Back Up Power Sources

Itsadeepbluesea · 05/13/2012, 07:53 PM

Just to see what my options are, what do you guys use for back up power sources for your reef tanks? The power grid that I am on is not very reliable so lose of power may become and issue from time to time.

James77 · 05/13/2012, 08:03 PM

Your best bet, aside from a generator, would be to use powerheads like Tunze or Vortech that have battery backup shoudl power go out. The biggest killer is stagnant water. My Tunzes can last for 30 hours with no power, and I could add more to that but it is such a rare occurance here(never more than 5 hours in 12 years) that its not worht it. Any more than 48 hours, it would be generator time since heating and lighting would start to need to be addressed. Battery operated air pumps are also an option for samller tanks.

James77 · 05/13/2012, 08:03 PM

Welcome to RC, by the way

nine8taco · 05/13/2012, 09:05 PM

i would definitely go with a generator if youre concerned about those power outages!

aandfsoccr04 · 05/13/2012, 09:50 PM

I didn't know the Tunze pumps have a battery backup option. I thought that was only the vortechs. What's the back up for the 6105?

rwb500 · 05/13/2012, 10:06 PM

a good economical way for a reasonable level of protection from both short (2-5 hour) and long (days) outages would be battery-backup powerheads and a cheap generator (can be found for less than $200).

Thetman36 · 05/13/2012, 10:14 PM

thanks for the info good thread I am doing a 210 build and using mp40 and mp60 was going to get battery backup for pumps but generator is a great investment thanks

James77 · 05/13/2012, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aandfsoccr04

I didn't know the Tunze pumps have a battery backup option. I thought that was only the vortechs. What's the back up for the 6105?

It is anything you want

.....

You need the Tunze safety connector 6105.500, that will allow any controllable Tunze to connect to a battery safely and automatically convert to its power. Then you just need supply the battery of any size you wish and a trickle charger, or even a solar charger. It is something like 1 amp/hour equals one hour of run time for a 6105 IIRC.

The Vortech is more finished looking, but the Tunze more versatile. Search or post in the Tunze froum for more info.

1upshroom · 05/13/2012, 10:37 PM

Has anyone ever hooked it up to a car?

Itsadeepbluesea · 05/14/2012, 07:46 PM

I did for my freshwater tank, but that only for about an hour just to get things moving. My truck has a special hook up in the back for power tools.

bongarone · 05/14/2012, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1upshroom

Has anyone ever hooked it up to a car?

A small 400W inverter could easily run the main return pump, skimmer, and powerheads on most tanks.

firstlight10 · 05/14/2012, 09:30 PM

I ran my tanks off of my inverter and battery powered air pumps for 48 hours during Irene, I am convinced that if the water temperatures stayed within safe ranges I could have gone another 72 hours on this setup. I only ran the inverter when my truck was running (1 out of every 3-4 hours). If I was to do this again I'd have more fuel for my truck on hand to allow me to run more hours. My tanks also have a low bioload.

I did buy a cheap generator to have on hand, during the next long duration (12+hours) outage I plan to use both the generator and inverter at different times to avoid wearing either one out.

05/13/2012, 07:53 PM	#1
Itsadeepbluesea Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Maine Posts: 73	Back Up Power Sources Just to see what my options are, what do you guys use for back up power sources for your reef tanks? The power grid that I am on is not very reliable so lose of power may become and issue from time to time.

05/13/2012, 08:03 PM	#2
James77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 8,158	Your best bet, aside from a generator, would be to use powerheads like Tunze or Vortech that have battery backup shoudl power go out. The biggest killer is stagnant water. My Tunzes can last for 30 hours with no power, and I could add more to that but it is such a rare occurance here(never more than 5 hours in 12 years) that its not worht it. Any more than 48 hours, it would be generator time since heating and lighting would start to need to be addressed. Battery operated air pumps are also an option for samller tanks. __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: 120g Mixed Reef and 75g Freshwater Last edited by James77; 05/13/2012 at 08:08 PM.

05/13/2012, 08:03 PM	#3
James77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 8,158	Welcome to RC, by the way __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: 120g Mixed Reef and 75g Freshwater

05/13/2012, 09:50 PM	#5
aandfsoccr04 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 3,561	I didn't know the Tunze pumps have a battery backup option. I thought that was only the vortechs. What's the back up for the 6105? __________________ 120 gallon mixed reef

05/13/2012, 10:14 PM	#7
Thetman36 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Pearl River NY Posts: 19	I too will be using your advice thanks for the info good thread I am doing a 210 build and using mp40 and mp60 was going to get battery backup for pumps but generator is a great investment thanks __________________ Often in life the right thing is the hardest to figure out. Do the right thing Current Tank Info: 210 gal reef tank build/Bashsea 48X18X18 Biofuge Bashsea 8X30 Twisted skimmer. Pacific Sun Led http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2170019 Mp60 Mp40 Waveline dc 10000 Iwaki 70rtl Reeflow dart hybrid

05/13/2012, 09:05 PM	#4
nine8taco Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: navarre fl Posts: 69	i would definitely go with a generator if youre concerned about those power outages!

05/13/2012, 10:06 PM	#6
rwb500 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Atlanta Posts: 1,694	a good economical way for a reasonable level of protection from both short (2-5 hour) and long (days) outages would be battery-backup powerheads and a cheap generator (can be found for less than $200).

05/13/2012, 10:37 PM	#9
1upshroom Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 4	Has anyone ever hooked it up to a car?

05/14/2012, 07:46 PM	#10
Itsadeepbluesea Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Maine Posts: 73	I did for my freshwater tank, but that only for about an hour just to get things moving. My truck has a special hook up in the back for power tools.

05/14/2012, 09:30 PM	#12
firstlight10 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Groton, CT Posts: 1,008	I ran my tanks off of my inverter and battery powered air pumps for 48 hours during Irene, I am convinced that if the water temperatures stayed within safe ranges I could have gone another 72 hours on this setup. I only ran the inverter when my truck was running (1 out of every 3-4 hours). If I was to do this again I'd have more fuel for my truck on hand to allow me to run more hours. My tanks also have a low bioload. I did buy a cheap generator to have on hand, during the next long duration (12+hours) outage I plan to use both the generator and inverter at different times to avoid wearing either one out. __________________ Current Tank- 29 Gallon Mixed Reef with 2 tank raised clownfish.