UPS? Power shut off

[Reef-Geek]

Hi, all

My apartment will have a 8 hours(high chance it will be shorter than that) power shut off from 11pm-7am and I need you advice.

I have a 34 gallon mixed reef tank, water volume is about 25-27 gallon.
What should I do when power is cut off?

1.I can turn the room heater on 25C before the power shut off, and use blankets to wrap the tank. Will that be efficient to keep the temperature not dropping too fast for 8 hours?

2.The cheap APC UPS (http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/product/apc-battery-back-up-be350g-cn/10108829.aspx?path=a98e5f5bd91000644bce15be1624be8 2en02)can only hold 50w device for 16mins, so obvious I cannot connect it to me 100w heater. Should I get one for the pumps(mp10)? Is it essential? Does any one of you have a ups?

3.any more advices? suggestions?

[ottoman]

This may sound stupid, try get some hot water bag from dollar store, fill with hot water before power out, tie them around the tank. If you are still worry, try home depot, they may have generator for rent.

[cathyg_99]

i would say get a battery powered air stone and just make sure there is still movement in the tank, if you can maybe even get a battery pack for your powerhead you should be okay with that... the most important thing is air and movement

[cale262]

I'd call Hertz Equipment and rent a small gas generator for the day.


or just google "tool rental vancouver"...

[Reef-Geek]

Thanks, so how much will the temperature drop in 8 hours if no heater?
My current temperature is around 27C

[cale262]

http://www.abtoolrentals.com/equipment.asp?action=category&category=60&key=060%2D0064

or

http://www.abtoolrentals.com/equipment.asp?action=category&category=60&key=060%2D0070

[Reef-Geek]

http://www.abtoolrentals.com/equipment.asp?action=category&category=60&key=060%2D0064

Thanks, have you actually tried it?
how quiet is it?

[cale262]

Thanks, have you actually tried it?
how quiet is it?


I've used the honda gens quite a bit (camping etc.) and they are very quiet.

NOISE: 59DBA @ FULL LOAD


A blender makes more noise than that :wink:

[ScubaSteve]

Send Daniel (Carrera75) a PM. He had the same issue recently and I believe he rented batteries (kinda like the Candian Tire "jump that your car in jiffy" kinda deals). Worked well for him.

[abcha0s]

Thanks, so how much will the temperature drop in 8 hours if no heater?
My current temperature is around 27C

Your temperautre will drop rapidly. It will reach ambient room temperature within an hour or two (max).

You didn't mention if your heating was electrical or gas? - If it is gas and you set your room temp at 25C then you won't need to worry about your temp. If it's electrical heating and the apartment drops to 15C, you could have a real problem.

You only need to worry about heating above the ambient room temp. Same principal as cooling in the summer. You can cool the tank, or you can cool the room.

- Brad

[cwatkins]

Do you have a gas fireplace? Just leave that on.

Alternately, I'd just get a UPS to run a power head and an air stone. Wrap the tank or use Home Depot foam insulation.

Also, you could increase the tank temperature by a degree so that it stays warmer longer?

[Kevotron]

or purchase a heat dish ~$30 from costco and point it directly at the tank.
should be warm enough to keep the temperature @ 25 degrees or so.

[hillegom]

You have to plug that heat dish in. He won't have power.
I would warm the room a couple of hours before.
get the battery operated air stone.
Use foam/blankets
Do not open windows or doors or use bathroom fans.

[Kevotron]

You have to plug that heat dish in. He won't have power.
I would warm the room a couple of hours before.
get the battery operated air stone.
Use foam/blankets
Do not open windows or doors or use bathroom fans.

Heh ! Thanks Hillegom...
if only i can delete that post :P
I would get an APC Back-UPS LS 700 ~$160 which capable of 400 watts
plug in a small power head/heater it will easily last 4-6 hrs ?

[apex82]

Definately need to spend $150 or more on a ups backup in order for it to power up a powerhead. I had one of those $65ish huge block apc ups and it couldnt even run a koralia 3 with it fully charged... Upgraded to a much beefier unit 1000 watts+ and it runs all pumps etc for over 60 minutes.

[abcha0s]

Definately need to spend $150 or more on a ups backup in order for it to power up a powerhead. I had one of those $65ish huge block apc ups and it couldnt even run a koralia 3 with it fully charged... Upgraded to a much beefier unit 1000 watts+ and it runs all pumps etc for over 60 minutes.

I agree.

Just to add my tidbit of useless knowledge to the mix - the difference is the cheap units put out a square wave and the better units put out a sine wave. I've never tried it, but my guess is that a powerhead (or any pump) won't run on a square wave.

- Brad