Power outage?

Miked2780 · 02/28/2015, 02:35 PM

What are some ways I can plan ahead for power outages? Do you all use battery backups? What are my options here?

Steve Atkins · 02/28/2015, 03:15 PM

If you have frequent power outages then battery back up on one or two of your in tank circulation pumps would be useful.
If it is a big tank then you probably don't need to worry about heating unless your typical power cuts are longer than 8 hours or you live in a very cold climate. My 1500l only looses about 4°C in a power cut that long.
No need to worry about lighting.
If you get whole day power cuts then you probably should look at a generator.

shaggss · 02/28/2015, 05:01 PM

I use a battery powered airstone when I know the power will be off.
You can setup your own battery backup for powerheads. Just do a search on here. Lots of info.
Or you can buy a Vortech BBU and an MP.

Heating and lighting not really a problem. For cooling you can store frozen water bottles and sit them in the tank. But as mentioned above, if it's prolonged then you should be thinking of a generator.

Guygettnby · 03/01/2015, 09:56 PM

Power inverter, battery powered air pumps and a generator are the best things to have IMHO. Power inverter is a fairly cheap thing to buy and is a life saver.

Miked2780 · 03/03/2015, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guygettnby

Power inverter, battery powered air pumps and a generator are the best things to have IMHO. Power inverter is a fairly cheap thing to buy and is a life saver.

When you say a power inverter, do you mean the thing that hooks up to a large battery(car battery?) and then allows you to plug things into it? Please excuse my ignorance on all this kind of stuff

Steve Atkins · 03/03/2015, 04:28 PM

You connect it to a battery and it converts the DC output of the battery to AC. You plug your AC devices into the converters outlets.

Pokahpolice · 03/03/2015, 04:40 PM

Small generators are a must if you live in an area that loses power frequently. I live in Maine so I have a generator to run my home. My father who lives a few miles from me bought one dedicated solely for his tank.

pwreef · 03/03/2015, 06:43 PM

Battery backup will only run few hours and will not run heater for too long. After a few hours in the winter in the cold climate you want a generator that can run tank heaters and hopefully your house heating system too. In the summer you can run a chiller or use ice packs from the fridge. This is an expensive hobby. :-). I use Honda eu2000.

02/28/2015, 02:35 PM	#1
Miked2780 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 16	Power outage? What are some ways I can plan ahead for power outages? Do you all use battery backups? What are my options here?

02/28/2015, 03:15 PM	#2
Steve Atkins Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Wellington, NZ Posts: 552	If you have frequent power outages then battery back up on one or two of your in tank circulation pumps would be useful. If it is a big tank then you probably don't need to worry about heating unless your typical power cuts are longer than 8 hours or you live in a very cold climate. My 1500l only looses about 4°C in a power cut that long. No need to worry about lighting. If you get whole day power cuts then you probably should look at a generator. __________________ 500L (135USG) mixed reef, SRO3000-int skimmer, Profilux controller & doser, Tunze wave pumps, TMC Aquaray LED lighting.

02/28/2015, 05:01 PM	#3
shaggss Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 1,709	Power outage? I use a battery powered airstone when I know the power will be off. You can setup your own battery backup for powerheads. Just do a search on here. Lots of info. Or you can buy a Vortech BBU and an MP. Heating and lighting not really a problem. For cooling you can store frozen water bottles and sit them in the tank. But as mentioned above, if it's prolonged then you should be thinking of a generator. __________________ NEVER get eye level with an infants anus! New build, planning stages. 30 x 20 x 20", Geisemann Spectra 250W with Radium, Profilux controller, Profilux doser 2, Fluval SP4 return pump, Life Reef 28 Last edited by shaggss; 02/28/2015 at 05:08 PM.

03/03/2015, 04:28 PM	#6
Steve Atkins Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Wellington, NZ Posts: 552	You connect it to a battery and it converts the DC output of the battery to AC. You plug your AC devices into the converters outlets. __________________ 500L (135USG) mixed reef, SRO3000-int skimmer, Profilux controller & doser, Tunze wave pumps, TMC Aquaray LED lighting.

03/03/2015, 06:43 PM	#8
pwreef Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: New York Posts: 585	Battery backup will only run few hours and will not run heater for too long. After a few hours in the winter in the cold climate you want a generator that can run tank heaters and hopefully your house heating system too. In the summer you can run a chiller or use ice packs from the fridge. This is an expensive hobby. :-). I use Honda eu2000. __________________ Since May 2011: OLD: 57G rimless NOW: ELOS 120, DIY LED using reefll.com 12-up boards

03/01/2015, 09:56 PM	#4
Guygettnby Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: FL Posts: 3,050	Power inverter, battery powered air pumps and a generator are the best things to have IMHO. Power inverter is a fairly cheap thing to buy and is a life saver.

03/03/2015, 04:40 PM	#7
Pokahpolice Moved On Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Maine Posts: 114	Small generators are a must if you live in an area that loses power frequently. I live in Maine so I have a generator to run my home. My father who lives a few miles from me bought one dedicated solely for his tank.