Anyone ever used a 12volt bilge pump as a backup for their return when power goes?

trinidiver · 03/26/2012, 08:30 AM

Hi to RC, as the title says, has anyone used a 12volt bilge pump as a backup for their return pump when power goes? Where i live here in the Caribbean, every once in awhile the power goes for as little as 1/2hr to as much as 12hrs. I already have 1 battery backup for my 2 MP40 vortech's. I have a 200+gal tank with a 65gal sump/refuge with numerous LPS corals and fish that my wife and i get worried when this happens. What I'm thinking about doing is hooking it up in such a way that i dont have to do it manually put i on a relay that soon as it senses the power outage, it automatically switches on. I know it wont work as efficient as my Mag18 pump, but at least i'll have circulation in the tank. I dont want to run a generator......................long story short, wife says she's not going to pull out any generator from storage, place it downwind of the house, and hook it up when i'm at work or out of the country.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.................Stephen

03/26/2012, 08:30 AM	#1
trinidiver Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Sweet Trinidad & Tobago. (West Indies) Posts: 1,141	Anyone ever used a 12volt bilge pump as a backup for their return when power goes? Hi to RC, as the title says, has anyone used a 12volt bilge pump as a backup for their return pump when power goes? Where i live here in the Caribbean, every once in awhile the power goes for as little as 1/2hr to as much as 12hrs. I already have 1 battery backup for my 2 MP40 vortech's. I have a 200+gal tank with a 65gal sump/refuge with numerous LPS corals and fish that my wife and i get worried when this happens. What I'm thinking about doing is hooking it up in such a way that i dont have to do it manually put i on a relay that soon as it senses the power outage, it automatically switches on. I know it wont work as efficient as my Mag18 pump, but at least i'll have circulation in the tank. I dont want to run a generator......................long story short, wife says she's not going to pull out any generator from storage, place it downwind of the house, and hook it up when i'm at work or out of the country. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.................Stephen