Generator for power failure

[AJ356]

In the last 30 years, living in London, UK I cannot remember a power cut that lasted longer than 2 or 3 hours, and I could go 2 or 3 years without a single power cut, not even for a few seconds.

In the next 6 months I am expecting to move away from London, to an area probably a lot more rural/suburban.

I'm probably not going to be anywhere in the UK where there will be very regular temperatures below zero centigrade (32 degrees, for you in the U S of A)

Some people will read this and just think it's anxiety, which it probably is.
I am not sure if many fish keepers in the UK even consider having a generator for the sake of their fish?

Do any of you living in much more extreme weather climates than me have a generator specifically with your tropical fish in mind?

I've looked into generators, but it would seem that even quite expensive ones say they can provide up to 6 hours or 10 hours of power (I know there will be a lot of variables)

Am I looking at about £5,000 ($6,700 US) just for something that would provide power for 12 hours? Seems excessive, unless I am not looking properly?

I mean for 12 hours no power in the UK, I might as well sit back, relax and use a few £20 battery air pumps?

What do you folk in certain areas of USA or Canada do in an extended power failure to avoid your water temperatures falling into the 15 degrees (60 F) range (for example). Obviously some fish (Corydoras, barbs) will cope much better than others (discus, rams etc).

There are two things here isn't there.... the fear of the filter stopping for an extended time (beneficial bacteria and oxygen), and not having the heaters working.

 

[GaryE]

Danger is my middle name...

Nope. Possibly foolishness is. I have a large set up and no backup. I'm looking at generators, but don't want to spend a fortune, because I lack one of those. I'll regularly deal with what I see as mild winter temperatures, going to minus 10 celsius. I might have a week at minus 20 in February, but not REAL cold like where I used to live and get -30 to -40.

It's been 27 years since I lost all my fish but 2 species to a power cut in winter, and that was a major natural disaster affecting millions. I have a well insulated fishroom that will hold temperatures for at least 12 hours before it starts to slide down. At or around freezing, you can lose 5 degrees the first day, then drop 2 or 3 a day as you head to freezing.

Here, the grid has been very stable, but I may need two generators given the distance between the fishroom and the house. I have a pellet stove I could run with one, as well as a fridge and freezer that would need extensions. In the fishroom, I'd need to run two energy efficient air pumps and a dehumidifier, which would heat the room. Right now they are on a 1500 watt breaker, with no issues over 3 years. No lights and filters can be handled, and 45 of 50 tanks run on the air system.

But the fishroom is 50m from the house.

So how big a generator would one need for such simple demands? Or, more honestly, how small a one? They're on sale around here right now, and there are units from $400 on up. I'm loathe to spend a fortune on something I may never need, but also not inclined to keep dodging bullets with our increasingly erratic storm pattern.

Help?

 

[jaylach]

I don't use a generator but DO have a battery backup unit on my tank with just the heater and filter connected. Longest outage I've ever had in the apartment I've been in for just short of 13 years was just earlier this year and lasted about 7-8 hours. The battery backup lasted through the outage with enough charge left for a few hours more. Of course it takes a strong backup unit.

 

[AJ356]

Danger is my middle name...

Nope. Possibly foolishness is. I have a large set up and no backup. I'm looking at generators, but don't want to spend a fortune, because I lack one of those. I'll regularly deal with what I see as mild winter temperatures, going to minus 10 celsius. I might have a week at minus 20 in February, but not REAL cold like where I used to live and get -30 to -40.

It's been 27 years since I lost all my fish but 2 species to a power cut in winter, and that was a major natural disaster affecting millions. I have a well insulated fishroom that will hold temperatures for at least 12 hours before it starts to slide down. At or around freezing, you can lose 5 degrees the first day, then drop 2 or 3 a day as you head to freezing.

Here, the grid has been very stable, but I may need two generators given the distance between the fishroom and the house. I have a pellet stove I could run with one, as well as a fridge and freezer that would need extensions. In the fishroom, I'd need to run two energy efficient air pumps and a dehumidifier, which would heat the room. Right now they are on a 1500 watt breaker, with no issues over 3 years. No lights and filters can be handled, and 45 of 50 tanks run on the air system.

