DIY Aquarium Battery Back-Up

To survive and thrive, aquarium fish and invertebrates require consistent temperature control, as well as oxygen supplied by air pumps. When the power goes out, your aquarium is at grave risk as pumps and heaters cease to work. Adding a back-up battery, or uninterrupted power supply, is the best defense against short-term power loss. These devices charge using a standard outlet, and continue running on battery power for several hours during a blackout. Adding a back-up battery to your aquarium just might save your fish.

Things You'll Need

  • Uninterrupted power supply
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Instructions

    • 1

      Identify how many life-support devices you have. Include heaters, air pumps, filters and skimmers. These are the devices that are critical for life in your aquarium. Do not count lights and decorations that require power.

    • 2

      Purchase a backup power supply with enough plugs to support the number that you counted. If you have plugs for a heater, pump and filter, purchase a supply that supports three AC connections.

    • 3

      Unplug all of the critical components from the home AC, and plug them into the backup supply system.

    • 4

      Plug the backup system into an AC outlet. When the power is on, the system will charge itself. When the power is off, the life-support equipment will run off of the battery charge.