What kind of generator should I get for my 55 gallon aquarium?

Question

We have at least 3 power outages in my area during the summer months and I should probably think about getting a generator. What's the minimum wattage I would need or anything you can recommend for a 55 gallon tank.

I want to keep the filter and the aeration running in the summer. i dont have the heater on during the summer, so that's not an issue. little to no power outages in the winter as well.

Answer 1

A very small generator would do the trick,however, the really cheap ones are not "accurate",producing highly variable power,probably OK for simple electrical appliances, but capable of damaging electronic stuff.
The way to determine the wattage requirement is to add up all the watts demanded by your system. This will be found on the Underwriters Lab labels on the various items. It's a good idea to double or triple the required wattage to allow for the "surge" demand. I think you will find that almost any of the available generators will exceed your needs.
This brings up the possibility of a generator to run the entire house during a power outage,the formula is the same,add up the requirements and add a "fudge factor" to cover surges. It gets more complicated if you go this way,power company rules,etc. But it can be comforting to know that your freezer won't have to be dumped after an extended outage.
Hope this helps,good luck.--------PeeTee
P.S. Be careful to observe the safety rules,don't operate the generator in confined spaces,(indoors,basements,etc.) outdoors only.

Answer 2

If all you want to be powered is the aquarium, look into getting a UPS. They are relatively inexpensive, quiet, and automatic. No need to start the generator and plug things in. Just put it inline and the aquarium will be powered 24/7 during any power outages.
Look on the labels of the pumps or other items in the aquarium to determine the total wattage requirements. You will also have to decide how long you need the UPS to last during an outage. With these two numbers it's time to go shoppping.

Answer 3

It depends on what all you want to keep running and what your equipment is.

If all you want running is the heater and the filter or air pump, a small generator would work fine, even a car battery and a 100 watt or so power inverter (DC-AC converter for a car...for short outages).

A 250 to 500 watt generator should be more than enough to run the heater and filter at the least, and will more than likely run the lights and anything else you have on the tank also. (Canister filters and the high power lights will draw more current than regular hang on filters and flourescent lights)