Back up power, how much do you need, generators? batteries?

Frogmanx82 · 09/20/2009, 10:56 PM

I need to start putting a plan together for how to handle a power outage that could last several days.

jimsplace · 09/21/2009, 04:05 AM

It's good to plan ahead, during Ike last year I lost almost all of my fish and came within hours of losing my whole tank. I started putting together a plan myself for not only my tank but for the house. Start off by figuring what you need to run, add up the number of watts required to be able to size the required equipment. There are numerous ways to power things from batteries and an airstone to a full house automatic back up generator. I have not fully implemented eveything, but I purchased a 7500 watt generator and plan on adding a power inverter to run off of batteries for critical items when the generator is not running, that way I don't have to run the generator 24/7. I recently purchased a Vortec MP40 wich can run off of a 12 volt (half speed) and plan on adding a 12 volt deep cycle battery for back up power. I feel that keeping the water moving in your tank is the most important thing; water movement gets oxygen into the water.

landlord · 09/21/2009, 04:59 AM

I bought a 5500 watt generator. For three days (40 gallons of gas) It powered the following:

90 gallon reef:
2 x 400 watt MH
2 x 39 watt T5's
The following Mag pumps 5,7,7
Little Giant pump (ATO)
Reefkeeper with many goodies pluggged in.

My 50 inch plasma
Fridge
Several lights
Any small appliances we needed to use, Example: blender for blackout margarita's

Without knowing the extent of your needs I would say the generator you have should be quite sufficient.

Kurt

PrangeWay · 09/21/2009, 07:50 AM

I wonder if it's a regional thing? I've never had a power outage that last more than like 5 minutes. Every. In my life...

PW

landlord · 09/21/2009, 08:51 AM

Kentucky infrastructure leaves something to be desired. At least where I live.

Frogmanx82 · 09/21/2009, 09:45 AM

We are prone to ice storms in the Charlotte area. Losing power for a couple days has happened several times and you can expect a one day outage every few years. The worst was a 6 day outage from an ice storm about 8 years ago and I lost all my salt fish.

I wouldn't worry too much about running the lights, but you need heat and water movement. There is an interesting thread on 3 day darkness done intentionally to rest the corals.

I was curious to see if batteries were a realistic option. I've heard they can be set up to run your whole house for several days without the need for fuel.

liquidlunch · 09/21/2009, 10:05 AM

I bought one of these for $125 shipped last year.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00..._ya_oh_product

specs

I have a 90RR w/ a remote 40gal sump in the basement. We have power outages from time to time and have this guy running one of my (3) Tunze 6055's for circulation. It can run the 6055 or whatever plugged into it for hours but usually my outages do not exceed 1-2 hours.

1DeR9_3Hy · 09/21/2009, 11:13 AM

We get bad ice storms during the spring months (Feb-April), so i went ahead and grabbed a 7000 watt generator.

Im set

jmoney · 09/21/2009, 11:28 AM

honda generators ....all the way http://www.wisesales.com/EU2000iACompanion.html

JeF4y · 09/21/2009, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jmoney
honda generators ....all the way http://www.wisesales.com/EU2000iACompanion.html

+1 MILLION!!!!!

However, I don't have the honda genny anymore, now it's an Onan quiet-diesel 5500w with 60 gallons of diesel ready to power it for a few weeks of 24x7 operation.

Playa-1 · 09/21/2009, 09:47 PM

Not really regional. You never know when disaster will strike. Some regions have more then their fair share of disasters.

09/20/2009, 10:56 PM	#1
Frogmanx82 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,515	Back up power, how much do you need, generators? batteries? I need to start putting a plan together for how to handle a power outage that could last several days. __________________ Exodus 8:2 Check my homepage for tank pics and details. Current Tank Info: 90 gallon, 2x maxspect R420R LED, 4 Ocellaris Clowns, Yellow Eye Kole Tang, Flame Angel, Foxface Rabbitfish, Banggai Cardinals, Azure Damsel, rock flower anemone, cleaner shrimp, serpent star

09/21/2009, 04:05 AM	#2
jimsplace Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Houston, Tx Posts: 633	It's good to plan ahead, during Ike last year I lost almost all of my fish and came within hours of losing my whole tank. I started putting together a plan myself for not only my tank but for the house. Start off by figuring what you need to run, add up the number of watts required to be able to size the required equipment. There are numerous ways to power things from batteries and an airstone to a full house automatic back up generator. I have not fully implemented eveything, but I purchased a 7500 watt generator and plan on adding a power inverter to run off of batteries for critical items when the generator is not running, that way I don't have to run the generator 24/7. I recently purchased a Vortec MP40 wich can run off of a 12 volt (half speed) and plan on adding a 12 volt deep cycle battery for back up power. I feel that keeping the water moving in your tank is the most important thing; water movement gets oxygen into the water. __________________ Jim Current Tank Information; - 90 Gallon DT / 30 Gallon Sump - SPS Dominate - IC VHO Lighting

