As we all know, power failures are one of the biggest enemies of our home tanks. Of course, many options are available. These include connecting one or two pumps to a UPS from the computer store, a dedicated generator, and so on. Many hobbyists are aware of the risk of a power failure but somehow have not taken precautions yet. Especially for small and/or low-budget setups, but we stumbled upon a nice option. An air pump with built-in battery backup.
The Air System 360 UPS is made by Amtra. It is an air pump with a built-in battery backup. The manufacturer claims 16 hours of life-saving time. The pump is devised in a smart way. Not only is it possible to keep the air pump running when there is a power outage, but it is also possible to have the pump switched off during normal situations, then to have the pump automatically switch on as soon as there is a loss of main power.
Of course, such a small pump is not an alternative to more ‘serious’ alternatives, but it is definitely better than having no precautions at all. By just creating some water movement and gas exchange, the chances of survival of the inhabitants of the aquarium will definitely increase. So this smart air pump is an option worth considering.
For our low-budget tank in the classroom where I teach biology, it at least gives peace of mind.
