• the power is out: actions of the sailor

  • Julie

Brothers! I propose to discuss in this topic the problem that, unfortunately, no one is insured against, given the current realities. Personally, I have not faced the problem of long-term power outages in my home, there were a couple of outages for a maximum of 1 hour, the entire aquarium froze, about 40 liters of water flowed from the aquarium into the sump... and when the light was turned on, everything came back to life, the control sensor on the auto-top-up beeped unpleasantly until the water from the sump was pumped back into the aquarium, and everything became good and fun. But what if the accident lasts an hour, two, a day, two... and so on. Therefore, let's share our experience or say who and for how long had the power cut off, what a sailor needs to do so that the marine aquarium does not die, how long a marine aquarium can last without the equipment running, I understand, of course, that each marine aquarium is individual: the amount of live rock, volume, the number of fish, corals, etc. but nevertheless, general recommendations will be useful to everyone. I know that some marine aquarium hobbyists install a UPS on the return pump and on some flow pumps, but how long this equipment will last is also very individual, someone in a private house may have a diesel generator - that's also good. In general, as they say, it's better to overdo it

Timothy

For such cases, an inverter is used in conjunction with a 65 Ah car battery. A 12-hour power outage (previously announced) with a load of 2 Vortec MP40 pumps and a Deltec 5250 return pump, plus a compressor on a 300-liter freshwater tank, plus a Vortec MP10 on a resun, plus a hang-on filter on a mini tank - the backup system held up, and there was still time left. The cost of such a system is about 1500. This is roughly the price of 2-3 corals from Indonesia or one from Australia. During 12 hours, it would probably have cost a much larger amount of livestock.

Sharon

They cut off your power for an hour, but sometimes it's 8 or 12 hours for me. Everything has long been figured out "before us" - UPS and batteries - from a computer UPS with a 7Ah battery (which can run a stream for about eight hours) to a UPS with a sine wave and a battery of 26-100Ah - it will last for a day to power the return. Well, they don't warn us - they just cut it off, and the dispatcher’s response is "there's an emergency, wait, it will be soon" (and "soon" is a flexible concept). As for the car battery, I haven't dared to install it in the apartment yet - I've heard many times that it can be problematic.

Rodney

This was the first case I can remember where we were warned, and even a week in advance. I was supposed to go on vacation, so I stretched the "web" of wires throughout the apartment. The person who was watching the apartment reported that everything went well. In the case of unexpected outages lasting no more than an hour, the backup system only powers the large aquarium, while the small marine ones simply wait for electricity in a standby state.

Jacob

I plan to buy a generator like this for the winter. I will put it on the balcony. It's cheaper than a battery system.

Keith

It's good for a private house and for long outages. On the balcony, it will drive both the owners and the neighbors crazy, and it will also smell. Another downside is that it doesn't start on its own - that is, if the owner is at work and the power goes out, the aquarium will stop. So it's better to pay a little extra and be more or less at ease, although with our power supply companies, it's better to have both.

John

Aren't you afraid that the neighbors will be against the gasoline exhaust? And the balcony will smell so much after an hour of the generator running that it won't air out for a year.

Brandy

My friend has it on his balcony. The exhaust is routed outside, and it has a filter with activated carbon. He started it in front of me, and the noise is very low (it has a soundproof cover). As for the UPS while I'm at work, that's definitely better. But which UPS to choose? It needs to have the correct sine wave.

Julie

In a private house, you can manage with a car adapter (converter) for 220V - run a cord from the cigarette lighter to the aquarium. But the downside of presence remains.

Michelle

I bought a battery-operated aeration compressor. It works, but it makes a terrible noise. I would also buy a battery-operated pump, but I haven't found anything suitable yet. Can you suggest something?

Kristen

Is it true that a maintenance-free car battery also "gasses"? It seems to be sealed.

Andrea

It's better not to take a car battery, they break down quickly. Only gel batteries. Yes, they're expensive, but they will definitely last 4-5 years.

Nicholas

By the way, I can offer batteries and an uninterruptible power supply cheaper than on the website to anyone who needs them.

