I live in Seattle. I have no power. I need to find ways to keep salt water reef fish tank warm. Any ideas?

Question

I tried hooking a power inverter up to car but cannot get enough power for tank heater.

Answer 1

It depends on how long the power is out for. If it's out for a long period of time, ie. more than a few hours, then try to find a generator . The most important thing is keeping the water moving, not necessarily the heat. Without water movement and dissolved oxygen the fish and corals will certainly die. If it's out for a hsort period of time the thing that works really well is one of theose heavy duty battery backups for computers. If you just have a heater and a powerhead or pump on it it should last for short power outages.

Answer 2

Use the inverter to power a powerhead or filter pump - it should do that ok.
Then wrap the tank in duvets, blankets, old newspapers etc to retain the heat.
Use any means available to heat the room.


(Whoever said you don't need a heater because lights heat the tank - the lights go off at night & the heater keeps the temperature stable.)

Answer 3

Buy a generator, yes. If you're on the internet you can surely find an open store and buy a generator. They aren't cheap but they will save your fish and god knows what else in the future.

Answer 4

For a temp solution, get a coleman camp stove (works with the propane bottle). Transfer your fish to a large metal pan, light the stove and keep it on low. When the water starts getting too warm, either turn the stove off or move the pan off the heat. Make sure you do it in a well ventilated area. Maybe even outside.

Of course, if you lose power a lot, stove can also be used to make coffee, simple meals. My Dad in Ohio loses power a lot and I got him a Coleman stove a few years ago. He Loves it during those times.

Answer 5

Aside from not having heat, your filtration system must be dead as well. Both are major issues. Get a generator or you will loose your tank.

Answer 6

how large is the tank....?
if it is a reef, you must have the lights on, so FIND a power source!!!

I use 4 car batteries in series, they last a long while

Answer 7

I don't know if you have any kerosene lanterns, but if you do, you could try putting one near each side of the tank, they do put off a small amount of heat as well as light. These are also called hurricane lamps or oil lamps.
Maybe also a battery operated halogen (small) lamp, they put off a lot of heat too.

Answer 8

don't worry about it. just make sure you unplug your heater now and when the power comes back on just raise the temperature 2 degrees every day until it gets back to normal.

Answer 9

wrap a dark something on the one side, put in in the sunlight....

if you have a gas stove,
heat small parts of the water, add it real slow back in, avoid the fish best you can.

Answer 10

Candles all around the tank.

Put your computer by it it generates heat and is working.