Battery Backups

[kenman345]

Hey guys,

I am still in the midst of setting up my 56G tank and I felt that I was at the stage where I have most of my equipment installed or ready to be installed, so I am looking into backing up the electronics with a battery backup. I was wondering what you guys would recommend in terms of the amount of battery power rating I will need/how to figure out how long it may last me in the event I need it.

Anyone know a good estimator tool that can help?

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kenman345 http:///t/397706/battery-backups#post_3545832
Hey guys,

I am still in the midst of setting up my 56G tank and I felt that I was at the stage where I have most of my equipment installed or ready to be installed, so I am looking into backing up the electronics with a battery backup. I was wondering what you guys would recommend in terms of the amount of battery power rating I will need/how to figure out how long it may last me in the event I need it.

Anyone know a good estimator tool that can help?
Hi,

I had a 4 day black out... Sigh, I saved most of my fish by manually dipping water via a container and letting it cascade back into the tank, my mother and I did shifts every hour on the hour moving the water...there wasn't a battery operated anything available in the stores for 100 miles. We fell asleep at 4:00am and I lost a regal tang I had for over 5 years, and afterward swore never again to be caught without a back up plan. I applaud you for thinking ahead so well.

The most important thing when the power is out is oxygen exchange...a few of those battery operated aerators used by fishermen is what I now keep on hand, google battery operated air pump....I can't post another sites name here. They work great, mine uses 2 size D batteries and last 24 hours. I also have extra batteries on hand. I had to use them a few times and I had no problems.

I also purchased a portable generator that will run both tanks (56g and 90g) like the main power is on...I now keep seahorses, and I need the chiller to keep the tanks cold, I need more then just oxygen if the power should go out again. If you seriously want a back up...get a generator. The aerators will keep everything alive as long as you keep them running, but no lights for the corals, no heaters running, and no power heads.

 

[kenman345]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Flower http:///t/397706/battery-backups#post_3545889
Hi,

I had a 4 day black out... Sigh, I saved most of my fish by manually dipping water via a container and letting it cascade back into the tank, my mother and I did shifts every hour on the hour moving the water...there wasn't a battery operated anything available in the stores for 100 miles. We fell asleep at 4:00am and I lost a regal tang I had for over 5 years, and afterward swore never again to be caught without a back up plan. I applaud you for thinking ahead so well.

The most important thing when the power is out is oxygen exchange...a few of those battery operated aerators used by fishermen is what I now keep on hand, google battery operated air pump....I can't post another sites name here. They work great, mine uses 2 size D batteries and last 24 hours. I also have extra batteries on hand. I had to use them a few times and I had no problems.

I also purchased a portable generator that will run both tanks (56g and 90g) like the main power is on...I now keep seahorses, and I need the chiller to keep the tanks cold, I need more then just oxygen if the power should go out again. If you seriously want a back up...get a generator. The aerators will keep everything alive as long as you keep them running, but no lights for the corals, no heaters running, and no power heads.
BRS sells those battery air pumps. I am thinking of making a rigged battery pack so I can have a larger power supply to 1 unit, since if the power is out, i likely may also not be there at the time (say during a bad hurricane perhaps).

I am also looking into other options. I would like to have 1 of my 2 200W heaters running in the event of a power outage, this would be ideal. It also would be nice is I can also run my Reefkeeper Elite to help make sure the heater is working just fine while it's being used as the sole heater for my tank.

The power has never been out for more than 23 hours (Hurricane Sandy) in the last 14 years I've lived here. We maybe get 1-2 outages of 5 minutes or less throughout the year, but I am hoping to find a solution to provide 2-3 days of countermeasures to ensure it's ready for anything that can happen.

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kenman345 http:///t/397706/battery-backups#post_3545891
BRS sells those battery air pumps. I am thinking of making a rigged battery pack so I can have a larger power supply to 1 unit, since if the power is out, i likely may also not be there at the time (say during a bad hurricane perhaps).

