[FrillyLily]

I have a fish tank w a filter that works on gravity. It has a little motor in it, but when the power goes out, the water from the box dumps into the tank and then when the power comes back on the pump burns out trying to pump water that isn't there since the box dumped out. Not sure if that makes sense how I am explaining it.? I need a way for the filter to NOT come back on when the power comes back on after an outage. We have power outages somewhat frequently, but usually for just a few mins at a time. If I'm home I can just go in and unplug things, but if I'm not home, I don't want it to burn the motor out. Any suggestions please?

 

[SeniorSitizen]

Maybe we can get an elect. guru to tell us if a Smart Power Strip would be helpful for your aquarium.


https://www.diychatroom.com/f18/everything-smart-even-powerstrips-681023/

 

[spitz1234]

You would be looking for a NVR switch. Usually used on larger equipment. I'm sure you could find one that will work.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

 

[FrillyLily]

thank you!

 

[Old Thomas]

If outages are usually short in duration, you could use a backup battery to keep it running. I bought one cheap on Amazon.

 

[surferdude2]

You could build your own magnetic latching relay and it would unlatch when the power failed.

However, you can acheive that without building it... just get a remote control receptacle. Walmart has them for under $20.

If you plug your fish tank pump into one of those and turn it on with the remote, it will act like an electrically latched relay and stay on until you press the off button on the control or when the power goes off. It will stay off after a power failure has occurred.

Remote Control Outlets

 

[FrillyLily]

You could build your own magnetic latching relay and it would unlatch when the power failed.

However, you can acheive that without building it... just get a remote control receptacle. Walmart has them for under $20.

If you plug your fish tank pump into one of those and turn it on with the remote, it will act like an electrically latched relay and stay on until you press the off button on the control or when the power goes off. It will stay off after a power failure has occurred.

Remote Control Outlets

I like this idea, I'll look into it. It will also allow me to be lazy and turn off the light from my bed at night w/o having to get up after I'm already half asleep. :smile:

 

[Wiredindallas]

I agree to simply buy a UPS battery back-up. They are good for more than just providing power when there is a black-out. They provide an even voltage and filter out spikes protecting your equipment.

 

[Clutchcargo]

Can you move the powerhead to the filter into the fishtank?

 

[AllanJ]

The uninterruptible power supply would not be a good solution unless you can guarantee to be back home before the battery ran out.

 

[udraft]

I like post #6. UPS is great, but they're not cheap.
This could work, you'd have to check if the power state is off after outage.

 

[carmusic]

dont need latching relay, just need a regular relay and push button (similar to start stop circuit of a motor)

 

[RegeSullivan]

Wire in this $10 POWERTEC 71054 120V Magnetic Paddle Switch. You can remove the paddle easily so you don't accidentally turn it off bumping into it. I have a number of these for power tools and never had a failure and the fit perfectly in a handy box.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IEM2DSM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_DlYyEbDQ9C2Q4

 

[Old Thomas]

I have a box that calls my cell phone if the power goes off or if the temp in my house goes under 50 degrees. Then we switched from regular landline to VOIP and the phone modem goes down on power outage, so no call. I bought a UPS from Amazon for about $40. It will keep my phone alive for at least an hour. You said outages are short, hence, my suggestion.

 

[betelgeuse]

I have a fish tank w a filter that works on gravity. It has a little motor in it, but when the power goes out, the water from the box dumps into the tank and then when the power comes back on the pump burns out trying to pump water that isn't there since the box dumped out.... Any suggestions please?

A simple non electrical fix would be to put a check valve in the tubing before the pump

 

[J. V.]

I like post #15 the best so far, but it is not needed.
A hang on the back filter does not work on gravity. The pump pulls water in to filter housing via the intake tube, through the filter media and then it falls with gravity out the spillway. So its not a perpetual motion machine.

Once the filter is primed, the intake tube is full and the tank water level is high enough it will restart just fine.
I bet you do not have your tank full to the top like it should be. When the filter stops running, the intake tube will stay primed if the water level is sufficient and the filter housing is full.
Fill up the tank, get the filter running and then unplug the filter. It should hold water to the level of the tank. Meaning the water level in the tank and the water level in the filter are the same.
Try it and post back.
Are you running a Fluval or AquaClear filter?

 

[zhawkeye]

I was going to suggest a check valve (have one in my system) but betelgeuse beat me to it...it works great.
I also connected a 12V deep marine cycle battery as backup to my powerhead...saltwater corals start dying off after about four hours of no water movement. Here in Florida hurricane outages may last quite a while...is your tank salt or fresh? Any live plants/corals?

 

[brric]

Install a manual reset GFCI. A manual reset GFCI does not restore power after a failure until it is reset.

 

[FrillyLily]

I like post #15 the best so far, but it is not needed.
A hang on the back filter does not work on gravity. The pump pulls water in to filter housing via the intake tube, through the filter media and then it falls with gravity out the spillway. So its not a perpetual motion machine.

Once the filter is primed, the intake tube is full and the tank water level is high enough it will restart just fine.
I bet you do not have your tank full to the top like it should be. When the filter stops running, the intake tube will stay primed if the water level is sufficient and the filter housing is full.
Fill up the tank, get the filter running and then unplug the filter. It should hold water to the level of the tank. Meaning the water level in the tank and the water level in the filter are the same.
Try it and post back.
Are you running a Fluval or AquaClear filter?

I have the tank full to the very rim cause its in my bedroom and it makes too much noise at night if I don't keep it topped off. Gravity, siphon whatever you want to call it, you have to fill it up with water before turning it on, cause the reservoir has to be full of water before the new water will come into the box. Most of the water flows out when the power goes off and then it struggles to restart and can ruin the motor. I have marineland biowheel 350 which is new and I hate it, I ordered a different one but it hasn't got here yet. It too will work the same way. The water in the box is higher than the level of the tank.



someone mentioned using a check valve in the tubing, I think this person is mixing up the filter w an air pump. There is no 'tubing' involved in the filter. I am not worried about the filter draining all the water out onto the floor, that can't happen (well I guess it could if the filter were clogged badly enough and still taking water in)




Anyway, the suggestion to use a remote control has fixed all my issues. I turn it on with the remote (or manually) and when the power goes off and comes back on, it does not come back on, but has to be turned back on purposely. I just got this little set of 3 units at Walmart and you plug your device into it and that's all there is to it. ! Thank you to whoever mentioned that, I scrolled back through here but couldn't find it again!

 

[J. V.]

I have used Marineland as well and have never had one that would not run after a power loss. If everyone had this problem with HOB filters, there would be a fix by now.
It should stay primed with a power loss and if it does not there is something else wrong.
Is your intake tube cracked? If it can pull air, it can loose prime.
It is physically impossible for water to continue to flow down the spillway after a power loss. It might level off, but not continue to expel water. Power loss stops the water flow completely.
There is no "perpetual motion machine".
The filter is designed this way. You did not fix anything. You made it do what you wanted. I can go unplug any filter I am running and it will restart after I unplug it.