natalia_la_loca Posted May 25, 2016 Share Posted May 25, 2016 What are people using to keep their pico systems running in the event of a power outage? I've tried using a couple of different battery-powered airpumps and they were both so poorly made that I could never trust them to work. I'd like to find something that could potentially keep the whole system running for several hours, since my 1.75-gallon reef appears to use less than 25 watts total (based on the stated wattage of the lamp, heater and airpump). Any ideas? Preferably simple/inexpensive ones? Link to comment
Tamberav Posted May 25, 2016 Share Posted May 25, 2016 Some people us UPS made for computers. I don't have any personal experience with them though. Which brand of airpumps did you try? I have always been eyeballing: http://www.amazon.com/Penn-Plax-Silent-Battery-Operated-Pump/dp/B004PBIKHU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1464198257&sr=8-2&keywords=battery+powered+air+pump+aquarium It turns on automatically when the power goes out and seems to have good reviews. Link to comment
brandon429 Posted May 25, 2016 Share Posted May 25, 2016 mine is that ultra reliable double d battery one from amazon, about fifteen bucks, that you plug into the wall and it is not on. then when power outage, it comes on via d batteries and can run like three days its amazing, and its been used before w success in my bowl, can recommend. search out battery backup auto on aquarium pump Link to comment
natalia_la_loca Posted May 25, 2016 Author Share Posted May 25, 2016 Some people us UPS made for computers. I don't have any personal experience with them though. Which brand of airpumps did you try? I have always been eyeballing: http://www.amazon.com/Penn-Plax-Silent-Battery-Operated-Pump/dp/B004PBIKHU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1464198257&sr=8-2&keywords=battery+powered+air+pump+aquarium It turns on automatically when the power goes out and seems to have good reviews. Yeah, I've been looking at the UPS. It seems like they ought to work given that the stated wattage for several of them is far higher than what my system consumes. I did have the Penn Plax battery-operated pump. It's a piece-o-junk. It kind of worked for a little while but was as noisy as a freight train and died the second or third time I used it. mine is that ultra reliable double d battery one from amazon, about fifteen bucks, that you plug into the wall and it is not on. then when power outage, it comes on via d batteries and can run like three days its amazing, and its been used before w success in my bowl, can recommend. search out battery backup auto on aquarium pump Like that idea, I'll look into it EDIT: Can you post a link to what you're using? I look for those keywords and can't find anything that seems to fit what you're talking about. Except maybe the Icecap battery backup which costs $110 and is only designed to power an air pump. Link to comment
brandon429 Posted May 25, 2016 Share Posted May 25, 2016 http://www.amazon.com/Penn-Plax-Silent-Battery-Operated-Pump/dp/B004PBIKHU/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1464205994&sr=1-1&keywords=battery+backup+air+pump at work I have to run but this is almost it, search out the D version of this. this above is the strict battery on/off not auto version we want. the other one has a power plug, costs a bit extra, and does out function exactly right I think its the D model check it out Link to comment
Clown79 Posted May 25, 2016 Share Posted May 25, 2016 Outside of a generator there is nothing known to run a whole system. Most ppl use battery back up air pumps because the lack of oxygen is a main concern. Corals can live without light far longer than we think-they certainly don't get much light during storms in the ocean. Alloqing sunlight in through a window will help. Temp control is another issue because heaters draw a lot of power so having back up is hard but ppl have been known to run battery run fans to cool their tanks or fill ziploc bags with ice cubes and float them to reduce heat. To increase temp you can float ziploc bags filled with hot water, wrap the tank in blankets to maintain the temp. Link to comment
natalia_la_loca Posted May 25, 2016 Author Share Posted May 25, 2016 http://www.amazon.com/Penn-Plax-Silent-Battery-Operated-Pump/dp/B004PBIKHU/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1464205994&sr=1-1&keywords=battery+backup+air+pump at work I have to run but this is almost it, search out the D version of this. this above is the strict battery on/off not auto version we want. the other one has a power plug, costs a bit extra, and does out function exactly right I think its the D model check it out The Penn-Plax battery pump with the power plug is the one I had before that didn't work very well. Maybe I just had a dud, or should just count on replacing it every so often. Link to comment
brandon429 Posted May 25, 2016 Share Posted May 25, 2016 yes it had to be dud, mines 10 yrs old and I test it annually, replace the batts. when its on its louder than a normal pump, but that's only in emergencies, its flow rate was all I cared about and it does pump I cant find a thing better than that d pump Link to comment
Clown79 Posted June 4, 2016 Share Posted June 4, 2016 Always take the batteries out when not in use and stored. The batteries can leak and could have caused the pump to go. Link to comment
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