Eskom declares first electricity emergency in 6 years

So I hope you guys are ready for some rolling load shedding because it seems we are unfortunately heading that way:

Via: Big electricity users help Eskom scrape through emergency | Energy | BDlive



I have my 3 backup UPS's on standby now (one for each filter and one for the heater) for when I am not at home and they decide too load shed. I don't want to loose any live stock due to Eskom not doing their work jobs. But I am holding thumbs that we do not go that route because it will turn into a nightmare....

 

Helo darkness my old friend ......

 

Yep power has been out since 4 this afternoon its already past 11! Almost typed some nasty words because im sitting and stirring my tank water. Seriously need to get a ups, inverter or generator for my tank. Losing marine livestock is much much more money haha. And tank can only go without power for about 8 hours ai!

 

Yes Ryno we in the same area and sadly my tanks is messed up
my ancistrus tank is half gone now and I had new borns today and I just check they about all dead
i don't even wanna complain how much I lost and the tank is starting to merk up
my toliet flush isn't gonna help with all my deads and it's the bigger ones I'm lost the most
i didn't wanna even think or count. Ur ntihing I can no even staying up till now to continue with water changes


best of luck

 

He he power just came on

 

Well I know the power in certain area's of Montana have been out for more than 2 days due to a sub station being hit by the wrath of god. One of my clients are Food Lovers Market they lost all their stock due too the outage.

 

UPS would be the cheapest easiest way too go.

 

The power here in Montana was out since wednesday! Picked up a battery pump for aeration and stirred the water. I also did water changes on all the tanks. We were lucky only to lose a coral from my dad's tank. Just hoping the power stays on now!

 

Yep power back on for me. Didnt lose anything luckily

 

My dad has a un-used solar panel kit laying around. Think I might just go pick it up and see if I can adapt it for my tank....

 

Guys, I cannot understand why hobbyists are prepared to spend thousands and thousands of rands on tanks, equipment and livestock, and yet a good UPS and or small generator will cost in the region of R 6 000.00 and then you never have to stress about power outages, and more importantly, losing fish that you love......It makes absolutely NO sense to not have back-up power. I rest my case. I sadly, learn't the hard way!!!

 

Even a good backup battery airpump. Have those at dorry pets. They switch on automatically when the power goes out and they last quite a long time. Thats if you cant afford a ups

 

UPS are cheap a 1600 VA goes for around R 1500 you can even pickup a local brand that is 2000 VA for R 1200.

 

Power was off here in sinoville since 4pm yesterday,only came on today at 12 here.

Didn't lose any fish because my tank is a fair bit too large for them,i suspect my filters will have to recycle again though.

 

Don't worry your bacteria survives much longer than what you think

 

How long can the filters go without power before the bacteria starts to die off?

 

@HeinrichLourens: @Willem: It is my understanding at filter bacteria need three things 1. Water 2. Air. 3.Food (Ammonia)

Without water they die immediately (obviously). If you have water in your filter media you are looking at about 10 hours before the bacteria start dying off because the lack of oxygen they basically end up suffocating. So they end up dying at a rate of 1% of the entire population after that 10 hours, so after the 10 hour mark you will loose 1% of your colony each hour. If your filter is switched back on after a long period of time you might get a funky smell almost like a rotting egg. That is a sign that your bacteria died, the by product of them dying is that funny smell you get. But having said that with proper temps, manual water movement & oxygenation… at least a large portion of the bacteria living in the tank can survive for quite some time, if not indefinitely.

 

You can Actually get small generators of about 1-2KW for under R2000, I think it might be a better route than an UPS, an if you have some spare cash you might want to invest in both for piece of mind (when your not at home to start the generator).

These: http://www.ryobi.co.za/product/generators/rg-950 are actually just over a thousand rand, producing more than enough to run a few tanks. Small and compact; its easy to setup and store again.

HTH
Krefie

 

@Swagasaurus something to that extend yes, but it seems that the believe is when the pump stops the bacteria starts dying off.

 

@Willem: It depends on how well your filter is established the more bacteria you have the faster they will use up the oxygen that is left in the water.