Battery Backup Needed for Tank

[MCooper]

So my Reefer 450 is currently undergoing the fun cycle phase. I am certainly going to need a battery back up for the water movement.
Questions-->
1. How can you run a back up with the Apex unit?
2. What is the best battery back up that takes up the least amount of space?
3. Is it correct assuming the water movement is the most important thing to backup?

Thanks in advance!

 

[CodyRVA]

Following. I think gas exchange, which can be achieved via water movement or I believe oxygenation (skimmer/air stone), and temp are the big ones.

 

[shadow1013]

If you have Ecotech power heads then I'd get their battery backup.

 

[TheHarold]

So my Reefer 450 is currently undergoing the fun cycle phase. I am certainly going to need a battery back up for the water movement.
Questions-->
1. How can you run a back up with the Apex unit?
2. What is the best battery back up that takes up the least amount of space?
3. Is it correct assuming the water movement is the most important thing to backup?

Thanks in advance!

I have a battery backup that powers my my apex for a LONG time. Like over 2 weeks I believe. I also have the Ecotech BatteryBackup to power my powerhead for surface agitation.

 

[Ebone]

what powers your apex?

 

[TheHarold]

what powers your apex?

The battery backup. UPS.

 

[Ebone]

which?

 

[ckozma]

Here is what I use: http://www.amazon.com/APC-BR1500G-B...F8&qid=1462328506&sr=8-2&keywords=apc+xs+1500
I have the apex power adapter so it senses when the power goes out and I have it set to shut down all outlets except return pump, heater, and mp40. I also run an apex controllable waveline return pump, and it reduces to minimum percentage when the outage occurs. This is because the heater is in the sump, so I have to keep water moving slowly.

 

[TheHarold]

which?

http://www.amazon.com/APC-BE550G-Ba...e=UTF8&qid=1462328820&sr=8-1&keywords=apc+ups

 

[pdt7361]

I do the same APC 1500 and then also have the external battery pack on it too.

 

[ckozma]

I do the same APC 1500 and then also have the external battery pack on it too.

Yeah I plan on adding that, it gives you 3x the runtime supposedly!

 

[1MJG1]

Following

 

[MCooper]

Gonna check this out. So you plug your Apex 8 outlet surge into the APC?

 

[pelphrey]

APC UPS User here as well. My heater and return pump are setup to run off of the battery if I do experience any power failures. I did this because my heater is in my sump.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Here is what I use: http://www.amazon.com/APC-BR1500G-B...F8&qid=1462328506&sr=8-2&keywords=apc+xs+1500
I have the apex power adapter so it senses when the power goes out and I have it set to shut down all outlets except return pump, heater, and mp40. I also run an apex controllable waveline return pump, and it reduces to minimum percentage when the outage occurs. This is because the heater is in the sump, so I have to keep water moving slowly.

Can you go into a little more detail on how you set your apex up to do this?

 

[Kungpaoshizi]

I originally thought water movement was most important, but since my tank uses about .5 dkh of alk an hour, my dosers are just as important.
So for my mp10's, I just went with their battery backup, but for one of my 2 heaters, and then the dosers, I got this setup. The computer UPS's don't last very long, even the Ecotech 18AH battery is bigger than the majority.
Go big or go home.
This is the main part of it:
http://www.amazon.com/Power-PICOGLF...8&qid=1462387533&sr=8-2&keywords=aims+1500+ul
Then this will be the start of my battery array:
http://www.amazon.com/Vmaxtanks-Vma...1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage

Powering my Reef Angel, every doser, and a 75 watt heater, it lasts quite awhile.
Only the cost of 10-15 frags these days right... heh

 

[ckozma]

Can you go into a little more detail on how you set your apex up to do this?

Sure, no problem. First you have to purchase the optional power supply : https://www.neptunesystems.com/product/12v-power-supply-2/ , or purchase one that is compatible. You then plug your eb8 into the one of the outlets on your battery backup that is backup protected. The directions for how to set it up to notify/turn off outlets if a power failure is here starting on page 141 : https://www.neptunesystems.com/downloads/docs/Comprehensive_Reference_Manual.pdf . Basically you turn on the 'power monitor' option on the controller, and use this line of code at the end of any outlet that you want to turn off :

If Power Apex Off 000 Then OFF.

"Effective with release 4.03 you no longer need a second EB8 in order to get full power redundancy. All you need is a UPS large enough to carry the essential load of your single EB8, a 12v power adapter for the base unit and some logic changes (as documented above) to shut down non-essential load."

 

[ckozma]

Forgot to mention that the apex power adapter has to be plugged into one of the outlets on the APC that is NOT battery protected in order for it to detect the power loss. As far as reducing the waveline percentage, you just have to create a profile, name it ReturnFeed for example, type is 'ramp', ramp time is '1', start and end intensity 20. Then in your variable speed 1 programming (which you are already using to control the speed of your pump), you just use code like this at the end:

If Power Apex Off 000 Then ReturnFeed
If FeedA 000 Then ReturnFeed

 

[Salty1962]

I use the battery backup for my Vortechs and it works great. Already needed it a couple of times. Allot better than breaking out the battery operated air pumps Money well invested!

 

[AdamPhe]

The SLA batteries in most APS units can be easily upgraded. I run a battery store for a living. You can get the same amount of reserved capacity from a battery upgrade in a small apc for a fraction of the cost. Sometimes double the run time when you run a smaller unit and upgraded battery