Electricity running cost per month

Raven

Raven

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Hi,
I have just calculated my electricity running cost per month for my tank...:y1:
Ouch.....
The reason for this painfull exercise is the fact that our house hold electricity bill is just HUGE! (don't really want to mention how much...)
I just want to pin-point where our usage is going to.
.......
Now I need some serious help to try to cut on this (the tank's usage)... (not sure one can)
My total tank volume is currently +-750l (busy pushing it to 900l by adding additional sumps to the setup)

Calculated per month my cost is between R. 400 and R. 600, depends on how long the chiller & heaters are running. (And I think this might even be on the low side)

First thing that I want to change is the return pump. It's a Hailea HX-6550 (200 W)
It's running 24hours a day - thus using 148.8kW per month. Cost: 96.8 per month!
The problem is, I wanted to add another pump as my flow from sump to display tank is not enough...
So I'm looking for a bigger pump - using less enery...:whistling:

I have 3 80W lights - it's only on for about 10 hours - Running cost R. 48
I can reduce the run time from 10 hours to 8 hours, but that will only safe R. 10 per month. So not really worth it.

Algea scrubber:
4 - 50W lights, on for 16 hours per day - Running cost R. 64 per month.
Pump for the algea scrubber - 100W - 24 hours per day - R.48 per month.

Chiller:
480W - I've estimated a run time of 6 hours a day in summer - R. 58 per month.

Protien skimmer x 2:
65W+65W = 130W - running 24 hours per day - R. 62 per month.

And the list just goes on....
I have not even listed the heaters...which is rougthly +- R. 120 per month we had a couple of cold nights....

Guys - please any advice on how to cut on this...The rest of the household will auction my tank PLUS car PLUS all my belonings to cover for the electricity bill...
 
R 600.00 is low for this size tank. I think you are going battle to get it much lower
 
Ok - I've uploaded an excel sheet that I've created to do all my calcs...
 

Attachments

  • PowerUsage.xls
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Unless you go Tunze?
They are very energy effecient...but costly...
 
Warr7207 said:
R 600.00 is low for this size tank. I think you are going battle to get it much lower
Click to expand...


nooooo!!!!!:censored:
Thats not the answer I was looking for....
Come-on guys - I really really really need to do something...anything (besides selling the tank or my kidnies)
please....help.....:(
 
Ridwaan said:
Unless you go Tunze?
They are very energy effecient...but costly...
Click to expand...

Tunze....well if I can save some electricity - I'll pay for it....

Can you recommend any pumps?
Need something that can pump anything from 5500l up...
 
Mudshark said:
Rather look at it as your membership fees to the reefing club. All sports and hobbies have expenses, some more than others. I have a similar size tank, and as Warren said, R600 is quite low.
Click to expand...
I hate to admit that you're right....
I just which I could find a reefing club with cheaper membership fees:whistling:
 
I feel your pain.
I decided to start my new house as energy officiant as possible.
Started with a solar geyser. Going to drop my bill by 40%.
Then i am going to add LED down lights. I have 80 of them. That is a total of 4000W
At 5W LEDs total are 400W.
Jes it is expensive but if you use energy savers at 11W at R44 at 5000H and you compare it to LEDs R300 at 80000H. Thy LEDs are cheaper and more efficient.
Now to save energy on my tank I looked at these energy efficient pumps.
Return Pumps :
1. Reeflo Dart Gold 11800L/H at 97W 3M Head
2. Reeflo Super Dart 13450L/H at 116W 3M Head
3. Reeflo Goby Gold 10600L/H at 139W 4.4M Head
4. Reeflo Barracuda Gold 14600L/H at 166W 4.7M Head
5. Reeflo Hammerhead Gold 17400L/H at 191W 5.3M Head
6. Reef Octopus HY-5000W Water Blaster Extreme Pumps (60W) 3.5m head
7. Reef Octopus HY-7000W Water Blaster Extreme Pumps 7,000l/h (88W) head:3.7M
I'm going to go for the Reeflo Hammerhead, as i am going to run my entire system on it. So no extra feeding pumps for stuff like Chiller,Calcium,Phosphate end carbon reactor,denitrator ext.
Yes it is very expensive but as i mentioned withe the LEDs. In the long run it Will be worthwhile.
I am also going to add a huge fan to help with the cooling and the chiller just for backup.
Still don't have a answer for the lighting.
See if you can get your hands on a bubble blaster skimmer. at 60W they skim like no other big ones can.
And i only use tunze. Expensive but last forever and very low on feul.
 
Have coupla fans blowing at scrubber as well to reduce chiller usage.
User 23W energy savers for scrubber lighting instead of 50W, works for me
 
irshaad said:
Why not plumb your overflow to your scrubber?
Click to expand...
I would have love to do this, but my setup doesn't allow for it...
I will have to change my entire sump setup....
I thought about it...Thanks!

I'll post some photo's later - maybe you guys can advice on how to change my setup...
 
