Backup power?

BRS
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I have a whole house automatic generator but it takes 10 sec to turn on so pumps and lights shut down and then turn back on. Lights take a few more minutes to reconnect and turn on and pump is in the basement so it has to pump it back up. Was thinking about a small battery backup to keep those on for the 10 sec as to not shut off at all. Just not sure if either the "true" or "Simulated" should be used
 
Deltec
I've used UPS's on my tank, still do. They work very well. They're great for those 3-5 second outages. I believe the one on my tank right now should run around 30 minutes. When I had a larger tank, I just got a 2nd one from Costco for like $99 just for the power heads, which ran them for around 10 hours at full speed.

For anything longer, I have a 1kw power inverter I run extension cords to. I've had to use it once last year. Not that big of a deal really. Just push the return and a heater off it for some flow and temp, thats it.
 
Deltec
Forgive my ignorance but can't you just add batteries to UPS's to extend their capabilities?
 
I live in Florida so I can count on losing my power every year for at least a week during hurricane season. I run an ecotech battery backup that runs my pumps for about 70 hours. I purchased a small "tailgator" generator from harbor freight for $80 that I use if the power is off longer than 70 hours. This set up saved my butt during Irma.
 
Funny thing is, my power went out about an hour ago for the 1st time in a long time. Generator has been running since.... LOL
 
Tidal Gardens
I<3Reefer said:
Forgot to mention I have a cobalt heater too.... So, with the UPC how long will it last? My longest outage last year was 36 hours... though that is pretty rare. The average is 8-12. I'm guessing order of most important to least is:

Heater>Lights>Filtration>Cp1 Powerhead

Is that right? my tank has a candy cane coral colony (14 heads) and a small Favia coral. It also has 2 turbo snails and adolescent clowns.
Click to expand...
Can I suggest power head, heater, filtration, lights.... During superstorm Sandy, I watched the progression of my tank without power for days, the first thing that happened was that the lower levels of the tank became anoxic within a few hours, then life at this level started to die, which set off a chain reaction throughout the tank. So I would strongly suggest circulation first and foremost
 
I have the Ecotech backup on my mp10 which should give me as much as I'll ever need. I need to find a solution to run my return pump for 24 hours or so.

Anytime I'm home I have a 1100w inverter in my truck so I can run a cord.
 
Ecoscape Reef Rock
tom66645 said:
Can I suggest power head, heater, filtration, lights.... During superstorm Sandy, I watched the progression of my tank without power for days, the first thing that happened was that the lower levels of the tank became anoxic within a few hours, then life at this level started to die, which set off a chain reaction throughout the tank. So I would strongly suggest circulation first and foremost
Click to expand...

Within hours?!? Holy crap, is that a saltwater thing? My freshwaters have all been fine, even with power out for 2 days....
 
How long does the ecotech last? There's rarely anyone gone from my house for more than 5 hours.... Even when I'm on vacation I have family withint a couple miles of me that goes and feeds all the animals each day....

Can you hook a power inverter up to a car battery when it's NOT in the car? Like can I have a power inverter hooked up to a battery on my desk and have that as my emergency system? or is the car being connected a vital part of the equation?
 
I<3Reefer said:
How long does the ecotech last? There's rarely anyone gone from my house for more than 5 hours.... Even when I'm on vacation I have family withint a couple miles of me that goes and feeds all the animals each day....

Can you hook a power inverter up to a car battery when it's NOT in the car? Like can I have a power inverter hooked up to a battery on my desk and have that as my emergency system? or is the car being connected a vital part of the equation?
Click to expand...
Battery on it's own is fine but someone would have to hook it up and turn it on. That's why the UPS is an excellent option.
 
I<3Reefer said:
Forgot to mention I have a cobalt heater too.... So, with the UPC how long will it last? My longest outage last year was 36 hours... though that is pretty rare. The average is 8-12. I'm guessing order of most important to least is:

Heater>Lights>Filtration>Cp1 Powerhead

Is that right? my tank has a candy cane coral colony (14 heads) and a small Favia coral. It also has 2 turbo snails and adolescent clowns.
Click to expand...
IMO should be circulation pump or return, heater, lighting is usually last as the corals can survive for a few days w/o.
 
Instigate said:
Battery on it's own is fine but someone would have to hook it up and turn it on. That's why the UPS is an excellent option.
Click to expand...

Yea, but all these UPS only last like 30 seconds? Or am I reading that wrong.... I'd ideally like something that would last 24 hours... As I mentioned I generally know if there's a power outage in my neighborhood within a few hours, I'd say 5 hours max. So that's the longest it would have to wait.... Though that may be too long?
 
I had so many concurrent outtages during a storm it blew my upc. :eek:
All the money I've spent in coral figured it was time to get a whole house generator...
 
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Tidal Gardens
I<3Reefer said:
Yea, but all these UPS only last like 30 seconds? Or am I reading that wrong.... I'd ideally like something that would last 24 hours... As I mentioned I generally know if there's a power outage in my neighborhood within a few hours, I'd say 5 hours max. So that's the longest it would have to wait.... Though that may be too long?
Click to expand...
Depends on what you have hooked up to the upc. If you just have a circulation pump hooked up it would last a while. I had my return pump and circulation pumps and the heater hooked to it. Would last about an hour for me. 100 gallon display.
 
I<3Reefer said:
Yea, but all these UPS only last like 30 seconds? Or am I reading that wrong.... I'd ideally like something that would last 24 hours... As I mentioned I generally know if there's a power outage in my neighborhood within a few hours, I'd say 5 hours max. So that's the longest it would have to wait.... Though that may be too long?
Click to expand...

For 24 hours, you'd need a small quality inverter and a large deep cycle car battery on trickle charger on standby. You'd still have to be there to plug things in or buy an automatic switch'er thingy.
 
BRS

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