Phlounder's 140 - Page 13

ricosuave · #**121** (**permalink**) 11-25-2007, 11:38 PM

you should consider a standby generator system for your house. at the minimum wattage needed it would cost way less than your reef system. just a thought.

**phlounder** · #**122** (**permalink**) 11-26-2007, 12:11 AM

Thanks for the suggestion. I have definitely thought of that, but I believe that would cost prohibitive for me. I really have not seriously priced a system for my home, but I would guess I would be looking at 5 or 6 grand. I might be wrong, but I think that would be fairly close. I would also need a fuel source and I do not have natural gas and no room for a huge propane tank in my yard, either above ground or buried.

Besides, if my problem is a blown breaker or pump failure, a standby generator is not going to do me any good. I don't need to run the whole system for days, I just need to keep the water moving to give the reef a chance to survive until I get home. I am hopeful the VorTech will give me that edge.

**JTMAC** · #**123** (**permalink**) 11-26-2007, 01:17 AM

Gary tank looks great!!! for a 7000 watt stand by generator would cost you 1800.00 and another 1000-1400 to install.. I sell them all the time and to be honest a 5000w generator would cost you 500 but you would have to start it your self.

ricosuave · #**124** (**permalink**) 11-26-2007, 02:26 AM

Northeren Tool has a 17500 watt continuous supply, 26250 surge portable by Gaurdian(actually made by Generac) for $2499.99. This comes with electric start, 16 circuit transfer panel, cordset, power outlet, battery and wheel kit. It runs on gasoline(16 gallon capacity) and will run most heat pump systems. Cant beat the cost per watt. This way you could keep your home heated, refridgerator/freezer running, hot water and most lighting at the same time. If you only had an isolated breaker/fuse problem then you could use with ordinary extension cords, no need to power whole house.

**phlounder** · #**125** (**permalink**) 11-26-2007, 03:46 AM

Ordinarily, we don't have problems with power outages. I have lived here for 21 years and we have lost power only briefly a few times (like for 30 minutes to 1 hour) - other than after Rita when they had to rebuild almost the entire power grid in the town where I live. That took weeks. I live three houses from a power substation and I suppose as long as that substation doesn't go down, I have power.

What I have had problems with is the GFCI breaker tripping for no apparent reason and I had a return pump go bad. Both of these instances happened when I was out of town for the weekend. What I am looking for is backup with is these types of problems that don't have anything to do with power supply to my house.

ricosuave · #**126** (**permalink**) 11-26-2007, 12:41 PM

ok - my mistake...I would recommend getting a decent surge arrestor, not one of those 6 outlet plug strips they only handle at best 1200-1800 joules of energy(around a 15 volt surge). Ditek makes an multi outlet device that handles upwards of 500 volts of surge @ 13500 amps and it comes with a connected equipment warranty. Anything plugged into it that is damaged by the device failing is covered. Simple to install.

DITEK Corp. - PRODUCT DETAILS

click on the "view data sheet" for all the specs. Also this will extend the life of your ground fault device and that of you motors/pumps. Reasonably priced too. This would eliminate any nuisance trips caused by spikes from the power company.(you live close to the substation and I would assume are subjected to frequent spikes/surges)

**phlounder** · #**127** (**permalink**) 11-27-2007, 04:24 AM

Ok, this was a little weird. I was relocating some SPS frags yesterday afternoon and my purple tang swims over and takes a bite out of some uncured superglue gel. Now, a day and a half later, he still has the glue stuck to the upper part of his mouth. At least he didn't glue his mouth shut! He is eating fine, but has the dried glue stuck to his upper lip.

Anyone ever had this happen? Oddly enough, one of our local reef club members had two of his tangs do this just last week! Who knew tangs loved superglue? The person with the other tangs had to take his fish out of the tank for some corrective surgery, as their mouths were glued shut! I am hopeful that it will come off eventually. No way I would be able to catch him in my reef.

Here is my purple tang with his superglued lip...

**ReefSilly** · #**128** (**permalink**) 11-27-2007, 01:53 PM

Now thats a new one!!

How did the other guy get the glue off?
Wow your tank is looking great.

Gecko · #**129** (**permalink**) 11-27-2007, 11:43 PM

Wow now I've heard it all. I am just thinking out lowed here but maybe it will break free while grazing on a rock?

**phlounder** · #**130** (**permalink**) 11-28-2007, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReefSilly

Now thats a new one!!

How did the other guy get the glue off?
Wow your tank is looking great.

New one on me too. The other guy took them out of his tank and scraped the glue off with a toothpick. On my fish, the glue is stuck on the very tip of his upper lip, so I am sure it will come off eventually. I hope so anyway.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gecko

Wow now I've heard it all. I am just thinking out lowed here but maybe it will break free while grazing on a rock?

This is the kind of stuff that happens to me. If you have never heard of it happening to anyone else, it likely will to me.