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Battery Backup for your tank?

MikeNapoli

MikeNapoli

Has anyone tried one of these things on their tank?

http://www.pcdirectsource.com/Item.cfm?ID=1518

Icecap sells the one for the Vortech for $150+. This thing is $80 and can power a whole computer for 20-60 minutes depending on how big your computer can be.

If you hook up a Korallia powerhead or two up to this thing it can run for hours if the power were to go out.

What do you think?
 
MikeNapoli

MikeNapoli

Matt, how long do your returns run for if the power goes out?

I was only thinking to use them on the powerhead inside the tank just to keep the flow moving and the water surface rippling.

Also if you like the way yours is can you post a link or a name of the brand, make, and model.

Thanks.
 
B

boontonbob

Mike - I'm interested to see if Matt has more info. on how long they work as well.

I did make it through a 10 hour outage once with two of those $10.00 battery operated pumps. I think they last about that long on two D batteries and will take care of the oxygen supply and provide some very light flow. I did have to set up a propane heater in my poorly ventilated basement, which I was not feeling to good about.

I eventually want to have a solution for the big outage's. I know my friend over Montville had just endured a dau without power. He had a generator on hand.
 
J

J.Hoffa

Hey every1..New to the site. I purchased the same exact thing for my tank last year and it wasnt what I expected. They do rate it to last up to an hour but what people dont realized is that when a computer shuts down 1/4-1/2 of its power is still pulsing off of the internal power supply. Anyway we had a power outtage in July'07 for about 3 hours and it only lasting on my return pump for about 35 mins. (2.4 amp) Thats what these things really dig for....35 mins was cool but I still had to sweat it out :p for the next 2 1/2 hrs. So after this experience I wanted to upgrade to something thats gonna keep my corals and fish alive incase I got hit with another 3hr or even longer outtage. I started searching on ebay and found a very experienced dealer that specializes in just battery back ups. I purchased one that will last for 6-10 hrs rated on my return pump and heater. I got it for $200.. considering I have over $1200 in corals and fish, why not!! My girl though I was crazy but a storm that hit 2 months after getting it proved her wrong. No BS!!! Our power went out for 6 hours and the ups had plenty of juice to go.. Since then I've been preaching this to anyone with alot of money in their tanks.. Heres the link of where I got it if anyone is interested.. *** Nice site you guys got going here ***
 
malulu

malulu

NJRC Member
Like J.Hoffa mentioned, APS brand name is very good, and have excellent services.

a long time old friend of mine, he run an internet services provider company, and he told me, he only use APS' brand name, you only need one call, APS ship the replacement to you right away; so when i got my APS unit 3 years ago, the battery only last about 5 mins during a test, i call APS, sure enough, they ship me a new battery and give me a free postage for send back the old one.

back to topic:
- i did not use it to connect to my return pump.
- i only use it to connect to a power head, an air pump, and a in-tank heater.
- i made my own a little special device that my air pump only be on when the power goes out, don't need air for normal usage

thx
 
M

mott768

It all depends on the wattage and how big your return pump is. Mine has run as long as 3 hours and had juice left when the power came back on. I run a mag 7 on 1 tank, a quiet one 3000 on another and a genx pcx40 on another. I had a spare 800avr from one of my freshwater tanks and use that on my vortech. the lower the wattage of the pump the longer they will last. The other nice feature I like about cyberpower is the avr protection, we get a lot of brown outs here. I had a APC 700 and I didn't like it. It didn't last as long, only about half an hour and hated the curping sound it made when the power went out. No telling how long the cyberpowers will last now cause they are now about 3-5 years old ::)

The advise I'll give is get the biggest one you can afford no matter the brand.
 
R

reneeRN

I have that APC 1250 on one of my tanks, I bought it from Walmart on clearance for $35. I have another one on a frag tank that i got for $20, I took it apart, it actually has a motor scooter battery in it! The same battery my kids have in their electric Schwinn scooters. One battery, the scooters have two in them. The power never went out.
 
R

reefitup

interesting... so my kid might loose his scooter when the lights go out ;)

I actually had (or maybe have, I dunno) an old cyberpower I had gotten from Sams Club that the battery died on it... My boy might be in trouble if I can find it... lol
 
R

reneeRN

J.Hoffa said:
I purchased one that will last for 6-10 hrs rated on my return pump and heater. I got it for $200.. considering I have over $1200 in corals and fish, why not!! My girl though I was crazy but a storm that hit 2 months after getting it proved her wrong. No BS!!! Our power went out for 6 hours and the ups had plenty of juice to go.. Since then I've been preaching this to anyone with alot of money in their tanks..
Click to expand...
Hey J.Hoffa, I looked into buying this item, but then I looked at the specs on it. It lasts a mere 25.2 minutes (475 Watts) which is half juice. Full juice 7.0 minutes (950 Watts). WOW that is no good if you use a heater. Really. Look at the specs at this APC website.
http://www.apc.com/resource/include/techspec_index.cfm?base_sku=SU1400NET&tab=models
maybe yours is BIONIC!
 
mynd

mynd

I use this one on my tank WITH the extra battery.

http://www.apc.com/products/family/index.cfm?id=23#anchor1

I believe it is 1500 XS/RS and can be purchased at bestbuy or circuit city for about 300.00. Yes I know it is expensive, but worthwhile.. It keeps my heater and my pump running for over 2 hours with a wattage requirement of 58.5 watts. I could add on my other pump at 45 watts and still have close to 2 hours of backup time at 100watts.

I don't worry, do you?
 
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