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View Full Version : New to Reefing electric costs?


jimi
03-19-2010, 12:50 AM
so how much of your electric bill is for your salt tank?
Sir Patrick
03-19-2010, 01:01 AM
Good question,,,one I have never tried to figure out, but often wondered!

Hate to have my wife get a hold of that info!
taziam10797
03-19-2010, 08:06 AM
Don't know, I think I would hate to know.
ReeferRob
03-19-2010, 08:32 AM
Good question,,,one I have never tried to figure out, but often wondered!

Hate to have my wife get a hold of that info!

+1 to that, last thing she needs is more ammo against me and the tanks!
The Rugger
03-19-2010, 09:31 AM
Depending on time of year (Heater) I have guesstimated between $30 and $40... The biggest portion being MH lighting.
thefishgirl
03-19-2010, 05:43 PM
I saw mine go up around $150...but then I was running a lot of MH and other lights + pumps/filters/skimmers on multiple tanks. Still up there even though I have downsized to 1 large and 2 small tanks.
cephalotus
03-19-2010, 06:14 PM
In the summer most of my electric is for the tank:eek:
medwards
03-20-2010, 08:47 PM
Ive got it around 75 to 85 bucks a month. But ive got 4 tanks going including 2 reefs.
Mike
03-26-2010, 04:25 PM
It is a lot......... I seriously think around 150.00 a month when I average it out over the year. This is another reason I am going to play with the LED lighting. I can theoretically cover the tank for 600 watts as opposed to 1300 + the cost to run the chiller.

There may come a point when I trade up to a Red Dragon for one of the loops too.
pjr
03-27-2010, 01:30 PM
Going to the LEDs dropped my electricity by $40 per month. The extra bonus was that I was able to reduce the use of A/C for the tank as well. Total bonus!

Here's my list of the biggest reef energy hogs:


HQI magnetic MH ballasts
Halides in general
Cooling for tank in summer
Big basement pumps (to deal with head pressure)
Skimmers with huge pumps
Closed loops (for flow) with huge pumps
Mike
03-29-2010, 07:36 AM
Going to the LEDs dropped my electricity by $40 per month. The extra bonus was that I was able to reduce the use of A/C for the tank as well. Total bonus!

Here's my list of the biggest reef energy hogs:


HQI magnetic MH ballasts
Halides in general
Cooling for tank in summer
Big basement pumps (to deal with head pressure)
Skimmers with huge pumps
Closed loops (for flow) with huge pumps


I agree with the list :)

I know that running 1300 watts of MH plus the CHiller (and it runs now when tank hits 82) are my huger energy hogs followed by the Barracuda pump on the closed loop. I have been giving real serious consideration to buying the next decently priced used ATB or Red DRagon I come across to replace the Barracuda.

The advantages to the closed loop are no powerheads or cords in the tank. The only thing that comes close in my opinion is the Vortech because of the type of drive and the low profile. I like the new Tunze pumps but there is still the power cord issue (so far as I know) in the tank.

I think that we are heading towards reefs that are 120 gallons or smaller with more cube like foot prints that are shallower than what we have today. With all the choices we have now for lighting and LED be viable it makes needing a canopy less of an issue because the light is aimed right into the tank by the optics.

I have always said I would go bigger when I set up the next tank but now I am thinking I will go "smarter" instead. SOmething a little shallower with a wider foot print. That will make lighitng easier, aquascaping easier and more interesting, and I think be more interesting overall.
Tank102a
03-29-2010, 10:50 PM
$600 in the summer (when I lived in New Orleans) $100 without the tank.
pjr
03-29-2010, 10:55 PM
WOW! Must have been one heck of a tank!!
Tank102a
03-30-2010, 12:54 PM
I had 3 400W MH + chiller + 10,000 gph blueline pumps on one circuit. Now I know better.
Bella127
03-30-2010, 06:57 PM
$125 with 60gallon Cube .

$90 with 29 gallon biocube

$70 with no tank at all.


So it basicy costs me now $55 a month extra in electric costs to run my 60.

I have 250w halide (electronic ballast)= 7 hours a day
Bubble King 160 ( red dragon pump)= 24 hours
48w T5's overdriven by Ice Cap 430=12 hours a day
300w Heater as needed
(2) Mp40w"s= 24 hours
Quiet One 4000 return pump= 24 hours
(3) Power brite led strips= 12 hours
(2) cooling fans = 12 hours
20w fuge light= 12 hours