Power Failure
From RTAW Reefpedia
Contents |
Introduction
Power is the fundamental backbone of the Marine Aquarium, it enables the operation of...
- Pumps and Powerheads for water circulation
- Temperature Control - Heating or Cooling
- Lighting
- Filtration and Other Equipment - Protein Skimmers, Calcium Reactors, Fluidised Bed Filters, Auto Top Off devices.
Resources
- Backup Power by Andrew Trevor-Jones - details to building a battery powered 240V backup.
FAQ
So what will happen when there is a blackout or power outage?
The single most important issue of having no power is lack of oxygen to livestock and invertebrates.
Water circulation provides for gas exchange in the marine aquarium, oxygenated water from the surface is distributed to all other areas of the tank and in the same process sends carbon dioxide to the surface where it can disperse. Without sufficient oxygen levels livestock will be susceptible to death caused by hypoxia.
Lighting also plays a role in the oxygenation process due to photosynthesis, photosynthetic organisms are reliant on light energy to convert carbon dioxide to oxygen.
Depending on your location and climate temperature will also be affected by an extended power outage with heating and cooling devices unable to operate.
Other factors could include incorrectly calculated water levels in sumps that will not cater for the volume of water that will syphon back when the power is out causing an overflow of the sump and the possibility of not enough total water in the system once power has been restored.
How long will my livestock / invertebrates survive during an extended power failure?
No two marine aquariums are alike and there are too many associated factors that come into play, an aquarium with minimal fish and invertebrates has a lesser demand for oxygen than that of an aquarium that is home for a large number of fish and invertebrates, overall water volume, overall water parameters, number of photosynthetic organisms.
How can I protect my aquarium in the event of an extended power failure?
Manual
Obviously with all of the following methods, somebody needs to be on site to implement:
- Rechargeable, battery operated and 12v pumps are available to provide interim water circulation or aeration.
- Portable generators can be used to operate critical equipment.
- UPS (Uninterruptable Power Supply) battery back devices can be used to operate pumps for circulation.
Automatic
Devices are available (or can be constructed DIY) that will automatically redirect to an alternative power source (high amperage 12v battery) in the event of a power outage. Some of the more expensive portable generators have this feature built in and will automatically start in the event of a power failure.
