When to use battery operated air pump

[thekarens]

Our power went out last night and it got me to wondering how long the power could be out before I should use one of our battery powered air pumps. In our case the power was only off 15 to 20 minutes so that was no big deal, but want to know for the future.

[szidlon]

That's a tough question to give a fixed answer to. A lot will depend on the load in your tank and your existing water conditions. In general, I would say anything over three or four hours in a heavily populated tank would need some type of water movement. I have the battery pumps that stay plugged in and only come on if there's a power outage. I started using those when I was working out of town for days at a time to give me some peace of mind. In my fry tanks I had a T and the battery operated air pump along with the regular air pump both attached to a sponge filter. That way I didn't loose filtration either.

[thekarens]

Very cool! How do you fix it to come on only if the power goes out?

[szidlon]

It's the particular model I have, it's the Penn Plax B11.

[thekarens]

Very cool. Thanks.

[finfan]

good idea, imo in heavily planted tanks residents are much better off, during ike, we were gone for 4 days and i didn't have backup plan (unfortunately), i had 0 fish loss and no fish was even looking distressed in my heavily planted tank, but unplanted tanks are a different story, i took 30% loss on those :(

[thekarens]

Ugh no planted discus tanks! I think those are beautiful but just too much work for me right now. I'm going to look into that air pump.

[wesleydnunder]

That sounds like a great idea, Nancy. During Ike I kept battery pumps going on all my tanks the whole week power was out. The discus tank got daily water changes. The other tanks got partials every other day. Two tetras died, but not sure if that was attributable to the outtage.

Mark

[J-WS6]

Ever since Ike, I always keep a back up pump that kicks on if the power goes out when I'm not there. It's one of those penn plax ones, batteries last about 6-7 hours on them. I have come home too at random times to find my power out, either because maintenance is working on it, or the power company has been. Call me paranoid, but I've got too much money invested in my livestock to not have a back up pump always ready!

[szidlon]

Did you know the B11's and probably other will also run just as well on a single battery? I had one last two days or so on a single fresh battery when I moved.

[J-WS6]

I did not. I had these back when Rita hit, so I just re-used them. Kept both tanks alive, and only lost 1 Xeno, happened to be the biggest, nicest male, go figure.

[szidlon]

I was very lucky, I was only without power for about 11 hours, but I had already turned off and opened up my cannisters and had the battery operated going. I think I like having a volunteer fire department right down the street from me. I must be on the same power grid as they are . That's the only thing I can figure out, as the rest of the area was without power for a lot longer.

[J-WS6]

Well luck you! Mine was out for 15 days!! I was lucky enough to still have water pressure, so I was able to do water changes and feed lightly. If not, I think the end result would have turned out different.

[Zulaab]

Well -- I hope over the next two to three years we dont have another major hurricane hit that will require days of generated power, by then I will have installed a outdoor NG powered generator, supplying me with house power and I will not worry about it.
This hurricane I was among the 1% who didnt lose power, so I consider myself very lucky.

I lost power for a total of 1.5 hours... and I had JUST added the bubblers to my tanks when the power came back on and I was alive again... never went out again, except for the ocational blip here and there.

I will be saving my money up and spending about 5-6k sometime in 2011 or 2012 and installing a 14K power generator in the back yard.

[J-WS6]

Awesome Jesper. Let me know when you install it so I can buy a really long extension cord, so you can power my apartment too.