Biggest Reef Related Fear?

[regal]

I now have a power inverter. You hook it up to your car battery. It will run until you run out of gas. Haven't needed to use it yet. Keeping my fingers crossed it stays that way.

Michael,

Where can I get one? You are scaring me.

 

[Reefer420]

michael-

is the power inverter dangerous to use? how about storing a car battery? I haven't read to many encouraging things about using car batteries to power tanks due to shocks, chemicals leaking in the air (I have a small aprt. so can't store in a garage, etc.) or other difficulties with making your own backup power supply.

 

[michael stern]

Regal, I got mine last year at Costco for $89.

Reefer420, I think the car battery needs to be in a running car. Otherwise, you'd drain it in a few minutes. I don't see it being any more dangerous than jump-starting a car. Just hook up + to +, - to - and plug in an extension cord. Never done it before, but JHale has.

Seems to be the next best thing to a generator with an auto switching device.

 

[Reefer420]

darn- too bad I live on the 30th floor and don't have a car!!! I see what you mean now- I was thinking more of a battery backup system that would kick in if power went out- like the APC systems. The car batteries seem to last a long time by themselves (from what I've read), but it takes a lot of electrical knowhow to DIY one of those.

 

[stingnyc]

floods are somewhat common in reefing, so i'd have to say electrical fires. when my dc8 went up in smoke, i was really sh1tting in my pants....

 

[inkblue]

darn- too bad I live on the 30th floor and don't have a car!!! I see what you mean now- I was thinking more of a battery backup system that would kick in if power went out- like the APC systems. The car batteries seem to last a long time by themselves (from what I've read), but it takes a lot of electrical knowhow to DIY one of those.

This site has all sorts of cheap caR-reLated stUFF:

JC Whitney

:approve: :yeah:

 

[bad coffee]

Since I've already flooded 3 stories of a building with RO water, I'm not to concerned about that. It's what renters insurance is for.

I'm worried about the power going out. Or something getting in the tank and killing everything (like copper)

And I have a litermeter. Best money I ever spent on my reef.

B

 

[Reefer420]

whats a litermeter?

 

[jackson6745]

floods are somewhat common in reefing, so i'd have to say electrical fires. when my dc8 went up in smoke, i was really sh1tting in my pants....

Yeah, electric shocks from equipment scares me. Dropping a halide pendant in the water while your arm is in the tank could cost you your life!...I think

 

[marrone]

Regal, I got mine last year at Costco for $89.

Reefer420, I think the car battery needs to be in a running car. Otherwise, you'd drain it in a few minutes. I don't see it being any more dangerous than jump-starting a car. Just hook up + to +, - to - and plug in an extension cord. Never done it before, but JHale has.

Seems to be the next best thing to a generator with an auto switching device.

Get a heavy duty marine battery and use a battery charger that slowly charges the battery, so it will always be fully charged. Then just hook it up to the converter when needed. Can lasts for a couple of days and then if it's dead just take it to your car and give it a boost and then use it again. Some people have hook them into a system where if the power goes off the battery will kick in.

 

[Reefer420]

are they dangerous to store? I know the marine batteries are gel based, right? I have read about normal car batteries releaseing noxious fumes into small rooms.

 

[ShaunW]

My tank falling through the floor while on fire!

 

[DEEPWATER]

are they dangerous to store? I know the marine batteries are gel based, right? I have read about normal car batteries releaseing noxious fumes into small rooms.

yes they do ,but putting next to the window should be fine ,then use an extention cord to your tank,if you still dont feel safe get a samll fan as well so you can fan out the fumes more

 

[Alfredo De La Fe]

My biggest fear became a reality one morning. I woke up because I heard my pump sucking air and when I stepped into the living room stepped into a puddle of water. The plumbing from the return bulkhead came loose and I had about 10 gallons of water on my floor. Needless to say, but I was a VERY light sleeper for over a month after this experience!

-Alfred

 

[Alfredo De La Fe]

My second fear became a reality TWICE. Two blackouts- one that affected the entire East Coast and the second that only affected my area! Lost almost EVERYTHING.

-Alfred

 

[inline6]

Man that really stinks.
Yeah the flooding is my biggest fear, so much that I have one of those alarms that tells me I'VE GOT WATER.

 

[Alfredo De La Fe]

Where can I get one of those alarms? I was actually thinking about it today!

-Alfred

 

[regal]

Home depot has it that you can just put on the floor. I got mine from championlighting, which I use to monitor my sump. It comes with a wire and electrodes.
http://www.championlighting.com/product.php?productid=17695&cat=0&page=1

 

[inline6]

This is the one I have
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=92334

 

[alrha]

My tank falling through the floor while on fire!

i'll pick this one.
i have a 200 gal system (probably close to 3000lbs) sitting in my living room parallel with the floor beams, who knows how long those can hold up - YIKES!