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I live in S.Fla where we get the occasional hurricane which really screws up our power.
Last hurricane I was without power for over a week. Luckily I didnt have fish back then so didnt have to worry about it.
Now however I have a few tanks and worry about power interuptions.
Does anyone know if they make a battery operated pump and or filter?
Also, how long would you think my fish would be ok should I lose power for any length of time and have no filtration or air pump?
I did buy a 20 gallon tupperware like container to hold fresh water so I can at least do small water changes should I need it.
Just trying to be prepared for the worst. Thanks

For that sort of length power shortage I dont think a battery aerator or filter would impress you too much. The few ive seen arent the most powerful pieces of equipment.

I have a petrol generator handy for just such occassions though, some will run for a couple of days on a fill up, technically proving more economical than batteries too, once youve got over the original cost of purchase. Hit ebay, you might find a perfectly good one cheaply.

Plus its nice to be able to watch tv and have lights when the neighbours cant

A battery power would not lasr very long at all. Go to a camping store and get a petrol generator a good one can also be used for the home.

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

Look here for my
Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos


Keith

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zookeeper I live in Miami,Fl and as you know we to have those hurricane power outages as well. I use the battery power air pumps when the power goes off. As far as using them with a air pump filter for small tanks 10 to 20gal you can use this combination, however you will need to include enough batteries for a couple of days. These pumps are not designed to run all the time and are really just to keep the tank oxygenated and your fish alive. On larger tanks you will need to put at least two of them in each tank, 2 for 55, 3 for 75, 4 for 100. You get the picture. If you have a generator you can just hook up the filter and nothing else from the fish tank and let it run for a couple of hours a day just to filter the water and then go back to the battery power air pumps. If you have a planted tank you will want to get some lower wattage lights as will, and let it run the couple of hours as well just to keep the plants alive. If you don't have a generator, I would really recommend getting one, not just for you tanks but for you comfort and family. You can't run your house on them but you can run you refrigerator and other appliances and have lighting at night, a small tv etc. Just follow the manufacturers safety rules and don't over load it and burn don what left of the house.

Djrichie
"So Long, and Thanks For All The Fish" Douglas Adams

Miami huh? Neighbors!

Yeah, I need to get a generator. Only prob with that is then finding and storing the gas for it. You know what I am talking about! After Wilma it was near impossible to get gas and where i live I dont have room to be storing tanks of gas beforehand.
I will check out the battery operated pumps. I really only worry about the fish. Plants may be ok as I can direct some sunlight to the tank if needed. And if the plants die then I will simply replant later.
THanks for the replies. I seriously hope and knock on wood that we have no canes this year, or next, or the next. LOL

If the plants die they'll take out your fish in the process. Unless your tank is only very lightly planted. Dead or dyng plant matter also adds to the nitrogen cycle and may decrease the oxygen. On a tank that's lost it's filter and is running on only an airstone that could mean a massive die off. On the other hand if the plants are healthy they will help filter your tank and provide oxygen. A lightly stocked heavily planted tank could potentially survive indefinitely without a filter or any aeration. There are plenty of restrictions and it's a fine balance to make that work but it's been done. Plants use ammonia and give off oxygen. Exactly what you need to keep a tank healthy. Dead plants do the opposite.