Just bought a $200 reef insurance policy

[Sidewaze]

Try and make it short anyway did a side job made some decent cash and the wife said spend on aquarium. Saturday spent roughly $400 on fish and coral, then thinking what next, what new toy? Protein skimmer? another coral? I then stopped to think with the aquarium is in the basement and if we lost power for 10 hours during a cold spell, then what? I decided that a backup generator is the best investment I could make. I'm an electrician so took a amp reading at peak usage and I'm drawing 1100W, knowing I can dial back lights,turn off WP40's and lower output of main pump or turn off protein skimmer and biopellets run off main output. I bought at CT a 1000w with 1200w peak generator for $226 with taxes. I work 7-7 day and night swing so this is small enough that the wife could lift it if I wasn't home. Sorry to carry on just thought I'd share this little story. I'm also working on a plc project where you push one button for feeding and everything will shut down, then the powerheads start a couple minutes after then the main pump with the protein skimmer 15min after that. Plus I will have panel where I can shut off all the devices between on-off-auto so anything can be taken offline. This will all be programmed with ladder logic on a Allen-Bradley SLC500

Scott

 

[BIGSHOW]

Try and make it short anyway did a side job made some decent cash and the wife said spend on aquarium. Saturday spent roughly $400 on fish and coral, then thinking what next, what new toy? Protein skimmer? another coral? I then stopped to think with the aquarium is in the basement and if we lost power for 10 hours during a cold spell, then what? I decided that a backup generator is the best investment I could make. I'm an electrician so took a amp reading at peak usage and I'm drawing 1100W, knowing I can dial back lights,turn off WP40's and lower output of main pump or turn off protein skimmer and biopellets run off main output. I bought at CT a 1000w with 1200w peak generator for $226 with taxes. I work 7-7 day and night swing so this is small enough that the wife could lift it if I wasn't home. Sorry to carry on just thought I'd share this little story. I'm also working on a plc project where you push one button for feeding and everything will shut down, then the powerheads start a couple minutes after then the main pump with the protein skimmer 15min after that. Plus I will have panel where I can shut off all the devices between on-off-auto so anything can be taken offline. This will all be programmed with ladder logic on a Allen-Bradley SLC500

Scott

A great decision, one that is extremely hard for all of us to make ....

I for one have always opted for more corals, but since the recent ice storm I skipped a shipment and purchased the generator.

 

[Poseidon]

[quote author=Sidewaze link=topic=7546.msg77969#msg77969 date=1390501849]
Try and make it short anyway did a side job made some decent cash and the wife said spend on aquarium. Saturday spent roughly $400 on fish and coral, then thinking what next, what new toy? Protein skimmer? another coral? I then stopped to think with the aquarium is in the basement and if we lost power for 10 hours during a cold spell, then what? I decided that a backup generator is the best investment I could make. I'm an electrician so took a amp reading at peak usage and I'm drawing 1100W, knowing I can dial back lights,turn off WP40's and lower output of main pump or turn off protein skimmer and biopellets run off main output. I bought at CT a 1000w with 1200w peak generator for $226 with taxes. I work 7-7 day and night swing so this is small enough that the wife could lift it if I wasn't home. Sorry to carry on just thought I'd share this little story. I'm also working on a plc project where you push one button for feeding and everything will shut down, then the powerheads start a couple minutes after then the main pump with the protein skimmer 15min after that. Plus I will have panel where I can shut off all the devices between on-off-auto so anything can be taken offline. This will all be programmed with ladder logic on a Allen-Bradley SLC500

Scott

A great decision, one that is extremely hard for all of us to make ....

I for one have always opted for more corals, but since the recent ice storm I skipped a shipment and purchased the generator.
[/quote]

yea ive heard a few horror stories from the ice storm about people losing entire tanks
generator is definitely a must, good buy sidewaze

 

[spyd]

Yes sir. I have UPS battery back-ups for small power outages and they just run my pump and power heads for water movement. Anything longer than that, I have a generator sitting in the garage. A generator is a no brainer when you have $5 - $10k in corals and fish.... Let alone the attempt to find all those pieces again if something were to happen.

An SLC500 eh!? Go big or go home! lol.

 

[AdamS]

Yes sir. I have UPS battery back-ups for small power outages and they just run my pump and power heads for water movement. Anything longer than that, I have a generator sitting in the garage. A generator is a no brainer when you have $5 - $10k in corals and fish.... Let alone the attempt to find all those pieces again if something were to happen.

An SLC500 eh!? Go big or go home! lol.

Lol, thats what I was thinking. A bit a $2 atmel uC would work, but hey, if you can, why not.

 

[pulpfiction1]

i definatley want one but keep putting it off,im screwed if we had a power outage here for even a couple of days

 

[harleymike]

After all the horror stories. I purchased a generator last month.
Great peace of mind.

 

[Jewel]

I'm in an APT so no Jenny for me but I did purchase the Battery back up for my MP40s

 

[Darryl_V]

I have a UPS that would run my return pump for close to 24hrs.  I also have a 800watt generator I've owned for years and have never even fired up once.