What To Use For Backup

[njcastillo86]

I live in Florida and we are known for our power outages. Im looking for some sort of battery back up to power my necessities in case of a outage. All the battery back ups I can find are for computers so you can save information in a 5-15 min window. Im looking for something that can power a pump, lights, fan and or heater if needed for a day or two. What do most people use in a case like this? Only thing I can think of is keeping a big car battery handy and charged with a inverter. Obvious choice is to keep a generator handy but I didnt know if there was a easier way, something I can keep in the cabinet (I have tons of room). It will be used for a 16gal nuvo so theres not much to power.

 

[0coool]

Personally I run a computer backup that keeps my controller and Jebao up and running. By my guess the jebao should be able to run for an hour or so on this battery.

For longer periods of time a generator is really the only way to go. By the time you get enough batteries and an inverter to run a whole tank its just not worth the trouble.

 

[Soundwave]

Agreed. Batteries can be dangerous, especially in the quantity you would need for what you are wanting to do. Beyond that, you could probably buy a few generators for the price of the batteries needed. Find a pure sine wave generator. These are also known as inverter generators. Champion makes a great unit, which is what I bought. It's the 3100 watt model that is enough to run both tanks and a few other things I might need. You could check out Honda if you want the top of the line.

 

[fishpureluck]

I modified my UPS that had a dead battery with an external charger and a deep cycle battery. Pretty easy to make, google it.

 

[Reef Frog]

Can you can run an extension cord from where you park your vehicle to your tank? If so, a 300 watt inverter running off your car battery iis a great low cost option. It will run indefinitely (as long as your car has fuel) and you are at home to hook it up and keep an eye on it. This set up has saved my bacon numerous times, most notably during the Sandy storm (5-6 days). All you need is the inverter & power cord which will fit in a small duffle bag.

 

[fishpureluck]

I forgot to add, if you use a deep cycle boat/RV battery, it needs to be in a well ventilated area. If you can put the battery outside and run the wires from it into the house, it would be even better. Mine is in the attic right above the tank so it vents to the outside.

 

[Rognin]

I'm gonna use the Tunze safety connector with a small battery and a solar panel and a charger. That will be for >24hr down times. Just to keep the water movement up and gas exchanges going.

As for extended periods, I'm still shopping for a generator also. I'm pretty sure it's the best bet.

I did consider running the whole tank on batteries and solar panels galore. But the price tag was the equivalent of a mid priced sedan.

 

[origreefer]

Get a AGM battery, doesn't need venting. A L-16 size will get you thru days of outage. Get an inverter sized 50% more than your anticipated load. Generators suck, they fail (ask me how I know), plus hard to get gas during outages and they are not efficient, $3.50 a gallon to run 50 watts. A inverter/batter only uses the exact watts you need. I have a solar panel array, eight L-16 batteries and I can run my house appliances and full tank for a week before recharging. For your needs on your small system, one battery and a 300w inverter should be fine.

 

[ReefingWerewolf]

Get a AGM battery, doesn't need venting. A L-16 size will get you thru days of outage. Get an inverter sized 50% more than your anticipated load. Generators suck, they fail (ask me how I know), plus hard to get gas during outages and they are not efficient, $3.50 a gallon to run 50 watts. A inverter/batter only uses the exact watts you need. I have a solar panel array, eight L-16 batteries and I can run my house appliances and full tank for a week before recharging. For your needs on your small system, one battery and a 300w inverter should be fine.

Tell me more, im a total noob with battery backup. Im currently planning a 75 gallon reef and although power-outages are rare and usually short in Seattle we do occasionally lose battery for a day or 2 and I dont want to lose everything because of it. What is an AMG battery and how much do they cost?