Nice Electrical Cost Calculator. Bummer Results

[Tom Toro]

Good News: Now I know how much my two tanks are costing the house
Bad News: Now I know how much my two tanks are costing the house

$180 a month. I need to get efficient fast. Any ideas?
Lights: 3x175w MH, 7x 54w T5's 2x 42w LED's
Pumps: 2x Iwaki 100's, Mag 18, Hammerhead, Dart
Heaters 800w 2x300w
Chillers 1/4hp 1/5 hp

[rosebud161616]

Eek, that's a lot. I'm scared to think about ours...

Maybe you could start with going strictly LED? This would help quite a bit. We also noticed a significant drop in temp of our tank when we switched to 100% LED. That might take care of your need for as many chillers?

[slapshot]

Tom, Tom, there are a few things in life you are better off not knowing. What your kids are doing in college, what goes on during your daughters date, and what your tanks are costing you chief among them. You may want to know but your better off not knowing.

[larryandlaura]

You sould run more energy efficient pumps like the reef octopus water blaster pumps. I run the hy-5000 it's 1300 gph and 60 watts and the hy-3000 which is 750 gph at 37 watts. They make bigger pumps also. Also leds would be a major thing for you also.

[dentdominator]

Nice option to have but I'm not doing it !! - " Yet "

[jimsflies]

Did you use the one we have here on CR:

Captive Reefs - Electrical Cost Calculator (http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/electrical-cost-calculator.html)

My tank is only a 29 biocube...but with the switch to LEDs, I estimate I am running less than $10 a month now for operation. One of the advantages of a nano tank. :money_eyes:

[Tom Toro]

Maybe you could start with going strictly LED? This would help quite a bit. We also noticed a significant drop in temp of our tank when we switched to 100% LED. That might take care of your need for as many chillers?[/QUOTE]
I like the idea of LEDs, but still not sure what I'd need to grow the sps. Metal halides are old school, but they're familiar, lol.



Tom, Tom, there are a few things in life you are better off not knowing. What your kids are doing in college, what goes on during your daughters date, and what your tanks are costing you chief among them. You may want to know but your better off not knowing.

I know what you mean exactly on all counts, Don.


You sould run more energy efficient pumps like the reef octopus water blaster pumps. I run the hy-5000 it's 1300 gph and 60 watts and the hy-3000 which is 750 gph at 37 watts. They make bigger pumps also. Also leds would be a major thing for you also.
Good suggestion on the pumps, but I need a high head pump for these ETSS skimmers and haven't found a low wattage with good max head pressures. I'm sure they're out there, but I haven't seen one.


Did you use the one we have here on CR:
I used the one on here. Excellent and easy to use. I also used the other tools in the same bank of links. Great tools!

Captive Reefs - Electrical Cost Calculator (http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/electrical-cost-calculator.html)

My tank is only a 29 biocube...but with the switch to LEDs, I estimate I am running less than $10 a month now for operation. One of the advantages of a nano tank. :money_eyes:

Yeah, still not sure why one large tank wasn't enough for me. I think when I asked and she said yes, that's when I stopped thinking and started spending.