Michael7979 Posted December 5, 2009 Share Posted December 5, 2009 Since they are calling for weather to stay real cold next week, lows in the teens and highs in the 30's. What if any extra precautions are you going to take with the expected low temperatures that are coming our way? Since my tank is in the garage I will be adding an additional heater to make sure the temp dosen't get to low. Let's hear what you are thinking...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CCR Posted December 5, 2009 Share Posted December 5, 2009 A U shaped copper pipe in the tank with a butane torch putting heat through it to heat the tank. Eating chilly peppers and breathing into an air stone. 10,000 heat packs rapped around it. Mirrors reflecting sunlight on it. heating jugs of water outside in a black lined, clear plastic top crate. (solar baby) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downhill_biker Posted December 5, 2009 Share Posted December 5, 2009 I highly recommend against the copper pipe...but everything else is good.... Honestly though, the best thing you can do is make sure that you have appropriately sized heaters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReefMe Posted December 5, 2009 Share Posted December 5, 2009 Heater(s) I have a 55 in the garge. I have a titanium in the tank and another in the sump. I cover the tank top at night with a large, thick towel. It gets cold in that garage, cement floor. The temperature goes between 77 to 80, sometimes a little more in each direction. I know this is not ideal at all. Untill I get this AC3 / DC8 strip working, if that's the problem, the DC8, I just have to monitor it manually AM & PM.(whistle) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThePremiumAquarium Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 I have 2x 800w titanium sticks and a couple of extra 300w for backups. Does the job nicely on about 700g of water. I keep one of the 800w constantly plugged in seperate from the controller for this kind of weather. It seems to work better than having both of the controller. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theJenchild Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 Any thoughts on what to do if the power goes off? I'm a little screwed if that happens..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saltfinsax Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 Any thoughts on what to do if the power goes off? I'm a little screwed if that happens..... I heated the water up on a camp stove for 4 hours once. That got old but keep the water temp up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kilmca Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 Any thoughts on what to do if the power goes off? I'm a little screwed if that happens..... Hate to say it but a generator is a great investment. Your power will never go out if you get one, that's what happened to me since I got one. (laugh) It's also a great investment cause if you add up what everything cost in your tank a $400 generator doesn't seem too much if all that dies. $400 gets you a brand new generator that will run most tanks and more. Sorry Mike didn't mean to take the thread off topic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CA2OR Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 I do want me a generator....very bad....but then we hit that familiar road block of MONEY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smann Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 The garage tanks are at the lower end of the temp range 75-77. They have been holding OK at 75-76 with two 400 watt heaters set with one on below 76 and the second one on below 75.5 (controller), I have a little electric"radiator" style heater thats keeping the garage pretty warm. As far as the house goes, 5K generator with Transfer panel-six circuts.. Only way to go!. I can alternate between the fridge,freezer,a few lights, furnace and the tank. One year when the power was out, just to be a smart a$$, I plugged in the christmas lights:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandinga Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 One year when the power was out' date=' just to be a smart a$$, I plugged in the christmas lights:D[/quote'] If I was your neighbor, I'd have to borrow me some power...with...say an extension cord or two(whistle) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CA2OR Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 I have 2x100 ft extentions cables and 3 empty apartments close to me(huh) now I jut gotta hope it isn't the whole neighborhood.(fingers) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael7979 Posted December 6, 2009 Author Share Posted December 6, 2009 I think I'll go grab an invertor tomorrow. Since I won a $50.00 American Express card at my wifes Xmas party for her job! Happened to be a nice added birthday gift too!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael7979 Posted December 6, 2009 Author Share Posted December 6, 2009 BTW anyone know where a good deal is right now on a 400w invertor? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CA2OR Posted December 7, 2009 Share Posted December 7, 2009 Invertor? What does it invert from if the power is out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JManrow Posted December 7, 2009 Share Posted December 7, 2009 BTW anyone know where a good deal is right now on a 400w invertor? If not in a big hurry good deals are http://www.invertersrus.com/inv400w.html http://www.overstock.com/Auto-Parts/Power-Bright-200-watt-12-volt-DC-to-AC-Power-Inverter/3730944/product.html http://www.dcacpowerinverters.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=PW400-12 Otherwise check local autopart stores I try to avoid shopping there, but Walmart has a cheap 400W http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4891079 Install info http://neahs.net/inverterinstall/power_inverter_install.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CA2OR Posted December 7, 2009 Share Posted December 7, 2009 oh you meant inverter from car lighter to ac? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JManrow Posted December 7, 2009 Share Posted December 7, 2009 Here's one more place to try Mike. Harbor Freight http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=66814 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CA2OR Posted December 7, 2009 Share Posted December 7, 2009 I experienced some bad stuff when I had to rely on my inverter for things. I think I am going to aim for the generator. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted December 7, 2009 Share Posted December 7, 2009 Frye's is probably going to be the cheapest place to get an invertor locally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orion Posted December 7, 2009 Share Posted December 7, 2009 A generator is the only way to go However I do have a pair of rv deep cycle house batteries and a 6000 watt inverter as a back up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandinga Posted December 7, 2009 Share Posted December 7, 2009 are you guys proposing to: Start the car...plug inverter into cigarette lighter...and then plug extension cord into inverter...and then plug...say a powerhead and a heater in? hmmmmmmm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JManrow Posted December 7, 2009 Share Posted December 7, 2009 At 400W, I would probably connect the inverter directly to the battery to save replacing burnt fuses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pledosophy Posted December 7, 2009 Share Posted December 7, 2009 I have a few battery packs that will run the tank for 12 hours at a time. If it goes longer then that I also have an inverter, but I only have one, I might have to run some extension cords around the house. In warmer weather I just hook up the battery powered air pump. For keeping the tanks warm. My one tank is at 67F right now, the heater kicks on at 66F, it's the planted tank. i used to keep seahorses in there and I never changed the temperature. The other tank is holding at 82F with 2 50w heaters and 1 100w heater. JME Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
undrtkr_00 Posted December 7, 2009 Share Posted December 7, 2009 Kevin, do you keep many corals in the planted tank? If so, what kinds? I'm curious about how low of temps corals can handle on a sustained basis. Also, where in heck did you find a heater that will go that low? Seems like all the ones I have had only turn down to the low 70's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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