But the fishroom is 50m from the house.

So how big a generator would one need for such simple demands? Or, more honestly, how small a one? They're on sale around here right now, and there are units from $400 on up. I'm loathe to spend a fortune on something I may never need, but also not inclined to keep dodging bullets with our increasingly erratic storm pattern.

Help?

You running an entire fish room in Canada is certainly more "risky" than me having about 5 tanks and a total volume of water of about 120 US gallons, here in the UK. If I moved to the most northern part of the UK in Scotland, it still probably wouldn't be considered "extreme" weather compared to Canada.

I'm now thinking a generator is me being over the top, I didn't even realise it would need fuel and have to operate outside the house. I don't keep Rams or Discus or the most sensitive fish to warm water. In fact, apart from my Kribensis, all my fish are Central American cichlids and I keep them at 74 F and they are known to handle cooler temperatures.

I did some YouTube research tonight, and there was one cichlid YouTuber saying how fantastic his Power Bank is, but it cost him $2,000 dollars and it only runs one tank for about 12 hours. If I thought my worst power cut was going to be 12 hours, I'd not be worried.

 

[AJ356]

Seems like that is something that costs about $150 dollars and you got 7-8 hours from it on a heated tank at the minimum, and the YouTuber was happy he spent $2,000 dollars on a power bank that can last 12 hours on his heated tank. I know tank size has not been factored in between you and him, but still.....!!!

 

[jaylach]

Seems like that is something that costs about $150 dollars and you got 7-8 hours from it on a heated tank at the minimum, and the YouTuber was happy he spent $2,000 dollars on a power bank that can last 12 hours on his heated tank. I know tank size has not been factored in between you and him, but still.....!!!

I removed the link in my initial post after I saw the reviews... or I should say one review. Not that I was recommending the linked unit but I would not want it thought that I was.

 

[AJ356]

I removed the link in my initial post after I saw the reviews... or I should say one review. Not that I was recommending the linked unit but I would not want it thought that I was.

No worries, I'll delete mine as I quoted you

 

[Colin_T]

You can buy a petrol powered generator for $500-1500. They should run for 12 hours per tank of fuel. However, I would get a couple of car batteries or a solar panel storage battery and run the pumps/ filters off that. Even a 12 volt car battery will be able to run 2 battery operated air pumps for a couple of days.

If you have a power inverter (available from auto stores), you can plug it into the cigarette lighter socket in your car and run an extension cord from that into the fish room. They usually turn off when the battery gets low but you can have the car idling for an hour or so and it will keep the battery charged and run the aquariums.

As for heating, if you insulate the aquariums with 1-2 inch thick polystyrene foam sheets, the water will hold temperature for longer. Put sheets of foam on the base, back and 2 sides and it will reduce the heating bill during normal times (when you have power), and help hold heat for a lot longer when you don't have power.

A coverglass will also hold heat in the tank. Most pet shops sell 2-3mm thick coverglass but they are crap. You want 4, 5 or 6mm thick glass for the cover (6mm being better than 4 or 5mm). You generally want the same thickness coverglass as the aquarium is made of. If the tank is made from 5mm thick glass, you have 5mm covers. Don't get anything less than 4mm thick.

In the event of a power failure when it's cold, you can put a sheet of polystyrene on the front and top of the tank (as well as the other sides and base) and the tank will hold temperature rather well. You can also put a blanket or towel over the tank but make sure it isn't in contact with the filter or water because they can drain water out of tanks.

If you do completely cover the tank during a power failure, don't turn the aquarium light on when the power comes back. Turn the room light on and remove the cover from the top of the tank. Wait 10-15 minutes then remove the cover on the front of the tank. Wait 30 minutes or so and then turn the tank light on. This will stop the fish freaking out because the tank was completely dark and then suddenly the tank light comes on. It allows the fish to get use to the light gradually.

 

[GaryE]

@Colin_T makes good points, as usual.

