Power loss?

GeejEx · 03-13-2008, 03:47 PM

As posted elsewhere, I'm hooked after 6 weeks of setting up a little 29gal. I'm thinking of going to a 55gal w/20gal sump, and would like to get all the details worked out before investing.

I've been noticing a lot of posts regarding power loss, and was wondering if no one uses UPS's on the hardware? Call me a crazy network guy, but I have a UPS at home that pages me when the power shuts off. It gives my home network about 30 min power and cleanly shuts down unnecessary systems.
The plan for the display tank to-be is redundant pumps, redundant heaters, single set of lights. The pumps and heaters will be on separate UPS's (but unfortunately the same circuit). Lights would be in the shutdown list in event of power loss. I will have to watch out for salt on the batteries, but other than that it seems like a pretty logical solution, right?

Marty · 03-13-2008, 03:54 PM

Sounds like a great solution! I think a few folks here just use battery back-up pumps to manage water flow. That would probably be sufficient unless you live in an area prone to power losses of more than 12 hours. Then I would just get a small generator. Luckily my power never goes out for more than an hour (knock wood).

ReefSparky · 03-13-2008, 04:12 PM

Howdy Geek. Logical, yes. Realistic, unfortunately not.

Welcome to 3Reef. Having been a computer network guy in a past life, and an electrician now, I can tell you that it's not as simple. A UPS is a good thing for stuff like computers, where all that's required to avert disaster is enough time to save data and perform a proper shutdown.

Unfortunately, in the world of reef aquaria things are a bit different.

In a computer, there's not a heck of a lot of power draw, and a UPS can keep a machine running for a good chunk of time.

An aquarium requires a lot of inductive load, meaning most of the items associated with aqauriums utilize pumps and motors. These two items drain batteries (such as a UPS) in no time. Reef tanks require not only large amounts of water movement and turbulence, but "turnover" as well. Turnover keeps water oxygenated; a critical point for corals and sensitive fish.

The motif of power outage which you've no doubt seen tossed around here often; deals with disaster control, i.e. not flooding your house when the power goes out. As long as your setup is designed such that when the power fails, you're protected against a flood; that's about where your influence ends.

Outside of that, we're all pretty much at the mercy of the local utility. There are pumps that provide water movement, like the Ecotech Vortech; which can be paired with its own $160 battery backup and will provide about 24 hours of tank turbulence without utility power. But not much else is available presently. Unfortunately, without a generator, all we can do is wait for the power company to rectify the situation.

hugoman900 · 03-13-2008, 07:33 PM

I wonder if there are UPSs with extremely long battery lives. I could just charge it with a generator if necessary and let it run in the event of a power loss. This would be very helpful in the event that a hurricane passes by!

sean_p_f · 03-13-2008, 09:23 PM

the solution that i have come to use in the event of a power outage is a marine battery and a inverter to power the essentials. granted this only works if i am home to set up but lucky me my brother is 5 houses down and knows how to set it up in the event of a power outage. i still hqvent hopoked it up and ran the battery out of power to see how long i get from it but that is on the list of things to do. i know that it is 4 hours plus as that is all i have had to run it for so far.

gazog · 03-13-2008, 10:03 PM

As I have posted before I use a APC battery backup like that, runs an two outlet air pump that comes on only when main power goes out using a relay I stole from an auto-top off kit. Air pump is also on a wave timer so it runs for 6 minutes and is off for 4, it runs to all three tanks with air stones at bottom on back of tank which gives me great turnover. Mine also warns me if power goes out via phone and email. I have actully had to use this system recently and it worked flawlesly, but the power came back on wthin the hour so I have never really been able to run it till the battery was dead so I not sure how long it will last yet. but I work about an hour away so it worked fine as far as I am concerned.

Reefsparky, Generators are great, I have one also, but as I always say unless your prepared to spend a bunch of money for one that auto starts, if your not home it does you absolutely no good. Setting it up this way at least affords me at least 4 hours (likely more) to get home and get the old generator running. i just recently purchased some Nano pumps from fragglereef.com and I am thinking of adding them to the loop for a little bit of extra movement in my frag tank.

omard · 03-14-2008, 09:18 AM

Good sized UPS probable best defense you can have against power failure.

Depends much on how much power needed to run tank equipment for reasonable length of time.

Unfortunately cost prohibitive for many depending on size needed.

Wish I had for "away" trips.

A generator is probable next reasonable alternative.

Let us know what you decide.

Scott

jcdillin · 03-14-2008, 09:51 AM

i'm actually using this APC UPS on my tank. I only have the skimmer, sump and dosing pump to restart the overflow plugged into this unit. Right now if the power goes out I have over an hour of backup time. At least gives me time to pull out and start the generator if I have to.

It actually already saved my butt, a few weeks ago we alot of power problems due to a reactor shutdown at one of our local power plants. Besides the lights turning off for 30 mins everything else kept humming right along.

It's the APC 1500VA LCD version (i'm a nerd and like to see things like power draw)

sssnake · 03-14-2008, 11:09 AM

IMO all you will need in case of power loss is two plugs:

1. Heater
2. Powerhead

Everything else can wait until your electricity is restored (within a reasonable amount of time).

Fish don't really care about lights, and I'm sure corals have seen their share of cloudy days.

Ultimately, the generator is the way to go.

Good luck.

gazog · 03-14-2008, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcdillin

It actually already saved my butt, a few weeks ago we alot of power problems due to a reactor shutdown at one of our local power plants. Besides the lights turning off for 30 mins everything else kept humming right along.

Ah Turkey Point! did they ever come up with a plausible reason for the shutdown, or did someone just pull a HOMER! I am using the same one only a much older model. got it used at a flea market, and I not going to tell you what I paid for it cause you would cry!

Quote:

Originally Posted by sssnake

IMO all you will need in case of power loss is two plugs:

1. Heater
2. Powerhead

Everything else can wait until your electricity is restored (within a reasonable amount of time).

Fish don't really care about lights, and I'm sure corals have seen their share of cloudy days.

Ultimately, the generator is the way to go.

Good luck.

For short term power loss all you should need is a air pump of powerhead, no heater unless you keep your house at 65 degrees. And for this a battery works great.

Like i said unless your home waiting for the power to go off a generator does not start it self! And with the software that comes with my computer monitors both the battery it is hooked up to and my tank battery, so when the power goes off it emails me both at work and on my cell which gives me ample time to get home and start the generator.