battery backup recommendations?

K

kelipalmer

Premium Member
Hey there,
We had our first power outage today since we purchased our tank. Thankfully, it only lasted a few seconds and we were home to reset our GFI outlet that had tripped.
I'd like to get input on various battery backup systems and how to configure them with our equipment. We have an Apex Jr controller as well. I'd like to set it up to where it will text me if the power goes out, as well as keep the "critical" equipment running.
Thanks!
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100 gal mixed reef tank
Mag 7 return pump
3 Korillia Evo 750s
200 W fluval heater
DAS skimmer
 
I did a little research on this when I was thinking of setting something up for my tank. I'll probably wait until I upgrade or do a new build from the ground up. I looked at computer UPS systems but it did not seem like they could run anything for a long time (i.e. heater + main pump + circulation pumps) as I was hoping for something that could keep things going for a good 24 hours or more. The conclusion I came to was that I could either build my own UPS using a bunch of deep cycle batteries and power inverter or go with a backup generator.

The generator is a no-go given location and if we ever move and have a new house built, it will have a natural gas powered generator for the whole house that will automatically kick in. I may still build my own DIY backup using a bank of deep cycle batteries but need a wife approved storage cabinet for it first. As a stopgap measure, I have battery powered bubblers that kick in when the power goes out to at least oxygenate the water as I read that is the leading cause of livestock loss when the power goes out and a power inverter I can hook up to individual deep cycle batteries.

If anyone has better suggestions I'd also like to know.
 
Hi
Have you ever thought about getting a 1000 watt power inverter and running it off your car. Granted you would have to be home to make it work, but it fixes most of you other conserns. Just a thought
Joe
 
Yeah, I looked at that option too but really want something that can last for at least 8 hours if I am away at work. I do have a larger inverter to run off the car or deep cycle batteries if I am home.
 
You will also need two ups one for your internet router and one for the apex and internet adapter plus a separate power supply to power the apex


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Makes sense, hadn't thought about needing to provide power so the Apex and router can actually tell you the power is out.
 
Thanks for the ideas. I actually have a generator large enough to run everything. In a worse-case situation where we would be out of power for several hours, the generator is the way to go. What I am trying to address now is a potential situation where I am not home when the power fails. I'd like to install a UPS to run essential equipment and to setup the apex so that it would alert me to the problem so that I can head home and get the generator going if necessary. I've heard that not all UPS systems work with tank equipment, especially the pumps. Are there UPS systems that will run my Mag 7, my heater, and one powerhead for circulation? Does anyone know how to configure the apex? (I can't just plug the apex into the UPS because my lighting system also is controlled by the apex... too much power for the UPS to handle).
Thanks again for the input!
 
What is considered "critical" equipment in a power outage? I'm looking at an APC UPS that will power my Mag 7 and one powerhead for circulation for about two hours. Is that sufficient?
 
Personally I would just run a power head on the ups as it uses less energy. A mag 7 is a power hog


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I've been doing some research and thought I'd share some of the things I've learned. I spoke with Neptune Systems and there is no alternative power option for the Apex Jr like there is on the Apex and Apex Lite (a 12 VDC input). This means that I likely cannot run my Apex Jr on a UPS since I have some high power devices connected to my Jr (lights, heater, etc) which would exceed the power available on most UPS units or render the run time impractically short. Unless I purchase a powerbar a move my lights over to it, it is not realistic for me to run the Jr from a UPS.
An alternative to having the apex send an alert in the case of a power outage is to purchase a standalone autodialer, like the Reliance Controls THP 201 ($83 at Amazon). When it detects a power outage, it calls pre-programmed numbers alerting you of the problem. It also has a built in water sensor, which would then double as an alert in the case of a tank water leak.
The other thing I've learned is that many UPS systems will not run common tank gear, like some pumps. The reason is that many UPS units do not produce a true "sine wave" which is necessary to run motors and pumps. Instead, they produce an "approximated" or "stepped" sine wave, which is sufficient for powering computers but will usually not run motors. There are UPS units that produce true sine waves but they are more expensive.
Finally, there is a product available called the SilentAir B11 by a company called Penn-Plax ($21 on Amazon). It is a battery-powered air pump, which monitors AC power and turns on in the event of a power outage. By connecting it to an air stone, this could be an alternate way to promote aeration in the event of a power outage. The company claims it will run for 48 hours on a fresh set of D size batteries.
For now, I'm just going to purchase a small UPS that will run a powerhead for 1-2 hours, and pickup an autodialer to let me know when the power goes out. Down the road, I may add the powerbar to my Jr and look into a UPS system for it and my router then.
Thanks for all of your input!
 
Thanks for the information. That battery powered air bubbler I have is the one you described and, to date, it has worked as advertised.
 
Just a quick update on the UPS issue. I purchased an APC BE550G UPS to power one powerhead. My Evo 750 works fine on the UPS but my Koralia 2 does not. It spins a bit but doesn't generate any water movement.
 
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