I have a routine for power failures, which around here usually come with warnings. The main causes are gales, hurricanes and ice storms, with the latter being the real danger as it comes with cold. I turn off all lights once the power goes. The same for power filters.
For fish that need warmer conditions, I wrap the tanks in old blankets or towels. I have some in the garage next to the fishroom - such things don't get thrown away here.
I don't look in til the power returns. I close the door and stay out.
You're just buying time. Most of the time here, the power's back in a couple of hours. In a longer spell, you don't lose many fish til you get to 15c. After that, each degree of loss kills. The really bad storm that took out our region years ago wasn't that cold - it was an icestorm but we had a week just under zero after. It took a day and a half for fish to start dying, in an uninsulated old cellar with cement walls. I hope my well insulated, purpose built space will hold ambient heat for at least 2 to 3 days.
Yeah, the cycle in filters takes a hit, but you increase water changes after. It's a fish in mini cycle, not as a choice...Most plants can sit in darkness for a week, easily.

If I had one or two tanks, I'd insulate them with space blankets, available here in 'dollar stores'. Again, lights off as if they come on under a space blanket, it would get hot.

 

[Itsadeepbluesea]

Our power here goes out a lot...I swear if a butterfly lands on the line, we lose power. Just kidding, but we do really lose power quite often. I don't have fish specific generator, but we have a gas-powered portable generator. The house is wired so I can turn on certain parts and leave others off as needed. I just make sure my tanks are hooked to outlets that are in commonly used areas that get turned on when the power goes out.

Someday I hope to have a standby, but there are other more pressing projects at this time.

 

[Magnum Man]

if a person has battery powered tools, they have started making inverters for several of the brands, that are as compact as the power tool batteries... I have a 12 amp / hour battery, and a few 8's as the bigger batteries are recommended for my newer electric chain saws, of that brand.... I probably have a dozen tools that use these type batteries, so I have many batteries that fit, of various sizes for my newer inverter, which could run my tanks for a week or so, and if needed, the batteries could be remote charged, and brought back home... just a thought on the new technology...

also if needed, my "toy hauler" trailer I'm building, once complete, will have a bank of 4 - 12 amp / hour car sized batteries, ( I'm adding batteries as I can, it currently has 2 of the 4 potential, with a functional system right now ) the trailer contains a 100 foot extension cord, in place for extended camping, but that could be used to put power back to the house , in a time of outage...

not to mention, many of the newer vehicles have 110 volt outlets, with inverters built in... my truck has 2 separate 110 volt outlets...

I also have a large old school contractor generator capable of running the whole farm, if needed...

 

[Magnum Man]

they don't apparently sell name brand tools on amazon, but you can buy an off brand inverter for one of a couple name brand tool batteries for pretty cheap

https://www.amazon.com/Hisecren-Portable-Inverter-Compatible-Milwaukee/dp/B0FC1S2CG7/ref=mp_s_a_1_14_sspa?crid=MW8REKVCKZ79&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.dsF6YxUatniAcZYODfXBBPOnBpq0jk1wkIB9NTuwvCBr5LcGer3QjTuwGUCLs-lgTcoop5TRc3_6xFX6o0HvRPnMnNYYQJjcTAjK2i18HwNDoBMkF2Kxk76ih1n-1MczlWxJDch4ve5C7jGkcCKuWfMFr6iQ7rjbihrfaJAW9LhtFktPk1Hs7Yu5KYbt5GC7UALjvRKbLhLgQw0XqMF3vA.5as6mxXOpwVCS3gWlZrSdpgpwK1gv4qkgXiYwevH_U0&dib_tag=se&keywords=Milwaukee+power+tool+inverters&qid=1759578185&s=electronics&sprefix=milwaukee+power+tool+inverters%2Celectronics%2C213&sr=1-14-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfbXRm&psc=1

 

[gwand]

I live in a heavily forested area where the power lines fall victim to falling branches and trees. We typically experience 6 or more outages every year that can last from 1-5 days. When I first started being an aquarist a winter storm triggered an outage that lasted 4 days. The temperature in my home fell to 50F. All my fish died. Moving forward we saved up some funds to purchase a propane powered generator. It powers my tanks, lights in parts of the house and most importantly my oil furnace.