power outages

[cgarr017]

just want to hear what people say about the issue. i doubt everybody has battery power backups. what do you do if the power goes out and you're out of the house almost all day. or in the house for that matter

[usmc121581]

I have a 32 hour battery back up. after coming home with a carpet soaked living/dinning room and being shocked numorous times because of it.

[cgarr017]

where'd you find something like that and how much was it

[bertoni]

The tank shouldn't spill water if the power goes off. I'd adjust the system.

I use a computer UPS that I suspect will give a few hours of pump run time. That gives me time to get home and set up batteries, etc.

[usmc121581]

Yeah I thought the same thing. Except when power goes out overflows stop working.(Why didnt I get the RR, WHY) But the got it from best buy. Its cost me $300. Its max is about 32 hours it all depends what is plugged in I only have my skimmer heater and return pump plugged in which only uses 90 watts out of 500w.

[bertoni]

The overflow shouldn't stop working if the power goes out. A hang-on overflow will hold siphon.

[usmc121581]

Yeah I keep being told that but it has never happened once in the 4x my tank has done that.

[johnny1]

My tank is drilled but I was reading on here about some of the brands of hang on overflows that will keep there siphons. You may can ask about them on here.

[usmc121581]

It doesnt matter when I get out the military this coming july and settle down I am getting a 210 and using my 120 as a fug and my 65 fug/sump as a sump only.

[bertoni]

The overflow box is not working properly. The LifeReef product is fine, in my experience.

[Dano999]

Let's get back on topic.

Look at this Link (http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-05/gh/index.php)

There is some good information to safeguard your tank.

Personally I use two Penn Plax Silent Air B-11 Battery Air Pumps as recommended in the article. They turn on when the power goes out and keep the dissolved oxygen levels up for several days. Very inexpensive around $15.00 each. Use one for every two feet of tank.

[realest]

Lifereef overflow boxes are the best. The siphons don't break when lost power. I love it and everyone else if needed, they should try it! Just the nasty part is, when putting the small tubing in the siphon, and suck. That just make me sick!! haha

[richofoz]

You can make your own backup power system pretty easily.

1 large deep cycle battery
(the bigger it is the longer/ more you can run. You can also run more than one battery in parallel)

1 trickle charger (battery saver)

1 inverter (size/wattage depends on what you want to run)

1 mains powered solenoid that switches on when it loses power

1 power board

mains power -> trickle charger -> battery -> inverter -> pumps...

Wish I had a camera... it can be done very easily and cheaply. As well as the fact that it can be made to power as much as you like for as long as you like (depending on size/ number of batteries).

[cgarr017]

thanks for all the info.
i am interested in your idea richofoz. explain more in detail of how to set this up if you don't mind. shoot me a pm if it's easier