So, what does everyone use for battery back-ups?

[Ludwigia73]

LOL, I'm not sure how many of you use them, but I'm looking at it as a sound investment with what I'm going to be putting into my system over the next 2 months.

So, the question is who uses them and what are the things I should watch for when I buy one?

 

[jeryl]

I use 2 APC SmartUPS 1400's for my 40 gal breeder with 20 long sump, apex, lights, pumps, chiller, etc. The Apex will shut down various pumps, chiller and lights after 1 - 5 minutes of power outage.

 

[AquamanE]

My MP40 has an ecotech battery backup. Past that the generator needs to be brought out.

 

[rovster]

I also have 1 Ecotech backup but should probably have 2. A generator is on my wishlist for maybe next year.

 

[AquamanE]

I also have 1 Ecotech backup but should probably have 2. A generator is on my wishlist for maybe next year.

Dude- post hurricane season generator sales are great. I got one 4 years ago. It sits in my garage, I have never turned it on. I hear once you put the gas and oil in it you have to do it again every few months, so mine is still a virgin. Never been touched.

Dont know wether this is good or bad. :wildone:

 

[DRThompson]

Dude- post hurricane season generator sales are great. I got one 4 years ago. It sits in my garage, I have never turned it on. I hear once you put the gas and oil in it you have to do it again every few months, so mine is still a virgin. Never been touched.

Dont know wether this is good or bad. :wildone:

In our high humidity, the engine components will rust without oil. I use synthetic; once in a while you should crank it (single pull, no start) keep the oil on top of the pistons.

NO GAS while in storage.

 

[DRThompson]

BTW, I also have the Ecotech backup battery for my 2 mp40's. Beyond that I would also need to pull out the Gen

 

[Rogger Castells]

I used a deep cycle marine battery connected to a tender charger and to a simple power inverter, a large capacity air pump was connected to the inverter and air lines ran under the gravel to several air stones hidden behind the live rock.
it will give you approx 72 hrs of constant air and a few more hours if you manually disconnect it and connected the air pump every other hour.
It turned on several times in my house during hurricane outages. the air pump is ideal because it produces water movement and inject oxygen, I never los a single coral or fish due to power outage.
I plan to use the same set up in my next tank

 

[Rogger Castells]

I also had a simple switch that a friend build for me from radio shack parts that basically turned the pump on when it detected no power automatically, it is fairly easy to build your self.

 

[ANFPO]

I used to use a TrippLite charger/inverter. With 2 large Trojan Deep Cycle Batteries .Lately I've been thinking of a charger/inverter from an RV modified to use AC power (instead of the RV's alternator) to charge the batteries quickly. This will allow quick charge of a huge bank of batteries using AC power from a generator ran during a couple of daylight hours. DC inverted to AC at night is quiet and allows not only any aquarium equipment to be used, but also small appliances like fan, laptop, etc.

I survived 3 weeks without power with a similar strategy !!!

Also from living thru many south Florida power outages including Andrew, don't think you have it made with a full house generator. When a hurricane strikes, it's almost impossible to find gas!!!! So small to med generator, a quick charger, good deep cycle batteries and an inverter, preferably true SINE inverter.
Again, this is how I've survived for EXTENDED power outages.

 

[ANFPO]

A tender charger will take over 24hrs to charge even a small capacity deep cycle battery Same flaw as in the Computer APS. They charge too slowly. Believe me, it makes a huge difference for extended outages!

 

[Ludwigia73]

So, the ecotech batt backups will only run their pumps? Or can you just plug an ac plug into it and have it work when the power goes out?

 

[DRThompson]

So, the ecotech batt backups will only run their pumps? Or can you just plug an ac plug into it and have it work when the power goes out?

Echo tech battery backup output is 12v DC

 

[tonyyloww]

I use a Honda EU2000i Companion. got it on sale bout 4 yrs ago

 

[Brooks87]

I run a belkin battery backup. It has a 12 volt security light battery which kicks in during power failure. It's connected to a small pump which blows across the surface of the water 24/7. Unit was $35.