Kristen

If you manage to buy alkaline batteries, they can last for decades. I have a marine emergency flashlight from 1982. It still works great! Car batteries are called SТ - starter batteries. Their purpose is to provide a very high current to start the car, but the downsides are significant: high self-discharge, acid vapors, and they constantly need recharging. In our case, they will just sit for a few years and then be discarded. I definitely recommend alkaline batteries. You can read more about it here - Another advantage is that they can be purchased separately in an aquarium and configured to any voltage like batteries.

Elizabeth

It would be better if they had listed the price, then it would be cheaper to buy a power station. And the dimensions of one battery, and how many are needed for an uninterruptible power supply at 24 volts. A total of 20 pieces, since they are 1.2 volts each. That will take up half a balcony in batteries, and there will also be a lot of evaporation.

Heather

I will soon be selling a computer UPS set + this kind of battery.

Jasmine

batteries on Vortex 40 pumps + UPS (provides a correct sine wave) and a regular car battery on the terminals ..(it charges from the UPS when it is plugged into the outlet, and supplies it with electricity when it is turned off) all together cost about 400 USD in total. During unexpected power outages, the pumps work - there is flow (in economy mode, but there are 3 of them, so it's enough). If it's for a long time (more than 3 hours), I use the UPS for return and a foam generator.

Michelle

UPS Smart 750 pulls a Resan Waver 15000 for about 2 hours. Not enough. I thought about connecting a car battery, but it needs 24V. I'm currently pondering. The lifespan of gel batteries worries me—usually 2-3 years, and they are not extracted. For backup, I have a couple of small compressors powered by AA batteries. In the city, it's easier, but just imagine when the power goes out for 3 days and you're out of town... in winter... it was quite an experience.

Joshua

Max, my car battery cost about 350, has been working for a year, and is almost dead. The gel equivalent from your link is 1500, which is 4 times more expensive. A car battery lasts guaranteed for a year, while for 1500 I could buy a new battery every year for 4 years in a row. And what if the gel battery lasts less than 4 years? Where's the savings? Pay 1500 upfront or break that same amount into 4 payments of one per year...

Darrell

At the car market, when purchasing a new battery, you can return the old one (for recycling) for 100 UAH.

Robert

It turns out that if the power goes out infrequently and for a short time, up to 3-4 hours, then a UPS is needed. If there are frequent long outages, then a UPS plus a generator is required.

Richard

We accept for 20.

Jeffrey

For comparison, I set up two identical uninterruptible power supplies rated at 1400W: 1. with VARTA car batteries at 850 each (total 1700). 2. with LX 12-60G gel batteries at 1872 each (total 3744). Result: both VARTA batteries failed after 2 months, while the gel batteries are holding up excellently. The sea is not a cheap pleasure. I believe that one can manage without anything expensive, but it’s hard to do without a reliable uninterruptible power supply. There are many examples among our compatriots where, after going on vacation or for work, they returned to find a bunch of dead devices.

Adrienne

Once, I personally had no electricity for 3 days because someone stole a transformer from the transformer booth nearby. I was so frustrated running to work every hour to charge those computer UPS devices.

Brent

On one hand, I have no reason not to trust you, but on the other hand, even Kherson batteries last 2 years without problems, as long as you remember to add water. However, the Varta, which failed after 2 months, should have been replaced under warranty. I hope you got your money back? P.S. So, is there anything from 12 Volt pumps?

Barbara

Ray Anubis also says good things, but I've come across complaints about the 500 series online; I'm not aware of the others, I was interested in the 500. Those that definitely shouldn't be placed in an apartment because you can't add water.

Ronald

They are greedy with you, with us it's from 85 UAH and above. Come to Kharkiv to recycle batteries.

Earl

By the way, one of my batteries also died... I understand that inverters, no matter how you twist them, cause some kind of short circuit... that battery, which was used most often, since it is 74 amps, died after 2 months...

Wendy

I need a topic! Thank you!

