about 25-27 gallon.
What should I do when power is cut off?

1.I can turn the room heater on 25C before the power shut off, and use blankets to wrap the tank. Will that be efficient to keep the temperature not dropping too fast for 8 hours?

2.The cheap APC UPS can only hold 50w device for 16mins, so obvious I cannot connect it to me 100w heater. Should I get one for the pumps(mp10)? Is it essential? Does any one of you have a ups?

3.any more advices? suggestions?

[ottoman]

This may sound stupid, try get some hot water bag from dollar store, fill with hot water before power out, tie them around the tank. If you are still worry, try home depot, they may have generator for rent.

[cale262]

I'd call Hertz Equipment and rent a small gas generator for the day.


or just google "tool rental vancouver"...

[cathyg_99]

i would say get a battery powered air stone and just make sure there is still movement in the tank, if you can maybe even get a battery pack for your powerhead you should be okay with that... the most important thing is air and movement

[Reef-Geek]

Thanks, so how much will the temperature drop in 8 hours if no heater?
My current temperature is around 27C

[cale262]

http://www.abtoolrentals.com/equipme...key=060%2D0064

or

http://www.abtoolrentals.com/equipme...key=060%2D0070

[Reef-Geek]

Originally Posted by cale262

http://www.abtoolrentals.com/equipme...key=060%2D0064

Thanks, have you actually tried it?
how quiet is it?

[cale262]

Originally Posted by shingo43

Thanks, have you actually tried it?
how quiet is it?

I've used the honda gens quite a bit (camping etc.) and they are very quiet.

NOISE: 59DBA @ FULL LOAD

A blender makes more noise than that

[abcha0s]

Originally Posted by shingo43

Thanks, so how much will the temperature drop in 8 hours if no heater?
My current temperature is around 27C

Your temperautre will drop rapidly. It will reach ambient room temperature within an hour or two (max).

You didn't mention if your heating was electrical or gas? - If it is gas and you set your room temp at 25C then you won't need to worry about your temp. If it's electrical heating and the apartment drops to 15C, you could have a real problem.

You only need to worry about heating above the ambient room temp. Same principal as cooling in the summer. You can cool the tank, or you can cool the room.

- Brad

[cwatkins]

Do you have a gas fireplace? Just leave that on.

Alternately, I'd just get a UPS to run a power head and an air stone. Wrap the tank or use Home Depot foam insulation.

Also, you could increase the tank temperature by a degree so that it stays warmer longer?