Michigan Cichlid Association

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Steve on October 29, 2015, 11:12:22 AM

Title: Anyone use one of these?
Post by: Steve on October 29, 2015, 11:12:22 AM

With the recent loss of fish due to a power strip failure and now the restocking of the tank I've been looking into ways to protect my tank stock the best way I can. A couple years ago I bought a generator specifically for powering my tanks during power outages, but with a heavily stocked tank even a matter of hours without surface agitation is not good for the fish. My worry now is if something happened during the night and I didn't find it till morning like just happened recently, or if something happened while I was on a fishing trip. So I've been looking for some back up things that would kick in automatically and came across this. http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/NonStopAirPump.html

Anyone use that or anything similar?

Title: Re: Anyone use one of these?
Post by: greg y on October 29, 2015, 11:45:27 AM

I keep a few handy for when the power goes out but they are emergency only, super loud and batteries die pretty quickly. You wouldn't want these running under normal conditions.

EDIT: I see that one you linked automatically switches to battery backup only in the event of a power outage?
that's pretty slick but I guess you would have to hear how loud they are under normal power

Title: Re: Anyone use one of these?
Post by: Steve on October 29, 2015, 12:53:06 PM

Yep I've had the normal DC powered ones before for emergencies back before I bought the generator. What I'm looking at now is the AC/DC one that switches automatically just to keep the pump running in case something happened while I was away for a day or so just till I got home to fix the problem or get the genny fired up.

Title: Re: Anyone use one of these?
Post by: cranialdisturbance on October 29, 2015, 02:07:27 PM

Penn Plax makes a dual outlet AC/DC air pump that will switch to battery if the power goes out.  It runs on 4 D-cell batteries and is reasonably powerful.  I bought mine new for about $35 from Ken's Fish. 

Title: Re: Anyone use one of these?
Post by: Steve on October 29, 2015, 02:49:21 PM

That sounds like a much better price I'll for sure check that one out. Thanks.

Title: Re: Anyone use one of these?
Post by: Steve on October 29, 2015, 04:51:12 PM

Looks like the only one Kens has currently is one for $83  :o

Title: Re: Anyone use one of these?
Post by: cranialdisturbance on October 30, 2015, 10:48:17 AM

I bought mine about 2 years ago.  Here is a link to one I found on Ebay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Penn-Plax-Air-Pod-Battery-Backup-Ac-dc-Air-Pump-/151753451858?hash=item235535e952:g:v2cAAOSw~gRVrnwS

Title: Re: Anyone use one of these?
Post by: jkeeler on October 30, 2015, 12:42:08 PM

Quote from: cranialdisturbance on October 30, 2015, 10:48:17 AM

I bought mine about 2 years ago.  Here is a link to one I found on Ebay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Penn-Plax-Air-Pod-Battery-Backup-Ac-dc-Air-Pump-/151753451858?hash=item235535e952:g:v2cAAOSw~gRVrnwS

http://www.ebay.com/itm/AirPod-Air-Pump-w-Battery-Back-Up-for-up-to-55-Gallon-Tanks/191722096467

looks like same one for a few bucks less and free shipping

Title: Re: Anyone use one of these?
Post by: Steve on October 30, 2015, 04:53:11 PM

Cool thanks guys!