What do you all use for backup power? My house was built in the 50's and has a bad problem with power outages in storms. I got some great advice to use an automotive power converter for short periods just for the air pump, but unfortunately that only works if I'm home when the power goes out, and never for the heater. Has anybody tried something like this? http://www.amazon.com/Xantrex-XPower-Powerpack-Portable-Backup/dp/B000157TP8/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t

I would be very interested in any aquarium-related reviews :)

(if it makes a difference, I have a 48-gallon bowfront aquarium with live sand and live rock, a canister filter, 3 damsels, 2 snails, 2 hermit crabs, a blue tuxedo urchin and 2 clownfish)

I have two powerheads run into a Cyberpower UPC.

It will push 2 Koralia 3's for 24 hours.

The problem with cheap inverters is that produce in square wave, as opposed to sine wave. Square waves can damage sensitive electronics like laptops, cell phones, and reef controllers(this includes digital heaters).

As long as you don't plug anything sensitive into it, you should be okay. True Wave Inverters are much more expensive.

Last night I used my D/C to A/C converter unit for the first time, as my power was out for well over 13 hours yesterday. It plugs into the car cigarette lighter and has a 25 foot cord. Enough wattage to keep a 50 watt heater and a koralia nano going indefinately with wattage to spare.

They cost 20 bucks in auto parts stores, a wonderful investment in a pinch.

I've owned this one for two years and never took it out of the box until last night, but glad I had the foresight to purchase it.

The problem with cheap inverters is that produce in square wave, as opposed to sine wave. Square waves can damage sensitive electronics like laptops, cell phones, and reef controllers(this includes digital heaters).

As long as you don't plug anything sensitive into it, you should be okay. True Wave Inverters are much more expensive.

Nerd Alert!!:tongue2:

JK, man...that's a very good point. I would keep a spare powerhead and a cheap heater around for such a case and avoid running anything through a controller. A smaller maxijet is better than nothing even on a larger tank. I wonder if it the difference in waves would also affect electronic ballasts on a light fixture?