I am also looking into other options. I would like to have 1 of my 2 200W heaters running in the event of a power outage, this would be ideal. It also would be nice is I can also run my Reefkeeper Elite to help make sure the heater is working just fine while it's being used as the sole heater for my tank.

The power has never been out for more than 23 hours (Hurricane Sandy) in the last 14 years I've lived here. We maybe get 1-2 outages of 5 minutes or less throughout the year, but I am hoping to find a solution to provide 2-3 days of countermeasures to ensure it's ready for anything that can happen.

Hi,

That's smart, we invest so much money into our tanks, and let a little thing like no power backup plans kill it all. I'm glad to see you thinking ahead.

 

[kenman345]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Flower http:///t/397706/battery-backups#post_3545942

Hi,

That's smart, we invest so much money into our tanks, and let a little thing like no power backup plans kill it all. I'm glad to see you thinking ahead.

Well, I am starting my research now, but I may not have the money to get more than a few small items that will be essential. Like the battery air pump, that is something I may get now but a $$$ battery might come later down the line.

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kenman345 http:///t/397706/battery-backups#post_3545958
Well, I am starting my research now, but I may not have the money to get more than a few small items that will be essential. Like the battery air pump, that is something I may get now but a $$$ battery might come later down the line.

Hi,

That's kind of what I did too....I got the little battery air pumps first, then purchased the generator once I got the funds for it.

 

[kenman345]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Flower http:///t/397706/battery-backups#post_3545962

Hi,

That's kind of what I did too....I got the little battery air pumps first, then purchased the generator once I got the funds for it.
Well, I have my tank in my bedroom, but we might add a generator to my entire house in the next few years. I don't think I can add a generator in my room, but a UPS or two could easily be placed

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kenman345 http:///t/397706/battery-backups#post_3545963
Well, I have my tank in my bedroom, but we might add a generator to my entire house in the next few years. I don't think I can add a generator in my room, but a UPS or two could easily be placed


Hi,

LOL...I have a 56g tank in my bedroom, but the generator stays outside, I run a long extension cord to the window and then to the room with the tank. Then I have a power strip so I can run several things off of the one cord....so... LOL...no extra space needed.

 

[kenman345]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Flower http:///t/397706/battery-backups#post_3545979


Hi,

LOL...I have a 56g tank in my bedroom, but the generator stays outside, I run a long extension cord to the window and then to the room with the tank. Then I have a power strip so I can run several things off of the one cord....so... LOL...no extra space needed.
Yea, well, i am new to this stuff. I just wish a site had a calculator to tell you what the expected life of your battery system might get you based on power consumption of the attached items.

EDIT:

Also wish their was a company making a universal backup battery system meant for the proper needs of aquarium equipment. even if it's expensive, it would have a market

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kenman345 http:///t/397706/battery-backups#post_3545981
Yea, well, i am new to this stuff. I just wish a site had a calculator to tell you what the expected life of your battery system might get you based on power consumption of the attached items.

EDIT:

Also wish their was a company making a universal backup battery system meant for the proper needs of aquarium equipment. even if it's expensive, it would have a market

Hi,

That market for a system to run all your fancy equipment is called portable generators.

The basic thing is that batteries drain, and have no way to be recharged ...unless you use something that runs on gas, or maybe get a windmill, or solar panels. You need something to generate electricity and the cheapest easiest method would be a generator. A solar panel uses batteries to hold the stored power, but it isn't as easy to set up as a simple gas generator. (put in some gas and oil, pull the rip cord, and plug in an electrical cord)

No matter what method you select, as long as you keep generating power you have an endless supply of electricity. About the car battery, when you leave the lights on the car... it won't run for very long without being recharged by the alternator. It's easy to swap out a size D battery and toss it out, but a car battery costs a great deal more, and would be just as dead....once you totally drain the battery it loses power, and becomes weaker and weaker each time.