ok everyone I think I have figured out the problems that a conventional portable generator has with running aquarium equiptment. After purchasing a generator and finding out that it wouldn't run my magnetic driven pumps and motors on my aquarium filters I did some research. Here is what you need before you purchase a gen for your aquariums!!
conventional gas powered generators produce distortion in the sine waves that will make your equiptment run funny or not at all. there are 2 ways I have found to correct these problems
the first way is to buy an inverter generator.. these gens produce 12 volts that powers an inverter that turns the 12 volts into 120.. these are great generators but VERY expensive. If you would like to see some of these gens subaru makes one with robin engines and honda gens are inverter gens as well..
the second and cheaper way is to buy a conventional generator that has a 12 volt output. I found one a cabelas.com that is 3500watts for $399.99. this is a good gen for the money. It also powers 240volts and has 20amp outlets instead of 15amp. After that buy a PURE SINE wave inverter. these are slightly more expensive than modified sine wave inverters, but you don't need a big one. just enough to run your magnetic driven equiptment. everything else you can run off the 120 volt outlets. I am not sure if a modified sine wave inverter can run this type of equiptment but I am positive a pure sine inverter can. maybe some other experts can chime in and add to this. I also think this should be a sticky because I have noticed alot of questions about this and power outages are the biggest threat to our fish that we can't control. thanks for all the help with my problem.
conventional gas powered generators produce distortion in the sine waves that will make your equiptment run funny or not at all. there are 2 ways I have found to correct these problems
the first way is to buy an inverter generator.. these gens produce 12 volts that powers an inverter that turns the 12 volts into 120.. these are great generators but VERY expensive. If you would like to see some of these gens subaru makes one with robin engines and honda gens are inverter gens as well..
the second and cheaper way is to buy a conventional generator that has a 12 volt output. I found one a cabelas.com that is 3500watts for $399.99. this is a good gen for the money. It also powers 240volts and has 20amp outlets instead of 15amp. After that buy a PURE SINE wave inverter. these are slightly more expensive than modified sine wave inverters, but you don't need a big one. just enough to run your magnetic driven equiptment. everything else you can run off the 120 volt outlets. I am not sure if a modified sine wave inverter can run this type of equiptment but I am positive a pure sine inverter can. maybe some other experts can chime in and add to this. I also think this should be a sticky because I have noticed alot of questions about this and power outages are the biggest threat to our fish that we can't control. thanks for all the help with my problem.
3500.00 
i don't know alot about eletricity but if it worked and dosen't burn down the house
it's a easy fix.My generator will run my filters they just sound rough and slugish they are all hob's and i know the generator is strong enough it's 5,000 watts.