Brianna

A regular car battery is not designed for constant "discharging and recharging" (the main consumer in the car is the starter; after that, the generator does its job. If it doesn't work, you can charge the battery every day and drive short distances during the day, but it won't last long!) I think it will fail.

Jose

In this regard, an alkaline one is better... or a gel one...

Jacqueline

In general, I figured that for my 300 liters, at least one circulation pump with a capacity of 5000 l/h is absolutely necessary, and it consumes 7.5V... Basically, a car battery will last for at least 12 hours (and after that, someone will be home and we can figure it out). The scariest thing is if the current disappears in the sea! Without a skimmer, it can be endured; the water can be replaced, and for that, light is not needed. But with the battery, it's a problem if you're not home... However, there were already suggestions above on how to handle that situation.

John

Has anyone heard anything about this Luxion?

Elijah

It's relevant for me. Who should I talk to at this company (who did you communicate with)?

Scott

I was consulted and served by

Melissa

normal..deficiencies....what about aeration?..what about aquariums of 300 liters..and more..there are such heaters and they cost a lot...and it is in such aquariums that the heart of the fish farm is located....but the reason was not mentioned. why can't it be connected..? UPS or battery fails?

Kathy

What a problem. Rambo compressor, and that's it.

Deborah

I have a compressor with a penny... but I'm not asking whether there was aeration or if the heater was running... I'm asking because everything is also looped... just a homemade setup... lead-acid battery... one battery died in 2 months... the second one is still holding on... so I'm thinking... a warning not to turn on the compressor and the heater—what's your first thought on what could have caused the battery to die?

Breanna

The ban on the heater is clear - it is a battery. According to the manufacturer, it is not specified which starting equipment cannot be connected. If it's EMPRA, then yes, there is interference when starting it in the network = UPS. With EPR, it seems there is none. As for the compressor... what is the fundamental difference from the pump?

Kathy

What’s the point of buying a gel battery for 2000 if it has the same harmful load of 300W as a lead-acid one?

Ryan

Is there evaporation from maintenance-free acid batteries as well? If nothing is added to the car for 3-4-5 years, does that mean there is no evaporation?

Jonathon

I don't know, but they are not recommended for the apartment, and the difference (up to 100 Baku) can be tolerated - it's not the most expensive thing in equipment for aquariums.

Michelle

You can, but for 800-100 you can buy an acid Bosch, and for 2000 - an unknown Chinese one.

Ryan

such a load is not harmful, but simply negates all the advantages of the backup power system. the purpose of gel batteries: - designed for prolonged low load during discharge - do not emit anything, unlike acid batteries All closed-type automotive acid batteries (maintenance-free) simply have built-in filters that can retain acid (within reasonable limits).

Matthew

How will a gel battery react to constant discharge and charge? Car acid batteries fail very quickly because of this. As soon as the power goes out, the inverter kicks in from the battery and provides about 1 kW of power, but not for long—maximum 3 hours. When I get home, I turn on the gasoline generator. One acid battery died in 2 months, and the second one is still holding up. So I'm thinking about getting a backup battery.

Steven

Buy a generator with automatic start...

Kayla

The generator is already there... but what kind of auto start?

Steven

If there is already a generator, then something like these devices.

Jeffery

Thank you for the tip. I will terrorize my radio enthusiast to create something similar. He also connected it so that the inverter turns on from the battery when the power goes out, and when it comes back, the charger turns on and the inverter turns off.

Earl

... from KAMAZ and put it on the balcony.

Stacey

If you live and work in Berezany (a tiny settlement), isn't it easier to set up an SMS alert for power outages and just come to start the generator? I don't think anything will happen to the aquarium in a couple of dozen minutes. The electricity doesn't go out every day, does it, or is it still frequent?

Reginald

often... I'm fed up with the power outages... I'll give a simple example. I was in Kyiv yesterday... my wife calls - the power is out... the battery didn't have time to charge properly... it lasted for an hour... I had to call a neighbor to come and start the generator... they turn off the power in different ways... sometimes often but for an hour or two... sometimes for a day... in short, this year you really have to hide... I can only imagine what it will be like when it snows...

