Planned Power Outage Question
- Thread starter Browncoat
- Start date
hersheyb
Active member
How big is ur tank? If it's a bigger tank u can use a couple of the battery air pumps. 8hrs on air pump shouldn't be an issue
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Browncoat
New member
Browncoat
New member
solitude127
Proud user of IO Salt!
If you're worried, rent a generator from HD. You can run your fridge too so tjat your food doesn't spoil
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marioensf
Active member
A nice and cheap option vs the Ecotech MP's battery backup power supply I've found, is a Belkin battery backup for AT&T Uverse units; I bought a couple of them off of craigslist for $5 and got another one for free but needs a new SLA battery which is pretty cheap too.
This battery backup unit will work with MP pumps and Tunze as well.
This battery backup unit will work with MP pumps and Tunze as well.
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pandimus
Active member
Do you just plug em in?
marioensf
Active member
They connect to AC power and keep the battery charged, once power is out, it switches to the DC port, easy splice if your connector is not that size.
Nice thing about these power supplies is they have a battery condition indicator plus an audible alarm which can be switched off.
I had the old IceCap backups and when I opened them to replace the batteries, found that they are very simple and very, VERY pricey. Not sure if the Ecotech are any different than the IceCap but it’s just a metal enclosere with a DC/in DC/out connector.
I’m slowly getting back into the hobby and at first I regretted having sold the IceCap backups then I came across these Belkin units and find them great to run DC powerheads in case of an outage. Changing the battery is easy, press a tab, slide the battery out, disconnect and just put the new battery in where the IceCap I had to drill the rivets off.
Nice thing about these power supplies is they have a battery condition indicator plus an audible alarm which can be switched off.
I had the old IceCap backups and when I opened them to replace the batteries, found that they are very simple and very, VERY pricey. Not sure if the Ecotech are any different than the IceCap but it’s just a metal enclosere with a DC/in DC/out connector.
I’m slowly getting back into the hobby and at first I regretted having sold the IceCap backups then I came across these Belkin units and find them great to run DC powerheads in case of an outage. Changing the battery is easy, press a tab, slide the battery out, disconnect and just put the new battery in where the IceCap I had to drill the rivets off.
five.five-six
Well-known member
Know that if your powerhead is connected to the 0-10V control from an APEX, if the Apex isn’t backed up it will shut the powerhead off.
See posts 294 and 295
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2647843&page=12
See posts 294 and 295
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2647843&page=12
marioensf
Active member
So, if a Vortech is plugged into the Apex and it is also plugged to the battery back up, Will the Vortech shut off when regular power goes out?
I don't have an Apex, is the controller I'm aiming for but I'm not a fan of having everything controlled by one unit; if the Apex brain goes out for whatever reason then whatever is connected to it will fail too.
Still, I could use one Belkin PS to back up the Apex with the electronic piece you linked to in your thread? Nice, I read it but forgot about it.
hersheyb
Active member
Even if your vortech is connected to the apex, you can still connect to the vortech controller itself. If you look underneath the vortech controller you'll see 2 plugs, the main plug which your regular powersupply connects to and a small plug that the backup battery goes to.
five.five-six
Well-known member
If you unplug your powerhead from the apex the power head will go full blast.
I understand the objection to a single point of failure but the neptune controllers hav proven themselves to be stupid reliable over the decades. Additionally, design in as many fail safes as you can. For instance: if you are setting your tank temp in apex for 78 degreees set the thermostat on your heater(s) for 80 just in case the apex were to stick on.
To be safe I just use an extra bubbler.
If you go to walmart, you'll find in the fishing section a bubbler for a live-well, which is what you put bait fish in. The bubbler is the same size as the Marina brand one, except it's WAY better.. It claims to aerate 8 gallons.
I use 2 on my 45g cube -- To be safe I'd use 3.
If you go to walmart, you'll find in the fishing section a bubbler for a live-well, which is what you put bait fish in. The bubbler is the same size as the Marina brand one, except it's WAY better.. It claims to aerate 8 gallons.
I use 2 on my 45g cube -- To be safe I'd use 3.
To be safe I just use an extra bubbler.
If you go to walmart, you'll find in the fishing section a bubbler for a live-well, which is what you put bait fish in. The bubbler is the same size as the Marina brand one, except it's WAY better.. It claims to aerate 8 gallons.
I use 2 on my 45g cube -- To be safe I'd use 3.
If you go to walmart, you'll find in the fishing section a bubbler for a live-well, which is what you put bait fish in. The bubbler is the same size as the Marina brand one, except it's WAY better.. It claims to aerate 8 gallons.
I use 2 on my 45g cube -- To be safe I'd use 3.
