ICE Versues a Reef Tank!

salt-rookie · 12-12-2007, 09:34 AM

My dear friends! I am taking the time to give you all a VERY SOLID bit of advice, based in the recent record setting ice storm in midwest Missouri. DO NOT try to maintain a reef WITHOUT a generator! EVEN if you live in Florida, there are weather events and power goes out! I bought a 2,000 watt generator at a frag swap in the middle of summer for $150. BEST money I EVER spent! Went to bed Saturday night, power went off about 6:30 am Sunday morning...it came back on Tuesday about 2:00 PM! I kept the return pump and my Sequence 1000 closed loop running around the clock. The temp dropped to 69.4 degrees...plugged in 2 X 400 watt heaters and burned a TON of wood to keep the room warm. Temp gradually came up to 76.4 degrees by the time the power came on. When the halides came on...I was scared to look...but EVERYTHING was GREAT! IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A GENERATOR, GET ONE! We are responsible for so very many life forms in our reef tanks! Here are a couple of pictures of the damage to my home, but my reef is GREAT! It sucked at Christmas, but it would have devastated me had my reef died!

The front of the house

The deck in the back

Thanks for looking, Merry Christmas!
Phil

lReef lKeeper · 12-12-2007, 09:52 AM

loks like the damage to the house was minimal. glad to see/hear that !! glad everything worked out for the tank too. i too would be devistated if something happened to mine. a generator is one of the next things on my list, it has been for a while, but i am always trying to find the best deal. lol

glad everyone is safe, both family AND tank.

**Amphibious** · 12-12-2007, 09:56 AM

OH that is ugly!!! It is a reminder why we moved to FL two years ago. We have our weather events down here, too. It is a wise reefer that owns a generator. I own two, a 5000W and a 8500W. The little one the for the reef and the big one is for the house.

Thanks for the reminder.

**Amphibious** · 12-12-2007, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lReef lKeeper

i am always trying to find the best deal. lol

The best deal on a generator is the one you buy BEFORE THE STORM. Get out there and get the job done.