Anyone use a UPS for power outages?

[TWallace]

I'm considering getting a UPS for my system. I had a short outage last night. I have a backup air pump that turns on automatically, but I realized that that doesn't create much aeration. I'd feel safer if I could leave a Koralia 4 or Tunze nanostream on in the case of a power outage, as I feel that'd create more aeration throughout the tank.

Are UPSs a good option for this? Most of them list a battery run time of only 15 minutes to maybe an hour. However, I believe this is when running a computer and monitor (around 250 to 1000 watts) while a Koralia or nanostream only uses around 5-15 watts. Would it run a weak pump like that for several hours?

 

[burning2nd]

even the largest one will only give you a limited amount of time..

I have 2 on 2 tanks... just for power heads tunze's

I could test it for you but i only have small apc's the larger ones 1000watt plus have some pritty big battery's

Im gonna go with a yes for large apc and small tunze for a few hours.

 

[gas4544]

In August, I ordered one of these:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000E6LEI2

I have it set up on one of my tanks. I also recently purchased a small Honda generator to take care of power outages.

Here is a thread that talks about it:
http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=47026&highlight=xantrex

We live in Edmonds, too. What time did your power go out and for hold long was it out?

Gary

 

[Michael39924]

ups

I got one of those

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16842102048&cm_re=ups-_-42-102-048-_-Product

Should work for several hours running just koralia 3's (2 of them)

No power outage so far but a honda generator is next on the list

 

[TWallace]

In August, I ordered one of these:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000E6LEI2

I have it set up on one of my tanks. I also recently purchased a small Honda generator to take care of power outages.

Here is a thread that talks about it:
http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=47026&highlight=xantrex

We live in Edmonds, too. What time did your power go out and for hold long was it out?

Gary

It went out a little after midnight. I woke up because my backup air pump is pretty loud. I noticed that all the other apartments were dark, too. It came back on around 1:15am.

Have you tested that UPS to see how long it will run? What do you power with it? Just a powerhead?

 

[gas4544]

I have not tested my Xantrex for an extended period yet. I have just two Koralia 1's hooked up to it.

g

 

[scytale]

I've had my Xantrex run for about 4hours w/ just a maxijet on it.

But personally I like to keep a small heater on there too--that shortens the run-time by about 3 hours though...

I find mine to be a good stop-gap measure--just enough time for me to get home if the power goes out while I'm at work--but if it's a serious power-outage you'll need something else eventually (like a generator/inverter).

 

[Kurt_Nelson]

I've had my Xantrex run for about 4hours w/ just a maxijet on it.

But personally I like to keep a small heater on there too--that shortens the run-time by about 3 hours though...

I find mine to be a good stop-gap measure--just enough time for me to get home if the power goes out while I'm at work--but if it's a serious power-outage you'll need something else eventually (like a generator/inverter).

I've also got that Xantrex and will vouch for it. Good unit for the price. You better have a generator also if you've got $$ invested in the tank, but the Xantrex will at least cover you for those 2-3 hour outages in the middle of the night... without having to get out of bed to hook up the generator.

 

[TWallace]

Thanks all for the advice. I just ordered 2 of these. I'll use one for each tank to run small powerheads. I figure I'll also plug in a battery powered air pump to each, so that if I have an extended outage, the air pumps will turn on when the UPS battery dies.

 

[Kurt_Nelson]

Hmm. Just realize you aren't going to get the run times with that versus the Xantrex unit. You're only getting 16 Amp-Hours of battery with that unit... the Xantrex gives you 40 Amp-Hours.