Redundant Equipment Suggestions

raylinds · 04/25/2019, 12:59 PM

After doing a search I saw plenty of posts about power backup, but nothing on keeping backup for critical equipment.

I was lucky that the house I bought came with a Generac generator that automatically kicks in within seconds of a power outage, so I am covered there.

I plan on having a second heater in the sump for backup and an extra return pump. Is there anything else I should backup for emergencies?

journeyman · 04/25/2019, 01:05 PM

Backup return pump if you have a sump may be a good idea.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

bshow24 · 04/25/2019, 07:22 PM

If you mean having multiple pieces of equipment in case 1 fails, I'd say heater/cooling (if cooling is needed) and return pump would be the most important. Everything else our tanks can live without for a couple days.

dkeller_nc · 04/25/2019, 07:52 PM

I keep:

an extra return pump
several extra heaters (sized for different tanks)
an air pump and air stone
a couple of extra small reactor pumps
an extra MP10 (I have 6 in use, allows instant replacement) plus 2 extra "wet sides"
an extra Apex head unit - I've had one of these fail, and was very lucky to have one on hand, since it runs everything in 2 tanks

This is, of course, in addition to extra mixed seawater, full trash can of RODI, and extra GAC, all of which have saved my tail on occasion.

raylinds · 04/25/2019, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkeller_nc

I keep:

an extra return pump
several extra heaters (sized for different tanks)
an air pump and air stone
a couple of extra small reactor pumps
an extra MP10 (I have 6 in use, allows instant replacement) plus 2 extra "wet sides"
an extra Apex head unit - I've had one of these fail, and was very lucky to have one on hand, since it runs everything in 2 tanks

This is, of course, in addition to extra mixed seawater, full trash can of RODI, and extra GAC, all of which have saved my tail on occasion.

What is the air pump and stone for? Great advice about the RODI water and seawater. What is GAC?

Vinny Kreyling · 04/26/2019, 12:33 PM

Granular Activated Carbon

billdogg · 04/27/2019, 06:24 AM

I keep several battery operated air pumps on hand, with fresh batteries right next to them. If the power goes out I can drop a couple airstones into each tank and keep the water oxygenated for several days if need be. Thankfully, the longest the power has been out here in 17 years is about 10 hours. If it's winter, kerosene heaters help to keep the tanks (and us) warm. If it's summer, there are several 2 liter bottles of water in the freezer to keep it cool (while I sweat lol)

In addition, I keep a few power heads, replacement impellers for the return pumps, various heaters, and assorted boxes of "spare" parts.

dkeller_nc · 04/27/2019, 07:33 AM

^Yep. That's one use for airstones/airpump. There are several others; one is if you accidentally get a bacterial bloom from stirring something up, overdosing carbon, etc... The bacteria don't actually cause the critters to die, but the lack of oxygen from the bacterial respiration does. And if you catch it quickly enough, a simple $10 air pump and air stone is vastly more effective at keeping the oxygen level up than water movement pumps while you remove the bacteria from the water column with mechanical filtration.

Speaking of which, a means of rapidly clearing water with mechanical filtration is also a life-saver. You can use felt reef socks as long as you have a few on hand, but since I was into freshwater for many years, I kept the canister filters around - highly effective, and you can add GAC to them to clear the tank water and remove any chemical nasties at the same time.

raylinds · 04/27/2019, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkeller_nc

^Yep. That's one use for airstones/airpump. There are several others; one is if you accidentally get a bacterial bloom from stirring something up, overdosing carbon, etc... The bacteria don't actually cause the critters to die, but the lack of oxygen from the bacterial respiration does. And if you catch it quickly enough, a simple $10 air pump and air stone is vastly more effective at keeping the oxygen level up than water movement pumps while you remove the bacteria from the water column with mechanical filtration.

Speaking of which, a means of rapidly clearing water with mechanical filtration is also a life-saver. You can use felt reef socks as long as you have a few on hand, but since I was into freshwater for many years, I kept the canister filters around - highly effective, and you can add GAC to them to clear the tank water and remove any chemical nasties at the same time.

Great information, thanks. Sounds like cheap insurance!

04/25/2019, 12:59 PM	#1
raylinds Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 36	Redundant Equipment Suggestions After doing a search I saw plenty of posts about power backup, but nothing on keeping backup for critical equipment. I was lucky that the house I bought came with a Generac generator that automatically kicks in within seconds of a power outage, so I am covered there. I plan on having a second heater in the sump for backup and an extra return pump. Is there anything else I should backup for emergencies?

04/25/2019, 07:22 PM	#3
bshow24 Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Thousand Oaks, CA Posts: 584	If you mean having multiple pieces of equipment in case 1 fails, I'd say heater/cooling (if cooling is needed) and return pump would be the most important. Everything else our tanks can live without for a couple days. __________________ Tank: Reefer XL 525 Reef Tank Equipment: 2x Radion XR15 Pro, Radion XR30 Pro, Vectra M1 Return, 2x MP40 Powerhead

04/26/2019, 12:33 PM	#6
Vinny Kreyling Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Miller Place, NY Posts: 7,206	Granular Activated Carbon __________________ 250 gallon mixed reef, 2 Reefbreeder's Photon V 2, Deepwater BLDC 12, DAS EX-3 Skimmer, MTC mini cal, 2-3/4" Sea Swirls, Aquacontroller & 6 Tunze pumps.

04/27/2019, 06:24 AM	#7
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	I keep several battery operated air pumps on hand, with fresh batteries right next to them. If the power goes out I can drop a couple airstones into each tank and keep the water oxygenated for several days if need be. Thankfully, the longest the power has been out here in 17 years is about 10 hours. If it's winter, kerosene heaters help to keep the tanks (and us) warm. If it's summer, there are several 2 liter bottles of water in the freezer to keep it cool (while I sweat lol) In addition, I keep a few power heads, replacement impellers for the return pumps, various heaters, and assorted boxes of "spare" parts. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

04/25/2019, 01:05 PM	#2
journeyman Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Rancho Santa Margarita, Ca. Posts: 357	Backup return pump if you have a sump may be a good idea. Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

04/25/2019, 07:52 PM	#4
dkeller_nc Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Central NC Posts: 5,062	I keep: an extra return pump several extra heaters (sized for different tanks) an air pump and air stone a couple of extra small reactor pumps an extra MP10 (I have 6 in use, allows instant replacement) plus 2 extra "wet sides" an extra Apex head unit - I've had one of these fail, and was very lucky to have one on hand, since it runs everything in 2 tanks This is, of course, in addition to extra mixed seawater, full trash can of RODI, and extra GAC, all of which have saved my tail on occasion.

04/27/2019, 07:33 AM	#8
dkeller_nc Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Central NC Posts: 5,062	^Yep. That's one use for airstones/airpump. There are several others; one is if you accidentally get a bacterial bloom from stirring something up, overdosing carbon, etc... The bacteria don't actually cause the critters to die, but the lack of oxygen from the bacterial respiration does. And if you catch it quickly enough, a simple $10 air pump and air stone is vastly more effective at keeping the oxygen level up than water movement pumps while you remove the bacteria from the water column with mechanical filtration. Speaking of which, a means of rapidly clearing water with mechanical filtration is also a life-saver. You can use felt reef socks as long as you have a few on hand, but since I was into freshwater for many years, I kept the canister filters around - highly effective, and you can add GAC to them to clear the tank water and remove any chemical nasties at the same time.