Advice needed: Water movement in a blackout

Punchanello · 06/21/2017, 01:00 AM

Hi all, grateful for any advice! I have just installed a Cade Pro Reef 1500. It's a 5ft DT (500lt) with a total system volume of 700lt.

We have trees falling on power-lines and power outages in heat waves so it's highly likely I'm going to have to deal with it at some point.

I don't have Ecotech powerheads (I chose the Maxspect Gyres instead) but I will be running the Ecotech return pump (L1). I was wondering if rigging up the return pump with the Ecotech battery back-up to run in a blackout would provide enough water movement for a few hours to get the tank through the outage?

Ryan Darilek · 06/21/2017, 01:07 AM

I think a tank that size would be okay without for a few hours during an outage... If anything, just a battery operated air pump with an air stone on the end to keep the water oxygenated and circulating just a little... But thats just me

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

LobsterOfJustice · 06/21/2017, 02:17 AM

Get one of these and plug your gyre into it. Different sizes are available based on your budget, a larger unit will last longer. You can find a calculator online to estimate how long each will last at a given wattage draw.

APC Back-UPS 550VA UPS Battery Backup & Surge Protector (BE550G) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0019804U8..._2PIszbNHYX1FW

Using a return pump for circulation in a brief power outage is not efficient as they draw far more watts than a powerhead. A battery backup isn't strong enough to run any heating and cooling equipment anyway so for anything lasting longer than a few hours you would likely want a generator. At that point is when I would run the return pump to allow heating and cooling equipment to function as well.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Gorgok · 06/21/2017, 02:44 AM

I'd stick some bottled water in the fridge for cooling the tank if you lose power. Just think of them as large ice cubes that won't melt into the water.

Voodoojar · 06/21/2017, 03:20 AM

Just so you know the Ecotech battery backup only gave me around 20 minutes of run time on my return pump only and that's with it running on the lowest setting. On the other hand I'm now running a CyberPower 2000va UPS $399 on amazon. This runs my Cable modem, wifi, Neptune Apex, Vectra return pump, and 2 Jebao powerheads for 3 hours. This is plenty of time for me to get home and plug up the gas generator.

johnike · 06/21/2017, 03:29 AM

Water movement is not as important as oxygenation.
Get these.
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/produc...d-air-pump-b11

ClownsRCoo · 06/21/2017, 03:22 PM

Gyres have their own battery backups too I thought. Why not just get one of theirs? I think hey are cheaper than ecotechs too

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Punchanello · 06/21/2017, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnike

Water movement is not as important as oxygenation.
Get these.
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/produc...d-air-pump-b11

Ah, yes. I should have been clearer. I was interested in water movement for surface gas exchange.

Punchanello · 06/21/2017, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClownsRCoo

Gyres have their own battery backups too I thought. Why not just get one of theirs? I think hey are cheaper than ecotechs too

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Do they?!

Problem solved

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/batter...up-icecap.html

Need to see if I can get them here in Australia.

06/21/2017, 01:00 AM	#1
Punchanello Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Australia Posts: 170	Advice needed: Water movement in a blackout Hi all, grateful for any advice! I have just installed a Cade Pro Reef 1500. It's a 5ft DT (500lt) with a total system volume of 700lt. We have trees falling on power-lines and power outages in heat waves so it's highly likely I'm going to have to deal with it at some point. I don't have Ecotech powerheads (I chose the Maxspect Gyres instead) but I will be running the Ecotech return pump (L1). I was wondering if rigging up the return pump with the Ecotech battery back-up to run in a blackout would provide enough water movement for a few hours to get the tank through the outage?

06/21/2017, 02:17 AM	#3
LobsterOfJustice Recovering Detritophobe Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 7,443	Advice needed: Water movement in a blackout Get one of these and plug your gyre into it. Different sizes are available based on your budget, a larger unit will last longer. You can find a calculator online to estimate how long each will last at a given wattage draw. APC Back-UPS 550VA UPS Battery Backup & Surge Protector (BE550G) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0019804U8..._2PIszbNHYX1FW Using a return pump for circulation in a brief power outage is not efficient as they draw far more watts than a powerhead. A battery backup isn't strong enough to run any heating and cooling equipment anyway so for anything lasting longer than a few hours you would likely want a generator. At that point is when I would run the return pump to allow heating and cooling equipment to function as well. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. I remember when zoanthids were called things like "green" and "orange" and not "reverse gorilla nipple." Current Tank Info: 180g reef with all the bells and whistles

06/21/2017, 03:20 AM	#5
Voodoojar Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 123	Just so you know the Ecotech battery backup only gave me around 20 minutes of run time on my return pump only and that's with it running on the lowest setting. On the other hand I'm now running a CyberPower 2000va UPS $399 on amazon. This runs my Cable modem, wifi, Neptune Apex, Vectra return pump, and 2 Jebao powerheads for 3 hours. This is plenty of time for me to get home and plug up the gas generator. Last edited by Voodoojar; 06/21/2017 at 03:28 AM.

06/21/2017, 03:22 PM	#7
ClownsRCoo Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Houston, Tx Posts: 813	Gyres have their own battery backups too I thought. Why not just get one of theirs? I think hey are cheaper than ecotechs too Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ PlanetAquariums 171g (60x30x22) - RoyalExclusiv Dreambox - Bubble King Double Cone 200 Total system volume - 225g

06/21/2017, 01:07 AM	#2
Ryan Darilek Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 376	I think a tank that size would be okay without for a few hours during an outage... If anything, just a battery operated air pump with an air stone on the end to keep the water oxygenated and circulating just a little... But thats just me Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

06/21/2017, 02:44 AM	#4
Gorgok Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Cypress, Texas Posts: 1,904	I'd stick some bottled water in the fridge for cooling the tank if you lose power. Just think of them as large ice cubes that won't melt into the water.

06/21/2017, 03:29 AM	#6
johnike Moved On Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bureau County Illinois Posts: 5,406	Water movement is not as important as oxygenation. Get these. https://www.saltwaterfish.com/produc...d-air-pump-b11