09/21/2009, 04:59 AM	#3
landlord Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Alexandria, KY Posts: 1,937	I bought a 5500 watt generator. For three days (40 gallons of gas) It powered the following: 90 gallon reef: 2 x 400 watt MH 2 x 39 watt T5's The following Mag pumps 5,7,7 Little Giant pump (ATO) Reefkeeper with many goodies pluggged in. My 50 inch plasma Fridge Several lights Any small appliances we needed to use, Example: blender for blackout margarita's Without knowing the extent of your needs I would say the generator you have should be quite sufficient. Kurt __________________ Forget the Turtle Man, you got the Coral Man Live Action Fragging! Current Tank Info: 90 Gallon SPS Reef (Sump, Fuge, Skimmer, CX reactor, Chemical filtration, Overflow) by Lifereef, 2x400W 20K Radiums on IceCaps, 2x39W T5 "For fun", RK2, 4x Tunze 6055, Aqua Logic 1/3 HP Chiller, DIY RO/DI ATO 2-Part via Litermeter. Lotsa Clownfish

09/21/2009, 07:50 AM	#4
PrangeWay Duke of Monte Fisto Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 722	I wonder if it's a regional thing? I've never had a power outage that last more than like 5 minutes. Every. In my life... PW __________________ Dumbest Quotes Ever..... "Great color, great growth" closely followed by "all water parameters fine"

09/21/2009, 08:51 AM	#5
landlord Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Alexandria, KY Posts: 1,937	Kentucky infrastructure leaves something to be desired. At least where I live. __________________ Forget the Turtle Man, you got the Coral Man Live Action Fragging! Current Tank Info: 90 Gallon SPS Reef (Sump, Fuge, Skimmer, CX reactor, Chemical filtration, Overflow) by Lifereef, 2x400W 20K Radiums on IceCaps, 2x39W T5 "For fun", RK2, 4x Tunze 6055, Aqua Logic 1/3 HP Chiller, DIY RO/DI ATO 2-Part via Litermeter. Lotsa Clownfish

09/21/2009, 09:45 AM	#6
Frogmanx82 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,515	We are prone to ice storms in the Charlotte area. Losing power for a couple days has happened several times and you can expect a one day outage every few years. The worst was a 6 day outage from an ice storm about 8 years ago and I lost all my salt fish. I wouldn't worry too much about running the lights, but you need heat and water movement. There is an interesting thread on 3 day darkness done intentionally to rest the corals. I was curious to see if batteries were a realistic option. I've heard they can be set up to run your whole house for several days without the need for fuel. __________________ Exodus 8:2 Check my homepage for tank pics and details. Current Tank Info: 90 gallon, 2x maxspect R420R LED, 4 Ocellaris Clowns, Yellow Eye Kole Tang, Flame Angel, Foxface Rabbitfish, Banggai Cardinals, Azure Damsel, rock flower anemone, cleaner shrimp, serpent star

09/21/2009, 10:05 AM	#7
liquidlunch Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Neptune, NJ Posts: 503	I bought one of these for $125 shipped last year. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00..._ya_oh_product specs I have a 90RR w/ a remote 40gal sump in the basement. We have power outages from time to time and have this guy running one of my (3) Tunze 6055's for circulation. It can run the 6055 or whatever plugged into it for hours but usually my outages do not exceed 1-2 hours. Last edited by liquidlunch; 09/21/2009 at 10:17 AM.

09/21/2009, 11:13 AM	#8
1DeR9_3Hy Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 2,575	We get bad ice storms during the spring months (Feb-April), so i went ahead and grabbed a 7000 watt generator. Im set __________________ I hope it never catches on, I like having the oldest tank on here and I don't have to worry about calcification, bio pellets, Vodka dosing, DSBs, Chaetomorpha (I don't even know what that is) Carbonite hardness and all of these other things many people worry about. If I had to think about all of that stuff I would get a stroke. My test kit came in a wooden box and the directions say to keep in a cool chariott. I throw some food in the tank, wave hello to the fish and go out with my wife and have a nice glass of merlot with dinner. Have a great day but most of all, have fun. -PaulB Current Tank Info: 27 Gallon DAS softy/fish reef

09/21/2009, 11:28 AM	#9
jmoney Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 970	honda generators ....all the way http://www.wisesales.com/EU2000iACompanion.html

09/21/2009, 09:47 PM	#11
Playa-1 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 7,497	Not really regional. You never know when disaster will strike. Some regions have more then their fair share of disasters.