Do you have a gas fireplace? Just leave that on.

Alternately, I'd just get a UPS to run a power head and an air stone. Wrap the tank or use Home Depot foam insulation.

Also, you could increase the tank temperature by a degree so that it stays warmer longer?

or purchase a heat dish ~$30 from costco and point it directly at the tank.
should be warm enough to keep the temperature @ 25 degrees or so.

You have to plug that heat dish in. He won't have power.
I would warm the room a couple of hours before.
get the battery operated air stone.
Use foam/blankets
Do not open windows or doors or use bathroom fans.

Heh ! Thanks Hillegom...
if only i can delete that post :P
I would get an APC Back-UPS LS 700 ~$160 which capable of 400 watts
plug in a small power head/heater it will easily last 4-6 hrs ?

Definately need to spend $150 or more on a ups backup in order for it to power up a powerhead. I had one of those $65ish huge block apc ups and it couldnt even run a koralia 3 with it fully charged... Upgraded to a much beefier unit 1000 watts+ and it runs all pumps etc for over 60 minutes.

I agree.

Just to add my tidbit of useless knowledge to the mix - the difference is the cheap units put out a square wave and the better units put out a sine wave. I've never tried it, but my guess is that a powerhead (or any pump) won't run on a square wave.

- Brad