Back up Battery recommendations.

[Peacocksm]

Ad I learned the hard way, my back up battery only lasted about 10 mins. I know the battery should only run the minimum required equipment. What is the must have to have running on the back up. I know the heater is a must. What do you run in case of a power outage.

 

[Saltyreef]

Return pump and or wavemakers.
Heater is a strong 2nd.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Heater is not always must. It is a huge energy hog. Much better to heat some other way, if possible, such as a fireplace. Or let the temp drop quite a bit before enacting it and maybe not having much time left for the truly critical: water flow.

 

[Garf]

I’ve got a 72Ah battery on a 2K inverter for my 60g tank, just in case. But being in the UK the last time I had a power outage for more than a few hours was in the 80s. #smugface

 

[TMN]

I’ve got a 72Ah battery on a 2K inverter for my 60g tank, just in case. But being in the UK the last time I had a power outage for more than a few hours was in the 80s. #smugface

Garf, How do you have the battery and inverter connected to the tank? Is it somehow inline where if the power goes out the backup would seamlessly supply power needed?
I just had a couple days last week where there were multiple short outages, less than a second each but enough to reset my ATI Sunpower T5 fixture and for some reason my return pump doesn't start up until I take it out of the water then it kicks on...return pump is freshly cleaned and still does this.
These two issues are making me search for a solution, in case I am not home to remedy. Thanks

 

[Uncle99]

I run a small 15watt Jebao pump on the lowest constant setting backed up by the Coral Box Battery extender which will last for at least, 4 days.

It the only thing I run when power is out.

 

[Mical]

Garf, How do you have the battery and inverter connected to the tank? Is it somehow inline where if the power goes out the backup would seamlessly supply power needed?
I just had a couple days last week where there were multiple short outages, less than a second each but enough to reset my ATI Sunpower T5 fixture and for some reason my return pump doesn't start up until I take it out of the water then it kicks on...return pump is freshly cleaned and still does this.
These two issues are making me search for a solution, in case I am not home to remedy. Thanks

Get yourself a 900watt computer UPS ->

 

[TMN]

I run a small 15watt Jebao pump on the lowest constant setting backed up by the Coral Box Battery extender which will last for at least, 4 days.

It the only thing I run when power is out.

Thanks. I like the simplicity.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Garf, How do you have the battery and inverter connected to the tank? Is it somehow inline where if the power goes out the backup would seamlessly supply power needed?
I just had a couple days last week where there were multiple short outages, less than a second each but enough to reset my ATI Sunpower T5 fixture and for some reason my return pump doesn't start up until I take it out of the water then it kicks on...return pump is freshly cleaned and still does this.
These two issues are making me search for a solution, in case I am not home to remedy. Thanks

That's how mine was set up, but I used huge industrial vehicle batteries (2 x D8) to give a long lasting circulation (many days, if needed). It has far more power than any normal home UPS.

 

[TMN]

I run a small 15watt Jebao pump on the lowest constant setting backed up by the Coral Box Battery extender which will last for at least, 4 days.

It the only thing I run when power is out.

Get yourself a 900watt computer UPS ->

Thanks Mical. I will have to do some spec and price comparisons to Uncle99's Coral Box suggestion. I would prefer if the tank was as close to fully operational as possible in the event of an outage. That being said the 900watt computer backup seems ideal. I still need to do more research. Glad to hear your solutions, they help tremendously in understanding what is out there and how to isolate the bare necessities for the tank's health in an outage.

 

[Mical]

Thanks Mical. I will have to do some spec and price comparisons to Uncle99's Coral Box suggestion. I would prefer if the tank was as close to fully operational as possible in the event of an outage. That being said the 900watt computer backup seems ideal. I still need to do more research. Glad to hear your solutions, they help tremendously in understanding what is out there and how to isolate the bare necessities for the tank's health in an outage.

Depending on your gear and/or what you need as a min re: equipment - I've had these run for 6+ hours running the mp10s, and a return pump.