Total tank wipe out :/

[treefly]

So I was recently hit with a winter storm while I was out of town and got stuck away from my tank. All power was lost for a couple of days while I was gone. Needless to say everything got wiped out. Lesson learned on a small generator plan for that. I am devastated that I am having to start over, but it is what it is. My question is, what can I do to beef up my 32 gallon biocube? Like as in upgrade wise. I have an idea on removing the canopy and upgrading lights and skimmer. Any suggestions all on what I should go with? Thankyou!

 

[Exotrezy]

Anywhere between 21 to 24K.

Why so much?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Sounds about right. And my next car will be electric.......

I have both solar and an electric car. I didn’t opt for battery backup due to a somewhat unique situation (solar is on the barn that has its own electric) but I consider it both a financial benefit long term and an immediate benefit to the environment.

 

[Reeferbadness]

Your completely right! :grinning-face-with-smiling-eyes:

Actually, there is a simple (yet a bit expensive) way to handle this. We have solar with Tesla power wall back up. These fill up when more power is being generated during the day and discharge when the house exceeds solar. You can set how much reserve. In our case, when there is no danger of a storm i keep it aroun 21% (of 25MgW so should be fine for my 2 x 200g tanks for 8 - 10 hours with no other major power needs). When the power goes off, the battery also kicks in seamlessly.

 

[Exotrezy]

Actually, there is a simple (yet a bit expensive) way to handle this. We have solar with Tesla power wall back up. These fill up when more power is being generated during the day and discharge when the house exceeds solar. You can set how much reserve. In our case, when there is no danger of a storm i keep it aroun 21% (of 25MgW so should be fine for my 2 x 200g tanks for 8 - 10 hours with no other major power needs). When the power goes off, the battery also kicks in seamlessly.

Smart, but wouldn’t you need a tesla for that? We personally have 2 cars that would apply to charging that way as they are electric which are honda prologues but we don’t have solar chargers for them, and I don’t think honda even has that as an option.

 

[Reeferbadness]

Smart, but wouldn’t you need a tesla for that? We personally have 2 cars that would apply to charging that way as they are electric which are honda prologues but we don’t have solar chargers for them, and I don’t think honda even has that as an option.

It's a Tesla power wall, no care needed

 

[TVV]

I am by no means even close to an expert reefer but I have a lot of time to read...mostly here on R2R.
I left the lid on my biocube 32 but upgraded the lights to STEVE'S led with hurricane x controller. Best upgrade I ever did. Easy to install and way better lights. I have kept sps, lps and some softies of course without issues...except those issues related to small AIO tanks i.e. tiny water volume = faster concentration buildup of unwanted parameters, contaminants etc. I also replaced the stock sump rack and installed "IN Tank" fuge and IN Tank media basket (not sure that these do any good as the volume is tiny, but easier to lift out to clean). Finally I replaced the stock return pump with a slightly more powerful one (1200 gph). I also hole-sawed a opening above the fuge through the biocube lid and velcrowed on a Kessil H80 Tuna Flora to grow the macro algae. Didn't have much luck with that part as far as algae growth satisfaction. Kept this tank with little effort for 5 years until I left town on several one month long trips over a one year period. All good until the last trip lost power during hurricane while away. I was so upset, I threw the whole system to the street. Then I got another biocube 32, 3 months ago and bought the same upgrade gear. Go figure! All electrical is connected to a UPS system (just under 300.00) and have a generator for backup.

Now the new system is doing fine, LPS and zoas,shrooms. SPS not yet. But now I also live in the country away from LFS by an hour and am desperate for a frag/quaratine tank. So ordered 5 stage RODI from BRS and trying to find the best option for a 100+ gallon system and will use the biocube for frags and quarantine and breader, leaving bonded pair of clowns and a black widow nem.

Good Luck to you.

 

[Exotrezy]

It's a Tesla power wall, no care needed

What do you mean no care needed? From what I know teslas use a different type of charger than other cars.

 

[ReefNova]

What do you mean no care needed? From what I know teslas use a different type of charger than other cars.

He means you don't need a car. Tesla is just the brand. This is just a solar panel/battery setup that happens to be under the Tesla brand. Also, new cars are starting to use the Telsa port. Now called "NACS". There are also adapters from NACS to CCS or J1772 which is what other cars have used (I own a Chevy Bolt EV with a J1772/CCS port).

