Weekly Discussion - Disaster Plans

[Anonymous]

Weekly Discussion - Disaster Plans

How well is your system set up for a disaster? What kind of problems are you set up for, and what steps did you take to prevent/deal with it?

About the RDO Weekly Discussion:
This discussion is meant to get at your experience and to share information that is in your head, so don't necessarily treat it as information gathering. State your opinion and, if available, use material, anecdotal or otherwise, that will back up your opinion.
Past weekly discussions will be archived in the archives.
If you have topics that you think would be helpful for the RDO community to discuss, please send me a pm.

 

[Anonymous]

I've always got a 5 gallon bucket of fresh saltwater (is that an oxymoron?) heated up and ready to go. (mostly because I'm behind on a water change.

I've got carbon around, incase something goes bad.

I've got ice and cans of soda in the fridge if the tank gets too hot.

I still don't have a battery operated pump. During the blackout I was up untill 4am circulating my tanks with a turkey baster. Hopefully I can find a couple this week. . .

B

 

[Anonymous]

I got

My main pump on a float switch in case the overflows clog.
My above tank fuge pump on a float switch in case the fuge overflows clog - plus the fuge has a redundant overflow.
My auto topoff pump is on two float switches, one for top off and one in the top off switch fails.
I have two heaters, each on a different circuit.
I have a back up main pump.
Circulation pumps on different circuits.
3 penn plax battery air pumps that come on in the event of a power outage.
I have 10 gallons of rodi on hand, and 20 gallons of saltwater on hand.
I have a 180 gallon sump in case my 150 gallon show tank cracks.
All the electrical is in the stand, off the floor, with drip loops on everything.
I have 2 check valves on my returns so if there is a power outage they will not siphon the tank down.
My lights are chained to the top of the canopy.

I am sure I am forgetting something...

Soon: a big UPS running a powerhead in the sump and in the main tank.
Fans on the tank and the sump run by a temp controller.

 

[fungia]

i have a power generator and 2 gallons of gas just in case of power outtages but that is it. my new 100g is set up so water can fill the sump in case the power goes out so no flooding.

 

[Anonymous]

I have one of those power inverter thingys that you can take your car battery out and hook it up to power essentials.

I also keep several liter and 2 liter bottles of water frozen in case something happens like the AC going out. (Also, your freezer runs more efficiently when it is full, so that's another good reason to keep ice bottles in it)

I have some battery powered pumps too, but I honestly don't know if we have batterys around for them. Good idea for a thread though, I will have to check tonight and get batteries.
++++++++

 

[Mogo]

1) I have a an ac adapter that plugs into my car with a 100 foot extension cord 8O . I can run 2 heaters from it at least. Seeing as my tank made it through 18 hours of power outage this summer with no negative effects, my only real concern is a similar situation in the winter with no heat.

2) I have eliminated unnecessary siphons which could cause an overflow. My sump is big enough to handle all back-siphoned water.

3) Regular maintenance of all. (I open up all valves every so often and let them rip for a while.)

4) a handy mop and a bottle of Johnnie Walker Black in case the above fails 8)

 

[Anonymous]

Small generator
wood stove
propane space heater
car-powered inverter

Would like a bigger generator in cas we get another multi-day outage for a longer run time...

 

[LauraH]

We have a 4000 watt and a 600 watt generator. This allows us to keep water circulation and skimmer pump going with enough juice left over to run the refrigerator (which keep an ice supply going), some lights, some fans, and the TV.

I also have 32 gal plastic trash cans full of RO/DI water. We also have the usual supply of hurricane supplies for the family.

My biggest worries with regard to the tank are:

1. Inability to return from evacuation should we choose to evacuate.
2. Long term power outages (weeks)
3. Heat. The house got very uncomfortable after hurricane Erin. We were without power for five days in August. Ice helped at the time, but my tank is bigger now and I'm not sure ice would be effective.

I would some day love to get a generator large enough to power the house.

 

[Anonymous]

All I have is a couple of battery operated air stones.

Keeping the tank cool in Florida would be the biggest challange. Nothing short of a chiller and a generator big enough to power it would be the only way to handle an extended power outage.

Louey

 

[Anonymous]

Praying!

 

[ReefMon]

Tanks:
5.5kw generator for power
lots of gas (10gal in containers, close to 100gal in vehicles)
600W inverter in truck
4 battery airpumps
55 gal fresh mixed saltwater
80 gal fresh ro/di make-up water

House:
30 gal fresh drinking water
bathtub full for hygienic water use
fresh stock of batteries
food for 5 people for 5 days
40 lbs charcoal for cooking
secured all outdoor potential missiles
cameras charged
Duct Tape & Plastic sheeting (a Washington DC staple )
Beer & Wine chilled

My thoughts & prayers to everyone along the coast....