ups-what's really important to power? - Aquarium Advice

want2findnemo · 07-06-2008, 10:39 PM

Thinking of getting a UPS incase i have a blackout. But in the event of a blackout what would be the most important things to keep running?

Powerhead, pump, heater etc?

Does anyone have any recommendations for a product?

was looking @ this...

Ultra ULT31502 1000 VA 600 Watt AVR Backup System UPS at TigerDirect.com

chris127 · 07-06-2008, 11:45 PM

All UPS are great. i have my filter and heater running on one and its saved me a bunch. check newegg.com and ccity, Tiger direct has outrageous shipping costs (not to rat on them) Be sure to get enough battery time for what you have to power.

**roka64** · 07-07-2008, 11:04 AM

Well, since I run 2 300W heaters in my 125 I only have the UPS for water flow.

cmor1701d · 07-07-2008, 12:53 PM

One heater and the main circulation pump are important. I don't bother with the heater because with a 125 the water volume takes a while to change temperature and the UPS doesn't last hours with a heater on it.

want2findnemo · 07-07-2008, 03:01 PM

i kinda wanted to get two and plug the second one into the first one, then the pump and powerheads, heater into the second one...

what you guys think?

Kurt_Nelson · 07-07-2008, 03:17 PM

Here's a couple posts that might interest ya...

Power Outages - Lessons learned
http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums...-me-87469.html

While I still have the Xantrex unit that I mentioned in that first post, I've since bought a little Honda Eco2000 generator. The Xantrex keeps everything going a few hours and gives me time to switch over to the generator if the outage is going to last a while.

**roka64** · 07-07-2008, 04:03 PM

I don't think you want to daisy chain two UPSes together. I believe they will both drain each other. At leas my two at work did.

CatatonicBug · 07-07-2008, 04:09 PM

I use APC backups exclusively. They are a bit more pricey, but a lot more reliable IMO. I have one on each of my PCs and one for my Network server, DSL Router, and air pump. I invested in a small gasoline generator last year after having 2 5-day outages. I figure that the amount of time that the battery will be required to work (which is never very long) will be much longer than it takes for me to get the generator working. The filter and heater can easily be down for 30 minutes without harming my tanks, so I'm not too concerned with that. I imagine I would have to do a bit more for backups if I was doing SW, but we'll deal with that when I get to it.

CatatonicBug · 07-07-2008, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roka64

I don't think you want to daisy chain two UPSes together. I believe they will both drain each other. At leas my two at work did.

Definitely true. Never plug 2 UPSs into each other. The way they utilize the power puts too much of a drain on the batteries that way.

want2findnemo · 07-07-2008, 04:21 PM

cool, so i guess ill get two and plug them individually into (two ?) gfi's and for one ups have my pump in it and the other one have my powerheads in there.

So no need for heater and skimmer?

07-06-2008, 10:39 PM	#1
want2findnemo Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 149	ups-what's really important to power? Thinking of getting a UPS incase i have a blackout. But in the event of a blackout what would be the most important things to keep running? Powerhead, pump, heater etc? Does anyone have any recommendations for a product? was looking @ this... Ultra ULT31502 1000 VA 600 Watt AVR Backup System UPS at TigerDirect.com Last edited by want2findnemo; 07-06-2008 at 10:48 PM.

07-06-2008, 11:45 PM	#2
chris127 Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 124	All UPS are great. i have my filter and heater running on one and its saved me a bunch. check newegg.com and ccity, Tiger direct has outrageous shipping costs (not to rat on them) Be sure to get enough battery time for what you have to power. __________________ 20 Gallon High 5.5 Gallon -Chris

07-07-2008, 11:04 AM	#3
roka64 Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 10,245 Images: 12	Well, since I run 2 300W heaters in my 125 I only have the UPS for water flow. __________________ Uh-oh, I just overloaded my Bioload! Questions loved, heeded advice greatly appreciated! Vote for AA Good reading about: Nitrogen Cycle Fishless Cycling Need more help? Articles Acronym List --Scott

07-07-2008, 12:53 PM	#4
cmor1701d Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Belle Mead, NJ Posts: 3,733 Images: 43	One heater and the main circulation pump are important. I don't bother with the heater because with a 125 the water volume takes a while to change temperature and the UPS doesn't last hours with a heater on it. __________________ Click here to Vote for Aquarium Advice on AquaRank . Vote EVERY day! Click Here for a list of commonly used acronyms and abbreviations. ____ Cmor

07-07-2008, 04:03 PM	#7
roka64 Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 10,245 Images: 12	I don't think you want to daisy chain two UPSes together. I believe they will both drain each other. At leas my two at work did. __________________ Uh-oh, I just overloaded my Bioload! Questions loved, heeded advice greatly appreciated! Vote for AA Good reading about: Nitrogen Cycle Fishless Cycling Need more help? Articles Acronym List --Scott

07-07-2008, 03:01 PM	#5
want2findnemo Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 149	i kinda wanted to get two and plug the second one into the first one, then the pump and powerheads, heater into the second one... what you guys think?

07-07-2008, 03:17 PM	#6
Kurt_Nelson Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: WA Posts: 2,171 Images: 28	Here's a couple posts that might interest ya... Power Outages - Lessons learned http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums...-me-87469.html While I still have the Xantrex unit that I mentioned in that first post, I've since bought a little Honda Eco2000 generator. The Xantrex keeps everything going a few hours and gives me time to switch over to the generator if the outage is going to last a while.

07-07-2008, 04:09 PM	#8
CatatonicBug Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Saint Louis, MO Posts: 503 Images: 6	I use APC backups exclusively. They are a bit more pricey, but a lot more reliable IMO. I have one on each of my PCs and one for my Network server, DSL Router, and air pump. I invested in a small gasoline generator last year after having 2 5-day outages. I figure that the amount of time that the battery will be required to work (which is never very long) will be much longer than it takes for me to get the generator working. The filter and heater can easily be down for 30 minutes without harming my tanks, so I'm not too concerned with that. I imagine I would have to do a bit more for backups if I was doing SW, but we'll deal with that when I get to it. __________________ Remember - in Aquaria, nothing good happens fast. Starting a new tank? Click here for instructions. 47g tall FW, 10g planted, 2.5g planted office tank

07-07-2008, 04:21 PM	#10
want2findnemo Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 149	cool, so i guess ill get two and plug them individually into (two ?) gfi's and for one ups have my pump in it and the other one have my powerheads in there. So no need for heater and skimmer?

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