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I need back-up advice! PSEG Blackout for 1 hour today...

Hawkeye

Hawkeye

Power went down at about 8PM and did not get restored until about 9:30ish. When we called at 8pm - they said they would call back with an update at 12AM. ???

Anyways - I do not have any back-up. So i'm looking for thoughts.

Gas Generator?

Computer UPC?

Battery-powered air bubbler?

what do you use and why...?
 
H

hurtback

computer upc wont work---i just read an article in one of the aquarium mags---pumps would draw to much power and drain the power out to fast--only thing upc would be good for would be to run a heater for awhile---i'll look thru the mags to find the article and let you know there answer
 
M

mott768

hurtback said:
computer upc wont work---i just read an article in one of the aquarium mags---pumps would draw to much power and drain the power out to fast--only thing upc would be good for would be to run a heater for awhile---i'll look thru the mags to find the article and let you know there answer
Click to expand...

100% wrong a heater will drain a UPC faster than a pump will cause of the amount of wattage and the constant on/off. I've been using a UPC for all my tanks for 10 years now. the only thing I have plugged into them is the return pump from the sump (quiet one 3000 on one tank and a genx 40 and QO 4000 on the other tank, I get a little over 3 hours run time on both tanks. I also have a another UPC that has a power head plugged into it and that thing runs for hours. Get a UPC that has a high wattage and a pump that uses the least wattage and you'll have hours of run time. I use cyberpower 1250avr UPS's

I should also add it will depend on the size of your tank and pump, if you use a pump that uses a lot of wattage (I'd say anything over 180w) then you may want to go with a gas generater.
 
D

ds4x4

ii hit up tractor supply last storm we had and got a champion generator rated for 4500/3500. i ran two tanks on it for half the night with no problems. great quality if you ask me. i ran the main pump and HOB filter along with a power head in each to keep the water flowing. also had some lights and the fridge all hooked up :)!
 
D

Dave

IMO it really depends on what you want to accomplish.

At the end of the day, it comes down to how much power do you need/want and for how long.

I have used my computer UPC to keep my pump running for a couple of hours. (power came back before it ran out of juice.)

But I have a 60 gallon tank with a relatively small pump.

If I wanted to keep my tank fully functional, then clearly the UPC would not have been the answer.
 
Hawkeye

Hawkeye

Thanks everyone.

Having backup power was always on my list of 'to-dos'. Imagine a BIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGGGG hat on my head that reads "PROCRASTINATOR". ;)

I will investigate all the options presented!

this club is great!
 
R

Rbu1

The best way to go is an emergency stand by unit powered by natural gas....That way even if your not home you are protected... ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
 
R

Rbu1

Be ready for tonight more storms on the horizon.....Being a PSE&G employee they always force us to work when storms are predicted......
 
H

hurtback

thru your experience obviously it works for you---but in the May issue of TFH magazine there's a piece on backup power and then a follow up in the August issue in ' Letters to the editor'---i dont have a back up power set up ...i had just read the article when hawheye posted the question

mott768 said:
hurtback said:
computer upc wont work---i just read an article in one of the aquarium mags---pumps would draw to much power and drain the power out to fast--only thing upc would be good for would be to run a heater for awhile---i'll look thru the mags to find the article and let you know there answer
Click to expand...

100% wrong a heater will drain a UPC faster than a pump will cause of the amount of wattage and the constant on/off. I've been using a UPC for all my tanks for 10 years now. the only thing I have plugged into them is the return pump from the sump (quiet one 3000 on one tank and a genx 40 and QO 4000 on the other tank, I get a little over 3 hours run time on both tanks. I also have a another UPC that has a power head plugged into it and that thing runs for hours. Get a UPC that has a high wattage and a pump that uses the least wattage and you'll have hours of run time. I use cyberpower 1250avr UPS's

I should also add it will depend on the size of your tank and pump, if you use a pump that uses a lot of wattage (I'd say anything over 180w) then you may want to go with a gas generater.
Click to expand...
 
H

hurtback

the article does say a upc unit WILL drain faster with a heater hooked up to it, but, will not last long will a pump hooked up to it to either...
for bigger tanks the article does suggest a generator type backup unit...
all in all--- just something else to think about and plan for so our tanks dont suffer from a power outage
 
S

ssm05rsx

Dan uses the highest rated Geek Squad UPC that Best Buy sells on his 90g. I think he just has the heater and the return pump plugged into it. When we lost power for a little over an hour or so, the unit ran the pump and heater with no problems. I know thats not a lot of time but thats about the most test time it has gotten.
I think its this one: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7383976&type=product&id=1122654248983
I plan on picking up the same UPC eventually for my nano. Better than just losing power in my apartment.
-Ralph
 
H

hurtback

ssm05rsx said:
Dan uses the highest rated Geek Squad UPC that Best Buy sells on his 90g. I think he just has the heater and the return pump plugged into it. When we lost power for a little over an hour or so, the unit ran the pump and heater with no problems. I know thats not a lot of time but thats about the most test time it has gotten.
I think its this one: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7383976&type=product&id=1122654248983
I plan on picking up the same UPC eventually for my nano. Better than just losing power in my apartment.
-Ralph
Click to expand...

experience counts for something---seems like a pc UPC will work---nice to see people trying things even tho articles say dont use UPC
good information.......
 
S

ssm05rsx

ds4x4 said:
for another $100 all you need is gas and shell go as long as u want.

http://www.tractorsupply.com/tools/...t-3-500-watts-6-5-hp-c46540-generator-4434023

exactly what i bought just need to get the wheel kit for it. AND you'll have cold beer while the lights are out.
Click to expand...

True but we didnt get the UPC for full price. Lucky for us, Dan is a Best Buy employee and got a nice discount on the UPC. Haha
Personally I think thats his only option right now - he could always get one for the heater and one for the pump if he really wanted to - but I doubt our parents will let him get a generator to leave at the house. Our dad is an electrician though and can grab a generator if things get really bad.

But for me, a UPC is my only option in my 4th floor apartment in Philly. Just need him to pick me up one sometime soon.

-Ralph
 
steamman

steamman

I also use a UPC for backup in my tank. Depending on the load you put on the battery it can run long enough. It cannot run your lights. Your pumps and heater can run for better than an hour on one. Reduce the load to just what you feel is sufficient if the power goes out and it will last for quite a while.
 
U

ukman

There are much bigger UPC available that you will not find in any best buy.
Although they will cost alot more.
The APC web site can custom configure a upc for you.
gas generator is good so long as your there to turn it on.
A UPC is peace of mind (at a price)
Battery powered anything is always good.

Good Luck
 
M

MLKsreef

I use a computer battery as my back up. The first time my power went out I panicked. It was out for several hours. I bought the back up after that. When running the back up constantly, it lasted about 2.5 hours. I only have my main pump to it to circulate and aerate the tank. Now, I would run it for about ten minutes or so every hour just to circulate and aerate the tank to preserve the battery in the event the power is out for extended periods. Tank temp shouldn't be an issue, mainly oxygen.
 
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