 

[Tahoe61]

I have had a ton of AIO tanks and honestly the JBJ and Biocubes are pretty antiquated now a days.
With the Biocube you can add a skimmer. Tunze Comline Doc 9001 fits, it's built well. Bubble Magus's nano skimmer is a work horse and a great price.
You could up grade the return pump with a Mighty jet, or Sicce. Add a nano wave maker, both Hygger and Tunze make affordable wave makers that come with controllers.
Lighting is going to be tricky, that's why I think you should look at the AIO tanks like the IM 14, 15 and 20 gallon. Great tanks and reasonably priced.
An ATO is just as important as flow, there are many brands to choose from, again I like Tunze.
I am sorry your tank got wiped out. Good luck going forward.

 

[Exotrezy]

He means you don't need a car. Tesla is just the brand. This is just a solar panel/battery setup that happens to be under the Tesla brand. Also, new cars are starting to use the Telsa port. Now called "NACS". There are also adapters from NACS to CCS or J1772 which is what other cars have used (I own a Chevy Bolt EV with a J1772/CCS port).

Oh ok. Thanks for letting me know, I might actually look into this, not just for my tanks but also for my house as when hurricane beryl, we lost lots of foods due to it and this might be good for that, luckily I didn’t have my tanks at the time.

 

[ReefNova]

Oh ok. Thanks for letting me know, I might actually look into this, not just for my tanks but also for my house as when hurricane beryl, we lost lots of foods due to it and this might be good for that, luckily I didn’t have my tanks at the time.

honestly depending on your amount of discretionary income. It may be a better option to look into whole home generators that run off propane or something. I just can't justify the price of solar and eventual maintaince of panels or batteries. If you've got the money though solar is cool.

 

[Exotrezy]

honestly depending on your amount of discretionary income. It may be a better option to look into whole home generators that run off propane or something. I just can't justify the price of solar and eventual maintaince of panels or batteries. If you've got the money though solar is cool.

We were looking into generators around 23 kva as that it was we would to run our house. Those cost around 13k so If we could get something that had less power and costs around 5k we would
probably purchase it. So something like a battery backup as we wouldn’t really be needing to run the whole house, just maybe the tanks, 2 fridges, and a big freezer for frozen stuff.

 

[ReefNova]

We were looking into generators around 23 kva as that it was we would to run our house. Those cost around 13k so If we could get something that had less power and costs around 5k we would
probably purchase it. So something like a battery backup as we wouldn’t really be needing to run the whole house, just maybe the tanks, 2 fridges, and a big freezer for frozen stuff.

You're going to be higher than that 13k for a solar setup. Also, note that if you're looking for a backup for long durations for storms, the solar panels will probably not be in great sun to replenish batteries during the storm. Just food for thought

 

[jabberwock]

No I have that issue addressed but I’m wondering like what upgrades I can do to my tank such as light recommendations or new skimmer recommendations. Things like that to take it to the next level. I want to invest in upgrading my system before I restock.

Keep that Biocube as a quarantine tank or sump and UPGRADE!

Innovative Marine Lagoon 50 is on my upgrade list...

 

[BZOFIQ]

Could be an electric generator. Those have been getting pretty popular recently. Or he could be talking about a battery backup as I don't really know what a "small" generator is. Battery backups you plug your stuff in and they automatically run when power goes out and last a good amount of time.

Either type will not give you a long run due to upconverting losses going from batterie's DC voltage to 120V at outlet. These are great for the "initial" hours of the outage until somebody can hook up a generator.....unless its a permanent one with auto-transfer which not everybody can install in their places of living.

 

[jabberwock]

honestly depending on your amount of discretionary income. It may be a better option to look into whole home generators that run off propane or something. I just can't justify the price of solar and eventual maintaince of panels or batteries. If you've got the money though solar is cool.

Solar has been around for almost 3,000 years. If it was efficient and affordable, we would all have it.

 

[TVV]

Tesla power wall = $ 15K installed for one. My friends DIY battery backup ex-china 2000 for same power.

 

[BZOFIQ]

For display tanks, a battery UPS system will operate two 70W circulation pumps for 72 hours. If I need more run time, I add more battery capacity.

I wonder if you ever tried that and if so what UPS system would carry a 140W load for 72 hours.

I believe you might be in for a surprise.

 

[BZOFIQ]

Tesla power wall = $ 15K installed for one. My friends DIY battery backup ex-china 2000 for same power.

Problem with a lot of the DIY stuff is you take on the liability - and the risk is real.

 

[BZOFIQ]

Solar has been around for almost 3,000 years. If it was efficient and affordable, we would all have it.

Ain't that the truth! Biggest scam