Backup power - what you got?
 

First year reefing and after a few of the natural disasters down south I got to wondering what might happen if I lose power. I've never really cared if I lost power until now... it would crush me to lose my fish and coral to an outage.

There seems to be no real consensus online so I'm interested to hear what others here are doing!

1. What do you use for backup power?
2. What equipment is plugged in to it?
3. Tank size?
4. Any other general prep?

I have a 3 kilowat generator that my husband plugs not only my 150 gal display tank, 75 gal refugium, 40 gal sump, 20 gal top off tank, 65 gal freshwater set-up, he also plugs in our refrigerator, tv and an outlet to the next door neighbour.

AquaAddict

I have a 3 kilowatt generator that my husband plugs not only my 150 gal display tank, 75 gal refugium, 40 gal sump, 20 gal top off tank, and 65 gal freshwater set-up, he also plugs in our refrigerator, tv and an outlet to the next door neighbour.

In North Vancouver, I highly recommend a generator. We have used ours 3/4 times in 2/3 years.

AquaAddict

I have two of those little battery air pumps that come on automatically if they sense a loss of power. That gives me lots of time to return home (assuming I'm out when it happens) and plug a couple essentials into a small generator. 225gal display, 100gal sump.

Battery air pump
 

Could you tell me where you bought the battery air pump from? Thanks

Reef Supplies and J&L have them.

Woah, that's pretty awesome! I'm in an apartment so I don't know that a generator would work unless I tossed it on the patio. :cry:

I know what I'm getting this weekend.... thanks for this!

I bought a battery powered air pump in the fishing section of Cabella's. Its awesome, 2 D batteries pump air through an airstone for about 12 hours. I've used it at least 10 times on my 125. For longer outages I have a generator but its still in the box, haven't had to bust that out yet...

Rocketfish power backup
 

"Rocketfish" computer power backup. return pump and wavemakers plugged in. says 75min power but if the lights go out the wavemakers go into night mode and then goes to 145mins. Never had the power go out here more than 40mins in my whole life living in Calgary.
https://i.imgur.com/eGTQJMgl.jpg