Andrea

with such power outages, we'll have to take from the Kamaz...

Travis

Off-topic, but how does the equipment behave during power surges? Did anything burn out? I've often heard about how Chinese devices and Ahem units would fail...

Caitlin

Currently, there is an APC CS500 UPS for the computer, which powers the San-San stream. When the power goes out (switching to battery or just starting from the UPS), the stream has trouble "starting" and sometimes goes in the wrong direction (I checked with a sine wave UPS - everything is fine with the startup there). There is also a Resan stream - it starts and works from my UPS without problems, but it is too weak for my aquarium. I will buy a Coralia (since the San-San is too much for the current volume) - I will let you know later how it goes. The UPS handles "reasonable" voltage spikes; they all partially work as stabilizers.

Allison

People, this is not the first person (ON THE FORUM) recommending Luxion inverters. Who knows, can they be bought and installed, or do they need modifications like Leoton (installing protection against inductive voltages)? I called Luxion, and they said that no modifications are needed. ... "if your pump's power consumption is 50 W, then multiply it by 3. We get 150, and the inverter is rated for 350 W - that is, more than twice as much, so it will handle 100%." Can we trust this?

Helen

I don't know which website you were communicating on, but here: the young man Dmitry explained everything very clearly and understandably, even I understood what was what... and he suggested how to calculate the working time of the IPS...

Javier

Thank you, I will call him.

Steven

Today I bought this device. Luxeon 500-ZY. Power 300 W. I will power 2 flow and return pumps, a total of 45 W. The seller said that no modifications are needed. Leoton needs modifications because it is not a full UPS. The Luxeon has everything, it is line-on. Now I'm thinking about which battery to choose.

Caitlin

The seller from Leoton advised me as an alternative to the non-branded Chinese gel batteries to purchase any from the Varta Hobby series (not from them). They are several times cheaper than the Chinese gel batteries and can be used as traction batteries (i.e., specifically for such loads).

Vincent

how much did you give?

Eric

950g. The seller also said that there are some ultra-gel batteries, which are also cheaper.

Joshua

even Google doesn't know such things.

David

I was surprised myself. Tomorrow I will meet with him and ask about them. Maybe I remembered something incorrectly.

Crystal

I still got it wrong. Multi-gel. As I was just explained, multi-gel batteries are sensitive to low temperatures, unlike gel batteries. Multi-gel is much cheaper.

Andrea

Well, not much cheaper, about 15 percent. Don't even think about it, only gel. Multi-gel consists of a type of foam soaked in gel, and that's not the same thing at all.

Kevin

Can you justify?

Mark

Well, I hope the durability during destruction is not a concern. As for using it as a traction battery, maybe the Varta hobby, 50A = just 700. Regarding the lifespan of the Chinese batteries, two acquaintances had theirs die specifically in aquariums, not lasting 2 years. I found this in another article: "...Moreover, the gel is sensitive to high temperatures. In heat of 30°C or more, the gel battery will not last even 2 years." Source: Overall, it turns out to be nonsense, as the temperature in apartments is around 25, which is close to 30...

Marie

I had 2 Varta batteries die after a couple of months of use; the power went out three times for about five hours, deep discharge, and that's the end for lead-acid batteries. I'm not trying to sell anything, just sharing from personal experience.

Cassandra

I just want to understand. Thanks for the advice, personal experience is important! I just called luxion.com.ua, I will be ordering an inverter from them, and I also talked about the battery. His words: "... I haven't heard of a gel battery lasting more than three years." Although, if you say that the Varta died quickly... what kind of Varta was it, what model?

Mariah

if it's something like that, then it's just a saw, not even approximated for streams and pumps, it's not very good

Christopher

no, like this:

Daniel

better as above horizontal, the price is the same, there were a couple of not very flattering reviews about this one

Jeremy

For some reason, it seems that the filling is the same, and it would be more rational to use the space in the cabinet. But thanks for the advice, I'll think about it.

Aaron

Well, then take the 500LU (the one with the table