Hurricane Season :(

[jeffbrig]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9716018#post9716018 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by REDDAWG43
As per Armando Bengochea (his RC is not working)

Ok, here’s what I have calculated. Using a low consumption powerhead like the koralias (3.5 watts) means that it is .0304 amps. (amps x 115 volts = 3.5 watts) So using a power inverter at 90% efficiency, then that makes the powerhead consume .0338 amp (.0304 / .90 = .0338 amps) Now if you get a deep cycle battery like the 12 volt military batteries made by US Battery which has an Amp Hour rating of 110, then that means that 110 / .0338 amps will give you 3254 hours of usage which should give you 135 days of usage. Now I know that one will never need that many days of continuous use but if you add a second powerhead it would still have plenty juice to power them. Then you can charge the battery once you get your power back J

I'm not sure the assumptions work here. You're applying the current draw of a 3.5watt AC pump to a battery rated at 12V DC. In reality, the battery has to provide significantly more current to generate the 120V AC sinewave that drives the pump. The conversion factor is probably ~10x. Also, I'd be surprised if power inverters are really 90% efficient.

If you really want to maximize battery life, a little bit of PVC and a small airpump can make an airlift that's VERY effective at creating water movement. From a movement/watt standpoint, that's probably the best option out there.

 

[Rogger Castells]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9716955#post9716955 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jeffbrig
If you really want to maximize battery life, a little bit of PVC and a small airpump can make an airlift that's VERY effective at creating water movement. From a movement/watt standpoint, that's probably the best option out there.

This is a great idea, sort of like the old undergravel filters, That will definitely be better

 

[gasman059]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9716905#post9716905 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jeffbrig
Very true Rogger, but I wanted to make sure that others reading the thread understand the limitations of a battery backup. They're very helpful, and like I said, I also use them in addition to my generator.

True-in the past I had a 50 that survived back home with marine deep cycle batteries and just sunlight for bout a week. Fish and softies.(battery backup also)
As of this time around I'm happy to have 16k genset with 500 gallons of propane for about 11 days of full inhouse operation(a/c) and off course a dedicated circuit for my tank.

And yes an undergravel filtration will do the trick. Done it in the past.

 

[gasman059]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9715542#post9715542 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Osteomata
I dont have a big aquarium yet, but I have a couple questions for those who do:
Given a hypothetical 220G aquarium containing medium biolode and mainly softies/LPS, what would you say is the minimum requirement to get through a few days without power? I am in a condo and CANNOT have a personnal gas powered generator, and the condo's emergency generator (yet to be installed) will only power firefighting equipment, emergency lighting, and the elebators, so I am out of luck.

All of the above U could do w/o lights - but water movement and oxygenation its a must.
Plus i would def. consider a plan for your critters in case of emergency. Friends etc.

 

[Pico Keeper]

I have a small Honda Generator that is very efficient, small, & quiet (abeit weak powered) but it can run for a long time with very little gas and has more then enough power to run my tiny 47 gallon. It only has to run a maxijet 1200 skimmer pump, 2 tunze 6025's, and an ac500. Obviously lighting is not going to happen, but I also have a big generator for the rest of the house.


I'm going to make a battery backup system as soon as hurricane season starts up to run the tank until the storm is over and I can go outside and set-up the generator.

What worries me is heat. Power outage during the heat of summer equals 90 room temps. That worries me. I'm glad this thread has come up, it has been on my mind but now I know that members in the club know about this stuff and I can ask questions once I get them thought out into coherent sentences.

I gotta make a plan for the upgrade. I'm going to be building my new tank in the next few months, and need to think about propane generator for the entire house.

