Total power consumption on all your tanks?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
R

riverfishguy

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Mar 7, 2007
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Poplar Bluff, Missouri
Was generator shopping when I realised I didnt have a clue how large of a generator I would need in case of a power outage to keep all my tanks running like normal. I went around to all my tanks checking amps and wattage used and came up with about 4500 watts if I didnt run my salt tank lights and about 5400 if I did. Amperage output on a 5500 watt rated generator was enough to meet tank demands. So to be safe im now shopping for a 6000 watt generator.

Anybody else planning on buying or already have a generator for backup fishtank power?

(Didnt figure in running the lights on the normal FW tanks since they dont need light for a couple days to survive just fine.)
 
It would be cheaper and more efficient in my opinio to get one of these vs a gas pawered.. or were these what you were talking about??

http://www.aapower.com/7kwgenerac-generator.html

I have seent hem at homedepot and other sinilar stores as well.. I was looking into this as well.. Last year..
 
Yeah i've been lookin at both. Will go with built in unit if i buy the house im at. Will buy a portable soon for now either way. I keep getting paranoid about what one day long power outage in cold weather could do.
 
Ahhhh, your in my field now...

The key to cost efficient backup power is to modify the tank's hardware to support two seperate incomming lines. One for backup use, and another for use when only on utility power. I use two power strips for this purpose. One is on the backup side of a UPS, the other on the surge side. Put the majority of your lighting on the "no" side as it isn't vital for short term power outages (less than 24hrs for planted or reef). Also, non essential items like redundant filters, substrate heaters, co2, ect. should also go on the no side. Are your power demands still too high? Try running two seperate heaters per tank. Let's say 300w is your norm, so get a 150-200w backup and set it a few degrees cooler then the main unit. Put the main unit on the "no" side and the backup on the "backup" side of your power system. The heater will work hard when it does come on, but it's only for the term of the power outage. It's alot cheaper to buy a second heater then it is to buy a larger genset. Make sense?

BTW, my main tank's system runs about 1000w normal, and about 500-600w on backup. I live in an apartment so a genset was kinda out of the question. My choice was a large UPS.
 
since our large tank is at work, it is served by the diesel generator there ( 100kw 3 phase). since earthquakes are a reality here, diesel seemed more reliable than utility supplied fuel.

it is set with an automatic transfer switch which starts the generator and switches the power to the generator from dwp.

ebay has many generator for sale

OPTION

the other option is to use a DC to AC inverter. just like a UPS for a computer. It uses rechargeable batteries ( car/truck) which are keep charged by your regular power. during an outage it runs off the batteries as required.

this can be any size depending on your load and projected down time. for smaller systems you could use your car to charge a battery to extend the run time.
 
This is the generator i've been looking at. Has enough power and amperage to power all my filters pumps and heaters @ its rated load. You can also get a propane and natural gas coversion kit for it. Since propane and LNG don't go bad id prefer going that route. Plus during a major power outage gas pumps might be off but I can always scrounge up propane cylinders somewhere. I'm wanting something that can power everything due to living a couple hours from St. louis and knowing several friends who lost all there fish due to the power outage lasting upwards of 6 days in some places. Planning on a generac 04373 if I buy the house.

http://salestores.com/yamaha08.html
 
riverfishguy;1405156; said:
This is the generator i've been looking at. Has enough power and amperage to power all my filters pumps and heaters @ its rated load. You can also get a propane and natural gas coversion kit for it. Since propane and LNG don't go bad id prefer going that route. Plus during a major power outage gas pumps might be off but I can always scrounge up propane cylinders somewhere. I'm wanting something that can power everything due to living a couple hours from St. louis and knowing several friends who lost all there fish due to the power outage lasting upwards of 6 days in some places. Planning on a generac 04373 if I buy the house.

http://salestores.com/yamaha08.html
Click to expand...


looks like a quality unit :)
 
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