electric bill

[cranberry]

What pumps are you using? There may be a more energy efficient pump that would serve the same purpose for ya. We always look at watts and sometimes it is the deciding factor in which pump we bring home. We run 12 tanks and 5 of them have chillers..... we had to be careful and started flipping over labels to not waste money where we didn't need to.

 

[salt210]

there is def no need for the halides without corals or any other photosynthetic animals. your best bang for the buck would be T5's. consume very little energy compared to your other choices out there. I am thinking of switching from my PC's to T5's since I need to replace the bulbs on them anyways.

 

[vince-1961]

Originally Posted by Mech-a-nic
http:///forum/post/3109346
WOW that was so helpfull to the conversation! If you don't have any usefull info to add don't run others away when they ask for help or advise.
There are many ways to consume less electricity, both with respect to an aquarium and otherwise. If the Husband is complaining about the power bill and wanting to get rid of the tank and put a piano in it's place, the issue is not the consumption of electricity, nor is the issue how to spend (or even whether to spend) more money buying replacements that will consume less electricity.

 

[mech-a-nic]

She was looking for ways to save power and the lights are the biggest draw in most tanks. She wanted ideas to try to lessen the draw. and wahted to know if it was worth it to chang the lighting for power savings. Saying the tank uses power is a given. Just tying to keep the conversation construtive.

 

[number1gsxxr]

You can try this http://www.amazon.com/P3-Internation...0125882&sr=8-1 to see what kind of power various equipment is using. If you are running MH lights and don't plan on having coral then definitely sell those and get T-5 lights. Don't forget most T-5 bulbs can go 8-12 months or more before needing replacing verse 6 months give or take for MH or so I'm told; so you can save money there as well.

 

[lovinmynemo]

Just an fyi, but most electric companies have a website that offer cost saving ideas ,so if you cant save on the aquarium maybe they have other ideas that would help,you could also try changing all the incadescent lamps in your house to compact flourescents this dropped my bill about 20 bucks a month,or maybe turn the ac up 1 degree believe it or not it does make a diffrence about 18 dollars on our bill.We also added gaskets on all receptacles on outside walls to cut down on drafts ,just a few low cost ideas to help save money

 

[bizzmoneyb]

i put 2 x 250 MH on my 90 gal a few months ago and my bill didnt jump that much. its always different but id say my whole tank bumped it up $30-$40 a month maybe

 

[flower]

Originally Posted by BizzMoneyB
http:///forum/post/3111857
i put 2 x 250 MH on my 90 gal a few months ago and my bill didnt jump that much. its always different but id say my whole tank bumped it up $30-$40 a month maybe

$30.00 to $40.00 a month is a big bump to me.

 

[jackri]

During the day my tanks draw roughly 2000 watts. My last bill was 190.00 which was about double after last year.... I just added a frag tank and I know costs have come up a bit... but wondering if it's my A/C that just seems to run all the time in ND or the humidity it adds... dunno and don't care as much as the wife does

 

[pastor b.]

Dear hobbyist,here in Connecticut, we have United Illuminating ,or Connecticut Light and power for our electric suppliers. Although we're a small state,electric rates are high, and UI still wants to raise electric usage, which can be sad news for aquarium keepers . You have to learn how manage your electric time with your aquarium. I use timers for my lights, and unplug things I'm not using (even though things are plugged in,you're still using power ). Anyway you look at it, if you're going to have an aquarium,you're going to use electricity, and spend money. Whether its spring,summer,autumn, or winter . Don't get discouraged hobbyist,this is just a portion of what we as hobbyists accept when we take on this hobby.