UPS ideas

[DiverDude]

This subject has been discussed quite a bit already but one detail that hasn't really been addressed all that much is actually one of the most basic -and applies to your recent situation, and that is information.

In other words, one of the biggest things is to KNOW the power has gone out. Had you known, perhaps you could have called someone to go and start that generator.

So perhaps some way of being advised by SMS or such if there is a power failure would be the most valuable 'backup' you could have.

Of course, you need to have someone who can get into your house, connect and run a generator and preferably has reef experience. I guess that means you need a 'disaster plan' so that the person doing this for you is prepped and knows how to do all this and isn't figuring it out on the fly.

[TimT]

Here's an idea I been thinking about, get a computer UPS, plug in a 5watt korallia pump. Korallia runs whether powers on or not. Should keep you going for at least 12hours in a failure. Plus UPS beeps when there's a power failure.

[sphelps]

Typically all you should really need is a battery powered air pump, pretty cheap investment and it should keep your fish alive during a typical outage.

I have a hard time understanding how you lost so much coral over a 6 hour outage. Typically fish are sensitive because of the lack of oxygen but corals aren't typically effected so easily. I went through a lengthy outage once (around 6-8 hours) with a full SPS tank and I didn't suffer any coral loss.

[wolf_bluejay]

Originally Posted by DiverDude

This subject has been discussed quite a bit already but one detail that hasn't really been addressed all that much is actually one of the most basic -and applies to your recent situation, and that is information.

In other words, one of the biggest things is to KNOW the power has gone out. Had you known, perhaps you could have called someone to go and start that generator.

So perhaps some way of being advised by SMS or such if there is a power failure would be the most valuable 'backup' you could have.

Of course, you need to have someone who can get into your house, connect and run a generator and preferably has reef experience. I guess that means you need a 'disaster plan' so that the person doing this for you is prepped and knows how to do all this and isn't figuring it out on the fly.

I figured I would mention this, as I always monitor power outages all over BC during my work day as it tends to cause servers to stop working:

BC hydro now has RSS feeds of the regional power outages. So if you use a RSS new reader you can get updates on any power outages in your area. They are fairly specific right down to which streets and how many people are out. And of course, you can follow the link to BC hydro's outage maps.

PS -- regular UPS do not handle motors/pumps very well and most of the smaller ones (square wave) will not turn the pump at all. Active line UPS will work, but for something that will run good size pump will be very expensive.

Cheapest solution, next to a generator -- 12VDC pump, controller by a relay connected to main power. When the power goes out, the relay closes and the pump starts. All automatic, runs for hours, and the largest cost is the battery.

[Ian]

Timing of the power outage was pretty bad as I and my wife were both out of town and yeah just one of those things.. I have a couple battery operated air pumps coming in , in the next couple days and am looking at a few back up power supplies oh and training a tank sitter as well...but he was on call and out of town as wel when this all happened...grr

As for losing the SPS I think the power temp and temp drop started a much bigger crash ( tenmp was down a fair bit).. I did a few very large water changes and monitored thing very closely but yeah couldn't save them.....chalking it up to a harsh learning situation that I will not let happen again if i can avoid it.
On that not new system is about half full of water now....need a faster Ro system I'm thinkin..