Power Cuts!

[Teri]

If anyone reading this lives between Deal and Dover, you'll know there was a massive powercut yesterday afternoon. Well, we got the worst of it, power was off for 11 hours, and everything runs on electric, don't even have a gas hob.
Anyway, I managed to top the tank up with hot water about 8pm, when the old dear opposite came over to offer a cup of tea, ("no, bt if I could have a bucket of hot water please?"), but the temp was down to 15 at 9.30pm, which is when I managed to set up the b/f's generator, just to run the heater and filtre, but the neighbours started complaining after half an hour!
It was 11.30 when the power was restored, and when I turned the light on to do a tail count, all the fish were lying at the bottom, and they all looked really colourless. I thought the worst, but just turned the heater on full, and crossed my fingers.
Luckily, they all seem to be ok, but in future, is there anything I could do, in the event of a power cut? I had the tank wrapped in a duvet, but as its set on a windowsill, it does get cold v. quickly. (and its 100 litre, so impossible to move in a hurry)
Any advice gratefully received!

 

[rob newland]

Right first off...
Get a gas hob! - Trust me on this, when we have had long powercuts (48h+) it has proved invaluable. If not buy some kind of camping stove which you can boil water on. Trust me - you wont regret it.

There is an easy way to keep the heat in your tanks - before the power goes off, cover the tank with one or 2 duvets and blankets - the tank will only drop about 1 or 2 degrees that way =].
HTH,
Rob

 

[Clown loach lover]

I always wrap the tank in blankets and it seems to slow the heat loss down. The fish will be listless in a colder tank but should be ok. Don't put boiling water directly in the tank, one way is to float a pop bottle with hot water in it or just cool the water to an acceptable level. A torch can provide a bit of heat and light for the fish if its a night time power cut and they usually are.
don't forget to claim for loss of power and any fish, after a certain length of time the lecky companies have to compensate you.

 

[scorphonic]

Seems you were not the only one with a power cut yesterday...Ireland aka...my house!!

I just ran to the shed and took out the small generator we bought in Aldi for 90 euro (60 pound) and it kept the tank going...if the neighbours complained about it...I wouldn't care, just offer them a nice hot meal!!

The generator, which I'm sure is on sale in England in Aldi runs for 10 hours on a gallon of fuel. Its amazing


Ah there's a question,

is there insurance on fish in England? Would the electricity company compensate for any lost fish?

 

[Clown loach lover]

I wouldn't care about the neighbours either. The question about insurance is a matter of principle. We pay a lot of money for our lecky and i certainly wouldn't pay for a service that wasn't delivered. These companies need to be tackled really by the public. Don't think people realise how expensive some fish are and if you lose them through a power cut!!!

like the idea about the generator.

 

[Teri]

I never thought abt fish insurance, I just thought if anything truly disastrous happened with the tank, it'd be covered by the house insurance.

Trouble with Aldi is that they have amazing offers but they only last a week. We could do with getting a new one though, b/f's one is one he uses on site, and is really thirsty.

How long was your powercut for Scorphonic? When we lived in Ireland,we had one for 96 hours once! (think thats why he brought the generator home in the first place!)

 

[Darkstar]

I've looked into fish insurance before and I was unable to find anywhere willing to provide insurance...and as far as I know, other than the hardware (which maybe covered) it's practically impossible to insure livestock.