 

[gasman059]

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[gasman059]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9717486#post9717486 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Pico Keeper
I have a small Honda Generator that is very efficient, small, & quiet (abeit weak powered) but it can run for a long time with very little gas and has more then enough power to run my tiny 47 gallon. It only has to run a maxijet 1200 skimmer pump, 2 tunze 6025's, and an ac500. Obviously lighting is not going to happen, but I also have a big generator for the rest of the house.
I dont have a big aquarium yet, but I have a couple questions for those who do:
I'm going to be building my new tank in the next few months, and need to think about propane generator for the entire house.

Yup a backup power should be included IMO in the plans for any aquarium more than 120 gallons here in south florida.

 

[jeffbrig]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9717486#post9717486 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Pico Keeper
IWhat worries me is heat. Power outage during the heat of summer equals 90 room temps. That worries me. I'm glad this thread has come up, it has been on my mind but now I know that members in the club know about this stuff and I can ask questions once I get them thought out into coherent sentences.

Believe it or not, my temps actually went DOWN after Wilma. I typically run about 81, and I was down to 75-76 after a couple of days running minimal equipment and reduced photoperiod (to save gas). I ended up putting a blanket over my (open top) canopy, which helped a bit. It wasn't terribly hot after Wilma, which probably had a lot to do with this.

BTW, if it was hot, one added benefit of having a chiller is that you can still cool the tank on generator power if the AC is out.

 

[compulou]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9718206#post9718206 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jeffbrig
It wasn't terribly hot after Wilma, which probably had a lot to do with this.

Hey Jeff, I was going to say that it was like 50 degrees right after Wilma so I'm sure that had a lot to do with it.

 

[Pico Keeper]

I remember Wilma being cool right after the storm. It was great, so sweating myself to sleep like after Katrina!

 

[don954]

BTW, I have a generator also but i hate to run it all the time, so i have batteries and a high rate charger to power the system when the generator is off...

 

[rawbomb]

i have the same issue. We have a generator but i dont like running it all the time, i perfer to have a battery aided system in place and charge it witht the generator.

 

[Abengochea]

Well I should be putting one together shortly using either golf cart batteries or a military 12v. Ill test to see how long itll run and post the details

 

[Rogger Castells]

cool

 

[jjmg]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9717460#post9717460 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gasman059
All of the above U could do w/o lights - but water movement and oxygenation its a must.
Plus i would def. consider a plan for your critters in case of emergency. Friends etc.

I've found that after being hit by a hurricane, most of my friends are also without power unless I plan on taking down my tank and moving it to another state.

Battery bubblers, a power converter and car battery to fit one car (you can take it off the tank and go look for ice and water to recharge) and a generator is all you will need. Automation is good if you live in a area that you may have to leave. I'm a mile from the Gulf so that isn't a problem.

Sorry to jump on your board, but I do live in Florida

 

[rawbomb]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9721394#post9721394 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Abengochea
Well I should be putting one together shortly using either golf cart batteries or a military 12v. Ill test to see how long itll run and post the details

Please post your findings. im think ing of buying a 2000w honda just for the tank to run the return

 

[Abengochea]

how much flow are u getting through ur return right now?

 

[Ryanqk]

Hey guys i just got back from the national hurricane conference in new orleans you should see some of the cool new products out there that you cant buy off shelves yet. There is a $2,600 battery and solar power water treatment system in a briefcase that will make your filthy stangnant pool pond and flood waters into beautiful clean top off / drinking water at a rate of 1gl per minute! lol there were some awesome new generators designed to run cool and much quieter and on much less gas than the old ones should be out this summer... currently im using a combo of car and alternator, and deep cycle marine battery to power equipment during storms
Ryan

 

[rawbomb]

i have an iwaki 100 running the return but my beckett skimmer is anything but energy efficent. I use an Ocean Runner 3500 and an iwaki 70 to run it.

 

[nyvp]

that's where efficiency comes in. my entire system of 1k/g (120x36x30) runs on only 1645 including lights. remove the lights and I'm running only 645/w that's 3 darts and two tunzes and a panworld 40. I could prob cut that to 480 and still run my skimmer and have a 15x turnover.