Blackout in Berlin - power outage at the coral reefs, 5 days without heating & light
A complete power outage. Sub-zero temperatures. Thousands of liters of seawater. Live animals.
And suddenly, everything hangs in the balance.
In this video, I'll take you with me through one of the toughest situations we've ever experienced at Tom's Corals: the massive blackout in Berlin – just a few hundred meters from our coral farm. Several days without regular electricity, improvised generator solutions, sleepless nights, existential decisions, and incredible solidarity among neighbors, friends, customers, and competitors.
I'll tell you unfiltered:
how we tried to keep the facility alive
why our business model becomes the greatest threat in moments like these
what technical, emotional, and economic consequences the power outage had
which corals survived – and which didn't
why we were on the verge of giving up
and why we're still here
This video isn't glossy content.
It's honest, raw, exhausting – but ultimately hopeful.
Thank you to everyone who helped. Thank you all for your support.
And yes: Tom's Coral lives on.
Chapter overview:
00:00 – Intro: Power outage, cold, and state of emergency
02:10 – The blackout in Berlin and why it affected us directly
05:00 – Animals, technology, and dependence on electricity
08:40 – Sole responsibility: Weekend, snow, and no answers
12:30 – Emergency power from the hardware store: Improvisation under pressure
18:10 – Workplace safety? Danger to life? Reality in Emergency Operations
23:00 – First Night: Cold, Generators, and Hardly Any Sleep
28:40 – Temperature Drop, Condensation, and Fading Hope
34:30 – Help from the GZWerk: Neighbors, Friends, and Solidarity
40:10 – Gas Heater, CO₂, pH Levels, and Difficult Decisions
47:00 – Sleeping Bag, Petrol Trips, and Physical Limits
52:30 – More Generators and Slowly Regaining Control
58:40 – Light, Warmth, and the First Cautious All-Clear
01:05:30 – The Large Generator: 45 kW and Finally, Stability
01:12:00 – Thanks to All the Helpers and Emotional Support
01:17:30 – Losses: Which Corals Didn't Make It
01:24:00 – Economic Consequences and Shop Decisions
01:30:00 – Misery Boxes: Making a Virtue of Necessity
01:37:30 – Exhaustion, Doubt, and the Thought to stop
01:43:30 – Team, Christmas party, and renewed motivation
01:49:00 – Current status of the system and water parameters
01:55:30 – Outlook: Startol X / Straton X Sneak Preview
02:01:00 – Conclusion: Why we're continuing and what will remain
Link to the Misery Box:
https://toms-korallen.de/sps-misery-box/
You can find our corals here:
https://toms-korallen.de
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In cooperation with:
ATI Aquaristik
https://shop.atiaquaristik.com/?sPart...
Fauna Marin
https://www.faunamarincorals.de
Tunze Aquariumtechnik
https://www.tunze.com
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