Rags2Riches - The Learning Curve. 125g

[RichtheReefer21]

Happy reefer tonight. Living room is almost normal again. Heres a video of everything thus far. Half way point.

 

[RichtheReefer21]

I just realized I havent seen the midas blenny in 2 days.;Inpain

I hope he didnt crawl into the return piping when it was open during testing...

Or stuck in a rock...

 

[Paul C.]

Gm Rich. Tank is coming together nicely. That fuge will be a perfect pod cultivating home. Get in touch when you're ready.

 

[RichtheReefer21]

@Brew12

Good morning Electrical guru.

Looking to find an emergency, auto-on during outage, backup power supply.

It would need to meet the demands of:

1x 300w ceramic heater

1x eflux return pump
11-60 watts @ 24vdc

Need a max of 8 hour run time. Automatic recharging etc..

What are the power ratings I'm looking for when shopping?

Thanks in advance for any input...

 

[Brew12]

Good morning Electrical guru.

I'm an electrical Gru, not guru. I have minions!

It would need to meet the demands of:

1x 300w ceramic heater

1x eflux return pump
11-60 watts @ 24vdc

Need a max of 8 hour run time. Automatic recharging etc..

What are the power ratings I'm looking for when shopping?

So we need a maximum of 360 watts. The simplest solution will be an all in one UPS. 360 watts = also the same, in DC terms, as a Volt Amp (VA) So, to last 8 hours, we need a UPS that is rated for at least 2880 VA. That is a very large UPS for home use and will start at arounnd $800.
If you drop that requirement down to 1500 VA it is much more reasonable. Odds are the heater won't run the entire time and the pump may not run at full power. It might not go 8 hours but it would go at least 4. This gets you into the an option like this.
https://www.amazon.com/CyberPower-C...s&qid=1554302238&s=gateway&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1

The other way to go is to build your own system using a battery charger, deep cycle batteries, and a power inverter. It will be more than the 1500 VA UPS but much less than the 3000 VA one. The down side is that it won't be a very clean installation. If you go this route we need to think in terms of battery amp hours (AH). 360W at 12VDC is 30 amps. Going 8 hours means we need a battery rated for 240AH. I'm guessing it could be done for under $450. Let me know if you want help looking at this option further.

 

[RichtheReefer21]

I'm an electrical Gru, not guru. I have minions!



So we need a maximum of 360 watts. The simplest solution will be an all in one UPS. 360 watts = also the same, in DC terms, as a Volt Amp (VA) So, to last 8 hours, we need a UPS that is rated for at least 2880 VA. That is a very large UPS for home use and will start at arounnd $800.
If you drop that requirement down to 1500 VA it is much more reasonable. Odds are the heater won't run the entire time and the pump may not run at full power. It might not go 8 hours but it would go at least 4. This gets you into the an option like this.
https://www.amazon.com/CyberPower-C...s&qid=1554302238&s=gateway&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1

The other way to go is to build your own system using a battery charger, deep cycle batteries, and a power inverter. It will be more than the 1500 VA UPS but much less than the 3000 VA one. The down side is that it won't be a very clean installation. If you go this route we need to think in terms of battery amp hours (AH). 360W at 12VDC is 30 amps. Going 8 hours means we need a battery rated for 240AH. I'm guessing it could be done for under $450. Let me know if you want help looking at this option further.

No, this is perfect. Thank u so much for taking the time to respond in detail!

I can add to your deduction of the heater not running constantly, because I only run the return pump at about 60%. So it's really 30watts less as well. Although it would be a running constant, unlike the heaters intermittent power draw.

Thanks again!

 

[Brew12]

Thanks again!

Any time, and glad to help!

 

[mch1984]

I forgot @Brew12 was the electrical expert, even though it says it right below your name lol. Always quick to help, or in my case try to help. I finally figured out my problem after many weeks and dollars of elimination.

 

[RichtheReefer21]

Need this shirt.

 

[RichtheReefer21]

Started a journal tonight to track the parameters bi-weekly.

Sg: 1.026
Ca: 460
dKh: 9.0
pH: 8.2
No3: 30-35

Po4: will be tested Friday night.

Sand bed didnt do enough damage to effect no3 after a 25% water volume increase with all fresh Fritz RPM. Actually quite happy to be between 20 and 35. The chaeto will start growing and bring that back down I'm sure.

Really curious about my phosphates. Last check was before the upgrade and I was at .3 even after running chaeto light 24/7 for 4 days straight.

 

[RichtheReefer21]

Day 11... loose ends.

Yesterday I routed all the sump and light electrical chords. Leaving the return pump, skimmer, and fuge light for later instal on an "easy switch" / control console

Today's agenda:

Go through the storage shelving and organize/separate the useless, vs chemicals, vs QT stuff etc... and then I plan to build a full custom conversion of these 2 shelves combined into one, which will eventually become my control console for the DT.

The foot print to the left of the stand pictured above will eventually house dosing and ATO/KALK resevoirs.

 

[RichtheReefer21]

@Fudsey

I couldnt help myself. Had to put at least 1 zip tie on this build thread.

 

[mch1984]

@Fudsey

I couldnt hell myself. Had to put at least 1 zip tie on this build thread.

Is there something wrong with zip ties?? I hope not, they are my favorite thing to use.

 

[RichtheReefer21]

So some of u know I've been missing my midas blenny and blue cb shrimp since the move back into DT.

I just ripped the tank apart and am running sump at its limit in hope that if he was stuck in the pipes he would be blown out...

3rd rock I flip over, and find him coiled up in a cave he dug out.

He is extremely stressed and wont move from the corner, but very much alive.

Excited and relieved, I start the search for my juvenile blue coral banded shrimp. The next rock I flip over:

What's with these shrimp losing their left claw? Now I only got 2 righties in the bullpen...

Whew it feels good that they made it.
;Facepalm

 

[RichtheReefer21]

Is there something wrong with zip ties?? I hope not, they are my favorite thing to use.

Haha I was hoping to keep the duct tape, superglue, sawzall, and zip ties out of this build. But I couldnt help myself.

 

[mch1984]

Haha I was hoping to keep the duct tape, superglue, sawzall, and zip ties out of this build. But I couldnt help myself.

I don't know if I can keep zip ties and super glue out of any build.

 

[Fudsey]

@Fudsey

I couldnt hell myself. Had to put at least 1 zip tie on this build thread.

I like it

 

[count krunk]

Hey @RichtheReefer21 check this out.

It is a DIY Universal UPS via @chipmunkofdoom2

 

[RichtheReefer21]

Hey @RichtheReefer21 check this out.

It is a DIY Universal UPS via @chipmunkofdoom2

Thanks for stopping by and offering an idea..
I have looked that over. Not sure I wanna go that route. We shall see.

 

[RichtheReefer21]

Cleaned out the shelving units I have to prep for the makeover...

Cant believe how much I have gathered in only a year...