Potential Eskom strike

This is something that might affect all of us, minus those fortunate few who have generators...

Anyway, due to wage disputes among some of Eskom's staff, there has been a threat of a strike, starting tomorrow. Despite the fact that it has been declared an illegal strike because electricty is an 'essential service', the unions and workers are still up to fight for their increase.

There has been talk about the two parties reaching some sort of a agreement, but so far nothing is definite.

That leaves us with fish tanks (and the World Cup supporters, of course) with the potential problem of being powerless from tomorrow. It is indefinite for how long the strike will continue, or whether Eskom will manage without the couple of thousand threatening to strike.

As for me, I've come to accept this as the way our country runs. I've done big water changes on all my tanks and have been feeding the bare minimum for the past few days to reduce wastes. I hope its enough. There isn't much I can actually do while the power is out, I hope it's enough.

What are you guys going to do?

 

I'm going to folow your example. Thanks Time.

About to do big WC.

 

LP gas heater in fishroom ...

Done water changes yesterday.

Big pot of soup on the stove - but that is for me ;-)

 

Great, from tomorrow I have a non-fishkeeper looking after my fish for a week. I did waterchanges today at least.

 

It's gonna be hard. I have a lot of predators which = a lot of nasty waste. At least I'll be able to do water changes while the power's out.

 

But how would you get the tank water up to temp if the power is out?

 

If the geyser is hot I can probably do a few tanks ... but that is really a last resort. Have a 12 volt battery (semi-deep cycle) just put that back on to trickle charge - if all else fails battery driven air pumps in a room that has a gas heater should work - but this is getting a bit ridiculous.

Oh do not forget the trick of covering your tanks with a blanket that will also keep heat inside.

 

I think that I will run the gas-heater in the fishroom, and I also have about 5 diving cylinders, that I will use through a regulator to stand in for the blower, to power the UGF and foam filters.
I just need to turn the regulator down to 0.5 bar.
3 diving cylinders are full of a 32% oxygen/nitrox mix!
Anyone think this is a crazy idea?
Gert

 

"3 diving cylinders are full of a 32% oxygen/nitrox mix!" should be fine since you are just using it as a water lift not diffusing it into the water - the rise speed of the bubbles mean very little will diffuse back into the water. O2 - CO2 exchange happens because of surface disturbance - or so the story goes.


If the filters diffuses a lot- rather use an air stone.


DO NOT put the cylinders near the heater ... just saying that could be a big DIY project if that blows.

 

Thanx Ferdie, as ex-Navy diver, -Diving Instructor and -Sub-Mariner, I think I can still remember how to use Cylinders! Lol! Thanx for the heads-up!
The heater and cylinders, will be on opposite corners, and I will not run gas, while the 32% oxygen/mix are being released slowly!
Yea, you are right about the big DIY project, as I have my hands full already!...
Gert.

 

I’m being optimistic, I do not think there will be total blackouts throughout SA.
The only problems are when something breaks or cables are stolen, then their will be problem in a very delayed service to reconnect
Lets hope it does not come to that

 

Um.... Gas heaters are great... But if u running an airpump, would that not put gas into the water?? Is gas soluable?

 

Sorry, I don't wish to appear dumb, but will there ACTUALLY be powercuts, or is it just a case of 'maybe'?

At least on the bright side I'll have saved electricity, but then I'll have to spend at least that saving on replacing any lost fish!

G!

 

"but then I'll have to spend at least that saving on replacing any lost fish!"
-Any saving will be nullefied, once the power come back on, all the heaters switch on, work overtime, to get everything back up to set temp!

 

I occasionally use the gas heater near the fish tanks, does the gas have an effect on the water or fish?

 

I'm sure if you can smell it or it is irritating your eyes, the heater is not burning efficiently, and could be harmful to you and the fish!

 

Should not be a problem ... "In environmental terms the burning of LPG produces less CO2, virtually no CO or SO2. No harmful compounds of benzine or lead result form combustion simply because they are not added to enhance the octane of the fuel."

source http://www.go-lpg.co.uk/whatislpg.html

edit ... dope - that was propane not butane

Here we go

"The combustion of LPG produces carbon dioxide (CO2) and water vapour but sufficient air must be available. Inadequate appliance flueing or ventilation can result in the production of carbon monoxide which can be toxic."

source: http://www.totalgaz.co.za/os/osgazs...F058BD757BC6AE0AC1256FC8004871B8?OpenDocument

 

Durban. :bigsmile: I've been doing water changes all week, the temperature of the tap water hasn't gone out of the 20-22C range. Which isn't bad.

Like I said in the first post, yes, it is largely a maybe. The unions want to, but it is illegal due to electricity being an essential service. So they might err away from the idea of a strike.

According to the latest news, the unions have accepted the offer - apparently they're getting the extra pay.

 

Now if this is not Piracy at its best.Threatening to strike while the whole world is watching.

 

The worst is that the eskom bosses gave themselve 83% increase on their pay