UPS for Brownouts? - Aquarium Advice

ewolff · 03-12-2006, 07:32 PM

I am thinking about buying a UPS for power outages. Has anybody done this? I am curious as to how long it would run If I am just powering the essentials.

blang · 03-12-2006, 07:56 PM

I have backups on all my fish tanks. The power went out one day and if I remember correctly, the backups lasted about 6 hours. Unfortunately, the outage lasted 2 1/2 days, so I ended up buying battery operated pumps. They were too noisy to run at night so I had to turn them off. I lost only one fish at the end of the outage.

For the short power outages, I think they are great. I would purchase the biggest one you can afford.

DaLoach · 03-13-2006, 04:09 PM

good idea! connect the minimum equipment to maintian the system. usually just the filter is sufficient.
bigger is better here. run time is based on the power consumption of connected equipment.
if its real valuable (read reef) then a gas powered generator may be worth the investment

Lonewolfblue · 03-13-2006, 05:17 PM

I would say the bare essentials are the filter and the heater. Don't want the water getting too cold..

ewolff · 03-13-2006, 07:41 PM

I was thinking Filter, Heater, and Air Pump.

Lonewolfblue · 03-13-2006, 07:50 PM

If the filter provides enough surface aggitation, no need for air pump.

rich311k · 03-13-2006, 08:57 PM

I would say the heater depends on the time of year. In the summer I would think it is not essential. The heater draws a lot of power as well. It takes a while for a tank to get cold and if the heater is not running the filter will run longer.

trotty · 03-15-2006, 03:57 AM

i use a car battery and a 12volt/240volt converter on only the filter. i've never had a power out for more than 8 hours and it did it fine on 4 tanks. total power of the filters was about 110 watts..... I only have a 300watt converter.(I did try a 300watt heater and it cut out...)

I thought if worst came to worst i could always swap the battery in the car and just go for a drive to recharge.

JB · 03-15-2006, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trotty

i use a car battery and a 12volt/240volt converter on only the filter. i've never had a power out for more than 8 hours and it did it fine on 4 tanks. total power of the filters was about 110 watts..... I only have a 300watt converter.(I did try a 300watt heater and it cut out...)

I thought if worst came to worst i could always swap the battery in the car and just go for a drive to recharge.

I have also used the 12/120 volt converter, 1000 watt.
my plan involves plugging it into my car lighter socket, running an extension cord into my fish room, then I just leave my truck idling in the driveway.
This way I'm covered no matter how long the power outage.
I run minimal equipment on several tanks, including my reef tank.

jb.

03-12-2006, 07:32 PM	#1
ewolff Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: California Posts: 13	UPS for Brownouts? I am thinking about buying a UPS for power outages. Has anybody done this? I am curious as to how long it would run If I am just powering the essentials.

03-13-2006, 05:17 PM	#4
Lonewolfblue Planted Geek Community Mentor Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Wenatchee, WA Posts: 7,871 Images: 7	I would say the bare essentials are the filter and the heater. Don't want the water getting too cold.. __________________ 26G Medium Planted Community - 65W CF Lighting - Emperor 280 Bio-Wheel - Established Feb 2004 55G Aggressive Community - Filstar XP3 - Established Dec 2005 75G Heavily Planted - Pressurized CO2, 520W Lighting, Filstar XP3 with spraybar - Established Feb 2006 29G Planted - 130W Lighting, Filstar XP2 with spraybar - Established May 2006 5 10G Tanks - Various setups - Tanks Established May-Sep 2006. 3 currently empty. 5.5G Crypt/Java Fern Tank - Established Oct 2006 My 29G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=78469 My 75G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=70764 My 75G Makeover Thread: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=87691

03-13-2006, 07:50 PM	#6
Lonewolfblue Planted Geek Community Mentor Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Wenatchee, WA Posts: 7,871 Images: 7	If the filter provides enough surface aggitation, no need for air pump. __________________ 26G Medium Planted Community - 65W CF Lighting - Emperor 280 Bio-Wheel - Established Feb 2004 55G Aggressive Community - Filstar XP3 - Established Dec 2005 75G Heavily Planted - Pressurized CO2, 520W Lighting, Filstar XP3 with spraybar - Established Feb 2006 29G Planted - 130W Lighting, Filstar XP2 with spraybar - Established May 2006 5 10G Tanks - Various setups - Tanks Established May-Sep 2006. 3 currently empty. 5.5G Crypt/Java Fern Tank - Established Oct 2006 My 29G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=78469 My 75G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=70764 My 75G Makeover Thread: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=87691

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Anyone use a UPS to protect their tank?	leafyseadragon	Saltwater & Reef - Getting Started	7	01-25-2007 11:38 PM
UPS	roka64	General Hardware/Equipment Discussion	7	11-28-2006 02:32 PM
UPS Suggestions for 15-gal	czar	Saltwater & Reef - Getting Started	5	11-16-2006 01:36 AM
what do you think of these set-ups?	dax29	Freshwater & Brackish - Getting Started	6	05-03-2005 04:01 PM
Anyone use a UPS?	Enki	Freshwater & Brackish - General Discussion	9	11-22-2003 11:43 PM

03-12-2006, 07:56 PM	#2
blang Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Illinois Posts: 196	I have backups on all my fish tanks. The power went out one day and if I remember correctly, the backups lasted about 6 hours. Unfortunately, the outage lasted 2 1/2 days, so I ended up buying battery operated pumps. They were too noisy to run at night so I had to turn them off. I lost only one fish at the end of the outage. For the short power outages, I think they are great. I would purchase the biggest one you can afford.

03-13-2006, 04:09 PM	#3
DaLoach Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: SoCal Posts: 23	good idea! connect the minimum equipment to maintian the system. usually just the filter is sufficient. bigger is better here. run time is based on the power consumption of connected equipment. if its real valuable (read reef) then a gas powered generator may be worth the investment

03-13-2006, 07:41 PM	#5
ewolff Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: California Posts: 13	I was thinking Filter, Heater, and Air Pump.

03-13-2006, 08:57 PM	#7
rich311k Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 8,972 Images: 35	I would say the heater depends on the time of year. In the summer I would think it is not essential. The heater draws a lot of power as well. It takes a while for a tank to get cold and if the heater is not running the filter will run longer.

03-15-2006, 03:57 AM	#8
trotty Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: sydney Australia Posts: 361 Images: 31	i use a car battery and a 12volt/240volt converter on only the filter. i've never had a power out for more than 8 hours and it did it fine on 4 tanks. total power of the filters was about 110 watts..... I only have a 300watt converter.(I did try a 300watt heater and it cut out...) I thought if worst came to worst i could always swap the battery in the car and just go for a drive to recharge.