Back up power supply for aquarium?

AquaFrenzy · 03/17/2016, 08:05 PM

thinking about getting one that can keep the tank running in case of a power outage so it doesn't skip a beat, do you guys have any recommendations? thanks!

Steve Atkins · 03/18/2016, 04:27 AM

I am mainly concerned to keep circulation going so just have one of my tunze streams that switches to battery if the power goes out. My controller turns on a trickle charger for a couple of hours a week to keep the battery topped up.

AquaFrenzy · 03/18/2016, 03:15 PM

yea I was thinking something along those lines, I see some of those units that you plug into that plug into wall, power goes out things keep going, just not sure how much run time you would get, guess you'd have to do a bit of math...

camaroguy · 03/18/2016, 03:58 PM

Depends how important it is to you.

If you lose power for 24 hours or more, you are pretty much out of luck unless you can keep both heaters and circulation going. Depending on the size of the tank, keeping heaters up to snuff would take much more than a PSU for say a computer could handle for much more than a few hours.

Most of the time people would use a gas generator and just keep the whole tank running, or get an auto on natural gas generator that would just keep the whole house going.

These super long outages aren't common in most places...but it only has to happen once to lose everything.

Steve Atkins · 03/18/2016, 04:02 PM

Don't get many outages here and never had one (in my adult life) over 9 hours (transformer caught fire). Battery can keep pump going for 20 hours but might switch to one of larger streams which could reduce that a bit. Thought about backing up controller, which would be easy to do off the same battery, but didn't see point as only thing running would be one pump.
Waiting for Tunze to make a bigger DC return pump then might put main return on backup as well.

clearaquariums · 03/20/2016, 09:50 PM

i would just run a battery backup to your powerheads should be good

bonjorno2 · 03/21/2016, 06:28 AM

It's a great idea to have a plan when it happens. I know I am not prepared yet however I am still cycling my 75g.

yacn · 03/21/2016, 06:46 AM

buy portable generator at home depot or similar place. you can get one for $200-300. Prolly same ballpark price as the over priced back up battery operated pumps in our hobby.

wildman926 · 03/21/2016, 08:54 AM

I use an APC battery backup that will last a tad over 4 hours on just my circulation pump only. I also have a generator for anything longer than that.

htsteve · 03/21/2016, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildman926

I use an APC battery backup that will last a tad over 4 hours on just my circulation pump only. I also have a generator for anything longer than that.

This is the approach I am taking. APC for the powerheads. Generator for long outages, will cover whole aquarium setup.

03/17/2016, 08:05 PM	#1
AquaFrenzy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Central CT Posts: 139	Back up power supply for aquarium? thinking about getting one that can keep the tank running in case of a power outage so it doesn't skip a beat, do you guys have any recommendations? thanks!

03/18/2016, 04:27 AM	#2
Steve Atkins Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Wellington, NZ Posts: 552	I am mainly concerned to keep circulation going so just have one of my tunze streams that switches to battery if the power goes out. My controller turns on a trickle charger for a couple of hours a week to keep the battery topped up. __________________ 500L (135USG) mixed reef, SRO3000-int skimmer, Profilux controller & doser, Tunze wave pumps, TMC Aquaray LED lighting.

03/18/2016, 04:02 PM	#5
Steve Atkins Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Wellington, NZ Posts: 552	Don't get many outages here and never had one (in my adult life) over 9 hours (transformer caught fire). Battery can keep pump going for 20 hours but might switch to one of larger streams which could reduce that a bit. Thought about backing up controller, which would be easy to do off the same battery, but didn't see point as only thing running would be one pump. Waiting for Tunze to make a bigger DC return pump then might put main return on backup as well. __________________ 500L (135USG) mixed reef, SRO3000-int skimmer, Profilux controller & doser, Tunze wave pumps, TMC Aquaray LED lighting. Last edited by Steve Atkins; 03/18/2016 at 04:38 PM.

03/21/2016, 08:54 AM	#9
wildman926 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: CTX Posts: 2,904	I use an APC battery backup that will last a tad over 4 hours on just my circulation pump only. I also have a generator for anything longer than that. __________________ Beware of recommendations by those who don't actually use their recommendation!! The search function actually works quite well!! Tanks:Planet Aquarium 150g LPS, Planet Aquarium 90g Softie

03/18/2016, 03:15 PM	#3
AquaFrenzy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Central CT Posts: 139	yea I was thinking something along those lines, I see some of those units that you plug into that plug into wall, power goes out things keep going, just not sure how much run time you would get, guess you'd have to do a bit of math...

03/18/2016, 03:58 PM	#4
camaroguy Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 134	Depends how important it is to you. If you lose power for 24 hours or more, you are pretty much out of luck unless you can keep both heaters and circulation going. Depending on the size of the tank, keeping heaters up to snuff would take much more than a PSU for say a computer could handle for much more than a few hours. Most of the time people would use a gas generator and just keep the whole tank running, or get an auto on natural gas generator that would just keep the whole house going. These super long outages aren't common in most places...but it only has to happen once to lose everything.

03/20/2016, 09:50 PM	#6
clearaquariums Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 59	i would just run a battery backup to your powerheads should be good

03/21/2016, 06:28 AM	#7
bonjorno2 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Posts: 25	It's a great idea to have a plan when it happens. I know I am not prepared yet however I am still cycling my 75g.

03/21/2016, 06:46 AM	#8
yacn Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Detroit, Michigan Posts: 212	buy portable generator at home depot or similar place. you can get one for $200-300. Prolly same ballpark price as the over priced back up battery operated pumps in our hobby.