16 hour power outage-yikes

[watchguy123]

Well a transformer went out near my home yesterday and the electrical power went out from 1 a.m. to 5:30 pm--just 16 hours. And just like bananas, yes,we have no generator. Hooked up an oxygen cylinder to the tank, so I had a "bubbler". My calcium reactor dumped a bunch of saturated fluid from its container into the tank when the power went out. Too scared to test alk, but I will later today. Red dragon colony, blue tenuis colony and very cool purple monster like frag STN'd. No other livestock seem effected. I have a baby red dragon frag in my frag tank that I will utilize. Blue tenuous was pretty but I will do without. The purple monster like frag is not replaceable although I still have my real deal purple monster colony. Fun hobby, darn transformer.

Could have been worse. On the bright side, I have a couple more spots for new things.

 

[SchnitzelReef]

How did your calcium reactor dump fluid? Any loss is a bummer, but I guess it could have been way worse.

 

[Reefomeez]

Awww bummer! You were just getting everything dialed in from the last one too.

Just PMed you back. Let me know if I can be anymore help.

 

[watchguy123]

How did your calcium reactor fluid? Any loss is a bummer, but I guess it could have been way worse.

I have a dual cylinder and when the power cuts out, one of the cylinders drains itself into the sump. When the sump level rises, the effluent line then somehow drains into the sump. I never really get how that functions.

 

[SchnitzelReef]

I have a dual cylinder and when the power cuts out, one of the cylinders drains itself into the sump. When the sump level rises, the effluent line then somehow drains into the sump. I never really get how that functions.

Hmm that's weird. I don't get how that could happen. Do u have pics of your setup? Is it possible that it could be hooked up wrong? I never had an issue with mine doing that. What brand CaRX is it? Is your effluent line submerged in the sump? Or do u have it dripping above the water level?

 

[UMass14]

Sorry to hear about the power outage. I have been reading your chalice thread on RC. Hope everythings going to pull through.

 

[EyeReef]

Sorry to hear Mark! Hope things will bounce back for you.
I was just thinking about you yesterday because I inherited a couple of your corals from another reefer. The pieces seem pretty bleached out so hoping I can nurse it back to what its suppose to look like.
The pieces include
SCC BLUE PLANET
RED CONVEXA

 

[fishn49ers]

Damm man I hope everything turns out well. When ever I get frustrated I look at your pics to keep my eyes on the end goal. If I can do anything to help don't hesitate to ask

 

[watchguy123]

Well good news. No spike in alk. I guess the amount of water in the calcium reactor is small compared to the tank size. Everything looks good, normal color and polyp extension on most everything. Scary event. Perhaps 16 hours of no water movement led to the couple of coral casualties. The water temp dropped to 73 so I may have an ich outbreak in a day or so, but the fish are otherwise fat and healthy.

And my effluent line is below water in the sump only when the power is off. Seems like simple solution is to place effluent line a couple inches higher and not have drain issue with power outages.

 

[lowbudget]

o my. glad to hear

 

[watchguy123]

Sorry to hear Mark! Hope things will bounce back for you.
I was just thinking about you yesterday because I inherited a couple of your corals from another reefer. The pieces seem pretty bleached out so hoping I can nurse it back to what its suppose to look like.
The pieces include
SCC BLUE PLANET
RED CONVEXA

Those are two pretty pieces. I don't know if you heard but some months ago, I lost my scc planet earth but a friend gave me a frag of his and so it is regrowing in my tank. The red convexa grows like a weed but it does not like being fragged which is strange because it it large branched, fast growing and just seems like it would be fine. The frag slimes a great deal from the frag wound and perhaps that is part of the issue. The colony handles lots of flow and light.

 

[Six2seven]

Glad to hear you didn't lose much more that that.

 

[SchnitzelReef]

That's Great news

 

[GoReef165]

No water movement for 16 hours? So you don't have a battery back-up for your powerbeads in a tank like that?

 

[watchguy123]

What's a battery backup??

 

[GoReef165]

What's a battery backup??

Hey Mark...I'm not sure if you're messing with me (joking) but I have Vortech MP40's and I purchased their battery back-up system that turns them both on at 50% power level for up to 24hrs incase of a power outage. It's the cheapest insurance I know of for a tank like yours. I'm not sure what type of powerheads you're running but I'd bet there's a back-up power supply you could purchase. If there's not then some reefers are using simple computer UPS back-ups.

 

[tofucube]

Rob...I thought Mark was messing with you too that's why I didn't want to chime in but definitely recommend the battery backup. From what I know, the Vortech Battery Backup for one MP40 is 36hrs @ 10%, and 18hrs for two MP40s. With a tank that is stocked with some seriously amazing pieces like Mark has, the price of the battery backup is pocket change relative to the collection. Just my opinion. The poopoo pieces I have are nothing and I run 2 batteries