Why Do You Need Backup Power for a Saltwater Aquarium?

Power outages can occur without warning. Without a backup power source for your saltwater tank, a power outage could become a threat to your fish. While some outages last for a few minutes, others may last for days at a time. Typically, an outage that lasts longer than a couple of hours might begin to spell disaster for your fish. 

You need electricity for the pumps, heaters, lights, filtration, and other saltwater aquarium supplies to work properly. The lights in the aquarium are necessary for the coral’s food production. The filtration gives fish a continual oxygen supply, and without this the fish could suffocate. A heat source is essential as well, especially when the weather conditions are cold. 

Manual aeration is always an option, but this can be quite time-consuming and isn’t recommended for long periods. For manual aeration, you need to take a container (like a large cup or pitcher) and use it to scoop water out of the aquarium. Then you’ll need to pour the water back into the tank and continually repeat this process. As you can imagine, this method can become tedious after the first few scoops. It just makes more sense to keep a backup power supply on hand instead. 

Another option is to purchase a battery-operated pump like the Rescue-Air by Cobalt:

https://www.aquaticwarehouse.com/aeration-products/Cobalt-Rescue-Air

This innovative product can supply aeration to your aquarium for up to 48 hours, all for under $40 at Aquatic Warehouse. It’s a simple-to-use, USB-ported, high-tech version of the old-style D-size battery units.

If it’s cold in your house, make sure you cover the aquariums to insulate and keep the temperature stable. It’s better to be a little cool than too hot.

A backup source such as an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) can provide emergency power to your aquarium in the event of a sudden power outage. The UPS unit will automatically kick on when the power goes off, giving your aquarium instantaneous protection from power interruptions. UPS isn’t ideal for long-term use, as the uninterruptible power supply is designed to provide short-term power only.

It’s a good idea to have an emergency power generator on hand to use during longer power outages. They come in a wide range of shapes, sizes, and designs, so the type of generator you choose will depend on your specific needs. Generators typically run off of gas, so you would need to place the generator outside of your home while it’s in use. Since generators are powered by gas, they’re a great option to use for outages that for last days. There isn’t any need to recharge a battery with generators. As long as you have gasoline, you have a power source that can keep the aquarium running without disrupting the balanced ecosystem fish need to survive.

There are a variety of supplies you need to keep a saltwater aquarium running smoothly. Whether you need an automatic fish feeder (https://www.aquaticwarehouse.com/feeding-implements-auto-feeders), a dosing pump, or food for your fish, you can find what you need at Aquatic Warehouse. If you have any questions, call one of our aquarium experts today at 858-467-9297.