Raven said:
My total tank volume is currently +-750l (busy pushing it to 900l by adding additional sumps to the setup)silly actually!more volume= more power:nono: save +-25%

First thing that I want to change is the return pump. It's a Hailea HX-6550 (200 W)
It's running 24hours a day - thus using 148.8kW per month. Cost: 96.8 per month!
The problem is, I wanted to add another pump as my flow from sump to display tank is not enough...
So I'm looking for a bigger pump - using less enery...:whistling: tunze...contact George save +-R50

I have 3 80W lights - it's only on for about 10 hours - Running cost R. 48
I can reduce the run time from 10 hours to 8 hours, but that will only safe R. 10 per month. So not really worth it. exactly...dont deprive your nennie please!you would pay R10 a month for the third meal every day for a month right:p

Algea scrubber:
4 - 50W lights, on for 16 hours per day - Running cost R. 64 per month.what lights are these?get more efficient ones(more lumens per watt 4000k-6500k colour are ideal for ats) should half this bill save+-R32
Pump for the algea scrubber - 100W - 24 hours per day - R.48 per month.what a waste!lol run this directly from your oveflow and save yourself R48 a month change the set-up if you have to i've seen yours and its not impossible to change bro:thumbup:

Chiller:
480W - I've estimated a run time of 6 hours a day in summer - R. 58 per month. CANT REALLY CUT THIS OR YOUR HEATERS ESPECIALLY SINCE YOUR SUMP IS OUTSIDE IN VEREENIGING:lol::lol::lol:

Protien skimmer x 2:
65W+65W = 130W - running 24 hours per day - R. 62 per month.nothing to do here.

And the list just goes on....
I have not even listed the heaters...which is rougthly +- R. 120 per month we had a couple of cold nights....get inside sump lol stop putting more and more sumps outside...insulated by polystyrene or not your wasting power:p

Guys - please any advice on how to cut on this...The rest of the household will auction my tank PLUS car PLUS all my belonings to cover for the electricity bill...
Click to expand...

let me knw when is the auction i need a second car:razz:

seriously just a few things and you can cut over r200 from that bill...more than that then you need a nano lol.
 
schaun said:
I feel your pain.
I decided to start my new house as energy officiant as possible.
Started with a solar geyser. Going to drop my bill by 40%.
Then i am going to add LED down lights. I have 80 of them. That is a total of 4000W
At 5W LEDs total are 400W.
Jes it is expensive but if you use energy savers at 11W at R44 at 5000H and you compare it to LEDs R300 at 80000H. Thy LEDs are cheaper and more efficient.
Now to save energy on my tank I looked at these energy efficient pumps.
Return Pumps :
1. Reeflo Dart Gold 11800L/H at 97W 3M Head
2. Reeflo Super Dart 13450L/H at 116W 3M Head
3. Reeflo Goby Gold 10600L/H at 139W 4.4M Head
4. Reeflo Barracuda Gold 14600L/H at 166W 4.7M Head
5. Reeflo Hammerhead Gold 17400L/H at 191W 5.3M Head
6. Reef Octopus HY-5000W Water Blaster Extreme Pumps (60W) 3.5m head
7. Reef Octopus HY-7000W Water Blaster Extreme Pumps 7,000l/h (88W) head:3.7M
I'm going to go for the Reeflo Hammerhead, as i am going to run my entire system on it. So no extra feeding pumps for stuff like Chiller,Calcium,Phosphate end carbon reactor,denitrator ext.
Yes it is very expensive but as i mentioned withe the LEDs. In the long run it Will be worthwhile.
I am also going to add a huge fan to help with the cooling and the chiller just for backup.
Still don't have a answer for the lighting.
See if you can get your hands on a bubble blaster skimmer. at 60W they skim like no other big ones can.
And i only use tunze. Expensive but last forever and very low on feul.
Click to expand...

Reeflo - ?
Where can I get some prices on these?
If you say expensive - in what range are we looking at?
 
Falcon said:
silly actually!more volume= more power:nono:
Click to expand...
True, BUT with this more volume I get extra filter capabilities PLUS the more water volume the more stable the water parameters which includes the temperature.
I'll insulate a bit better...


Falcon said:
let me knw when is the auction i need a second car:razz:

seriously just a few things and you can cut over r200 from that bill...more than that then you need a nano lol.
Click to expand...

I'll sell my left kindney first - interested?:lol:
 
what a waste!lol run this directly from your oveflow and save yourself R48 bucks a month
Click to expand...
I'd agree as it is the logical thing to do, but having had the gravity fed scrubber myself, I can tell you that you have countless problems with humidity under the tank causing electrical problems. Aside from that there is the real risk of blockages in the spraybar.
 
im in the same boat and im renting so i have had a few encnters with the landlord over this issue.. my main consuption was my cls and return being on the most, i am looking at a simular pump to schaun to run everything with a second vortech to assist in flow variation.. my lights are on for a limited time each day and i have taken my chiller off but will have to put it on now over summer as i lost all my sps 2 seasons ago through water temp rising too high..

its not a cheap hobby but as pointed out well worth it in comparioson to other memberships you ywould have had to pay for with less rewards...
 
I'm thinking of insulating all 4 my sumps, the back of my display and maybe the sides of the display tank with polystyrene....
(still thinking about the side panes, the position of the tank only allow partial view on side panes in any case..)

The heaters and chiller will/should work less not so?
But by what degree?
How much temperature escapes thru the glass (night time and winter months)?
 
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