Battery backup or Airpump

[Taxus812]

Just need some help deciding and experience always helps with that.

battery powered Air pump or battery backup for circulating pump? I cant make up my mind. I keep getting hung up with all the shiny things that I can make\buy.

what do you guys use ?

I wanted to add some emergency backup for the main reef tank I have (45g mixed reef).

• I work at home and more often than not someone is here. (which means failure the one time im not)
• I have a generator\transfer switch for long term outages but I don't want to drag the generator out if I don't need to honestly.
• Generators need to be shut off from 10pm until 6am due to noise
• I really don't want to be lugging up a deep cycle battery and wiring something up on the fly
• I'm lazy

Honestly most of the time the power will be up within an hour or so when it goes out. however last year it was out for 6 hours and I just didn't want to setup the generator. My daughters freshwater tank faired fine (its loaded with plants and I didn't know any better then). I don't expect my marine tanks will do as well.

I imagine a simple battery powered air pump would work however I would have to set it up when needed (no automation). A battery backup would be nice but Current USA doesn't make a 24v one so I would have to build it myself. one that senses power outages would be the best solution in my opinion. (A UPS would have a very short runtime an probably not worth the costs)

Really just curious as to what is working for you (pictures are nice). Not the long term outages just the long enough term outages like when you are away at the beach for the day outages.

thanks again for your help.

 

[Jet915]

I have a APC battery hooked up to a circulation pump (Current as well) Will run for about 4 hours and automatically turns on when the power goes out.

 

[Dragon52]

I have one of these in my tank as well as one for traveling if I buy something out of town. I also have Vortec MP40's with one on backup.
https://www.amazon.com/Cobalt-Aquat...t=&hvlocphy=9011164&hvtargid=pla-757685263402

 

[Flatlandreefer]

I really like my ecotech backup for my mp10. It's reliable, provides flow for a long time. Whatever you decide get something that you know will work every time, power outages seem to be the weak link in this hobby imo

 

[Dom]

Deep cycle marine battery and a 2500 watt inverter will keep you going for hours.

 

[Peace River]

I think a battery backup may be the best option, but part of that depends on how much power that you need and money that you want to invest. Another option would be a USB air pump which is what I use when I am collecting native fish and also use during power outages for one of my smaller tanks that is not connected to a battery backup.

 

[Taxus812]

Deep cycle marine battery and a 2500 watt inverter will keep you going for hours.

Two questions here.do you have a transfer switch and isn’t an inverter super inefficient?

 

[Taxus812]

I leaning towards the pump but my wave pumps are not pointing upwards so I don’t think it would cause break the water surface without repositioning it. They also run in 24v through a controller. I would have to add a third pump or build a battery backup myself.

Ugh in just this regard I’m am regretting the eflux pumps. (Love them otherwise)

 

[Dom]

Two questions here.do you have a transfer switch and isn’t an inverter super inefficient?

Yes. I have a 110v transfer switch with 3 deep cycle marine batteries and a 2500 watt inverter. That backup can go on for days, depending on if the heaters are on.

I find it pretty efficient. But when you purchase an inverter, be sure to select one that has the ability to turn itself on. You don't want to have to leave your inverter on when it isn't in use.

 

[Scott Weinrich]

The icecap battery backup is a good option for the eflux pumps. They plug right in, switch over automatically, and the runtime is pretty good for the size of the battery. You can daisy chain multiple batteries to extend the runtime as well.

 

[KStatefan]

I really like my ecotech backup for my mp10. It's reliable, provides flow for a long time. Whatever you decide get something that you know will work every time, power outages seem to be the weak link in this hobby imo

Not planning for a power outage is the week link. I think a battery back up on the power head is the best place to start.

 

[Taxus812]

The icecap battery backup is a good option for the eflux pumps. They plug right in, switch over automatically, and the runtime is pretty good for the size of the battery. You can daisy chain multiple batteries to extend the runtime as well.

I tried looking into that and found no information.I even posted in the icecap forum. Are you using one with eflux? I was concerned since the icecap is just a 12v battery and the efflux is a 24v system. I use the eflux controller as well.