Recommended Back-up Systems?

[benray4fun]

Hi all,
my vho's just went out last week and my anemone is in trouble now. I don't have a back-up lighting system so this is a real eye opener :eek1: for back-up systems.

I'm just wondering if something like this ever happened to you guys and what you recommend keeping around for back-up systems...

"THANKS FOR ANY ADVICE"

 

[clown2be]

I've never had it happen to me, but keep reading here on RC and you see lots of stories. I have back up for just about everything for my tank.

Chiller runs off of 2 pumps each pump on different circuit breaker.

2 main return pumps each on different breaker

2 closed loops pumps each pump on own circuit breaker

3 metal halid pendent with there own ballast and different breakers.


Its like an airplane , there's a back up plan if anything breaks down ,so you should never crash.

 

[BFG]

You miss 1 more back up. YOU! Imagine if something happen to you, do you have someone reliable to take your place?

 

[clown2be]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6527759#post6527759 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bfg
You miss 1 more back up. YOU! Imagine if something happen to you, do you have someone reliable to take your place?

Good one, but yes , my wife and my son have both been watching and helping me take care of the tank for years and I believe they could handle the tank. :smokin:

 

[benray4fun]

No bfg,
I live alone, but then again, I'm never gone for too long!. That's definitely another one I have to designate.

What equipment do you keep around for back-up systems?...

 

[Hal]

I just keep a battery operated air pump. Oxygen depletion is the quickest killer of your fish/corals.

I can also cannabalize a heater from my QT and a few extra powerheads that I use for mixing, in a pinch.

I run 2 half sized heaters normally so I'd need 2 failures there.

 

[clown2be]

What equipment do you keep around for back-up systems?... [/B][/QUOTE]

I have so many extra parts , I could build another reef. :lol:

Pumps , heater, battery air pump, piping, lighting, and tanks. I still need a generator. :smokin:

 

[jeffbrig]

1) Power redundancy: UPS, Generator, battery air pumps

2) Lighting redundancy: 4 T5 bulbs (2 separate ballasts) 3 MH bulbs (3 separate ballasts), spread among 3 different timers

3) Filter redundancy: Skimmer has 2 recirculating pumps

4) Water movement redundancy: 2 Tunze Streams plus return pump

And I've had failures in each area: Hurricane knocked out power for 6 days, light timer went bad, skimmer pump stopped working, return pump went out (last week).

I've been able to handle all of these issues without significant problems. With the return pump out currently, I have a mag5 temporarily filling in. Flow through the sump is reduced, but at least I can keep the sump (and skimmer) online.

 

[benray4fun]

Well,
I went out and bought a coralife lighting system, it has 2 65w daylight, 2 65w actinic, 4 moonlights for $300. That was the best I could do in an emergency situation, the lights however, are more than enough for a back-up. I'm going to retro fit 2 250w metal halides and fix the vho's in my canopy and see how that works.

Question..
do most hobbiest prefer open top without the wood canopy or with the wood canopy?....and does anyone see the benefits?...

 

[jeffbrig]

An open-top canopy gives you the best of both worlds. I like the enclosed canopy for hiding your wiring and plumbing returns, but the open top helps heat escape.

Here's my tank from the outside:

And from above:

 

[benray4fun]

NICE!!...
what are you using for lights?......

 

[jeffbrig]

3 x 250w 10k DE Ushio on icecap ballasts in PFO mini pendants
2 x 60" T5 aquablue on icecap 430 w/SLS reflectors
2 x 60" T5 blue+ on icecap 430 w/SLS reflectors

Everything is mounted and suspended inside the canopy like this:

And here's what it looks like from below:

 

[benray4fun]

DAMN!!!...
CAN I LIVE IN THERE TOO?!....LOL

 

[saltwatersmac]

Definately have some kind of controller to prevent a heater from sticking on. No matter what kind of heater, its not if, but when. Mine stuck on and tank got over 90 degrees. Lost a couple fish in the process. Now I have a simple inexpensive ReptiTemp heater controller that costs about $25. I set it a few degrees higher than the heater. If is sticks on, I only get about a degree or two before the power is cut off.

 

[integlikewhoa]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6568201#post6568201 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by saltwatersmac
Now I have a simple inexpensive ReptiTemp heater controller that costs about $25.

Is that made for the tank? Does the probe go into water for water temp? I was looking for something to control my fans on the tank. I wanted somthign to check water temp and kick on the fans when the tank got to a certin temp. Can this be rigged to do that? Ohh and if it matters i have an acrylic tank.

 

[benray4fun]

jeff,
I never knew about open top canopies before, thanks for the pics, especially the lighting..."that is KILLER!"

I was planning a simular set up using VHO's instead of the T-5's cause of the dimming abilities, but I'm having a tough time fitting it all in. Unlike your set-up, you look like you have ALOT of room to work with. "What size is that tank?"....

 

[integlikewhoa]

HOw much ligth shines out the top of the open top canopy? I bet it wins the less heat traped inside catagory. Nice idea and nice canopy.

 

[jeffbrig]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6572219#post6572219 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by benray4fun
"What size is that tank?"....

Look in my sig - 250g, 72x30x27.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6572394#post6572394 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by integlikewhoa
HOw much ligth shines out the top of the open top canopy? I bet it wins the less heat traped inside catagory. Nice idea and nice canopy.

Thanks, it was pretty much designed to reduce heat buildup. There is some light splash onto the ceiling (including shimmer lines when the MHs are on), but it just adds some ambient light to the room, which has vaulted ceilings.

 

[benray4fun]

jeff,
one more ?... does your MH's come on slowly ( say over several minutes) or do they come on instantly at full BLAST?....

I'm asking cause I like the dimming effect.

"that's a really beautiful lighting system you put together, well done".

 

[jeffbrig]

They 'light' immediately, but are very dim initially (and WAY off color). The don't reach full intensity until the bulbs heat up, which takes a good 5 minutes. This is typical for MH, from what I understand.

BTW, if you have any interest in seeing what went into putting this tank together, you can browse my thread:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=514675&perpage=25&pagenumber=1

Be warned, it's already split once, so it's quite long...