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Coleus · #1 10-20-2009, 05:54 PM

I am looking for a power backup solutions for my tank in case of no power.

What is a good battery and minimum power to back up that can run 4 power head (12W each), a return pump (70W)and 2 heaters (1000w and 250w) for 10 hours? Is it even possible or i need a generator?

I probably will buy the generator but looking for a battery in case i am out of town for half a day.

Thanks
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tlo · #2 10-20-2009, 06:02 PM

I have norma 1800, it will run 2 powerheads for 8-10 hours. I think if you want to run a return pump and heaters, you will need a generator.

mr.wilson · #3 10-20-2009, 06:37 PM

Canadian Tire puts the Noma units on sale periodically. Some of them can be used with a daisy chain of deep charge marine batteries. Car batteries are not suitable because they are shallow charge designed for multiple short runs (starting vehicles).

If you have a huge tank, wallet and other requirements for power for the rest of your family, then a natural gas generator is the best option. They start at around $4000.00.

The easy option is a DC air pump with a power outage sensor. Air lifts can be hidden in your reef and be on standby. Air lifts are more efficient than powerheads. The only reason we don't use them all the time is noise, salt creep, and aesthetics. None of these are issues when the power goes out. Air driven protein skimmers that drop right into the tank are also a good idea if you live in a remote area where power outages are potentially more frequent and longer in duration.

Coleus · #4 10-20-2009, 06:53 PM

I live in city and don't experience much power outages. If it happens, only last for couple hours or so. So any Battery back up will work for 4x power head and 3500W gas generator is good enough?
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viperfish · #5 10-21-2009, 04:10 AM

I was checking out the NOMA at Canadian Tire on the weekend. I am in the same position and I am thinking a generator would probably be the most bang for the buck. Any recommendations on a nice compact and powerful generator?

russp · #6 10-21-2009, 04:20 AM

last winter we had a 8 hour power outage , I went to Napa & bought a 1000watt gas generator for $179.00 . It worked great running 2 koralia 4 pumps , heater , lights , skimmer. 1 tank of gas lasted about 4-5 hrs.

fkshiu · #7 10-21-2009, 04:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by medhatreefguy

I was checking out the NOMA at Canadian Tire on the weekend. I am in the same position and I am thinking a generator would probably be the most bang for the buck. Any recommendations on a nice compact and powerful generator?

Honda. But I doubt you'd want to put in that much $ for a back up generator unless you plan on using it all the time. CanTi and Costco sell a bargain brand call Champion which is affordable.

Don't forget to run the generator OUTDOORS. It's something a lot of people forget about when they're in a panic setting one up.

The other consideration is "what happens if the power goes out and you're not home"? A generator is useless in this scenario unless you have it hooked up to your household power with an auto-start. Using one of those Noma units purely as a life support system (i.e. just your return pump - which will last for hours and hours) is probably the best, most economical bang for your buck.

Coleus · #8 10-21-2009, 04:57 AM

is Champion a good brand when needed? Won't use much only when powertage is out.

Noma unit is $400 at CT and Champion generator is 400 at Costco

Don';t have budget to get both right now. Hmmm
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fkshiu · #9 10-21-2009, 05:11 AM

Don't know much about Champion but I have heard of at least one person who bought one from CanTire and it didn't work. Then when he tried to return it they told him he couldn't because he already put gas in it! It took a lot of complaining before they allowed him to exchange it I think.

Anyway, it'll probably work fine. But like all bargain equipment the chances of it not working fine or not being very reliable are worse than with other, more established brands.

One more thing - cheap generators are very loud. Since you have to run them outdoors, be wary of local noise ordinances especially at night. Some dude in the neighbourhood a while ago decided to do some renovating late at night with various power tools. Somebody actually called the cops (not me) who came and told him to STFU. Needless to say that was the end of his reno work that night.

mr.wilson · #10 10-21-2009, 05:13 AM

The nice thing about an air pump backup system is it will cost you less than $20 and it comes on automatically when the power goes out. The air lift is more effective than a powerhead because it moves just as much water but does so from the bottom to the top rather than the less efficient side-side pattern of a powerhead. You can hide a few air lines within your rock work. When the power goes off, the ac plug switches the battery operated air pump on. You will get many hours out of the battery. The B10 model is just an air pump, while the B11 model has the auto-activation when the power goes out.
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