7500lph at 144w (R300) is not to bad I recon, although if you want waves, tunze 6101 does 12 000lph from 24v at 36w at +- R4400 for a pump with a single controller
So price wise bilge pump, effeciency - Tunze
Time to change (Alternative power sources)
- Thread starter Shaun
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7500lph at 144w (R300) is not to bad I recon, although if you want waves, tunze 6101 does 12 000lph from 24v at 36w at +- R4400 for a pump with a single controller
So price wise bilge pump, effeciency - Tunze
If you can get the water spread out over a bigger area and using fans to blow air over it, I am sure the fans can be as effective as a chiller. On my tank, the temp used to go up to 29deg on hot days, now it stays put at 26... thats only using 2x 80mm PC fans.
Perhaps an idea - I know it is "normal" - go T5's instead of Metal Halides????
And: I like the idea of using 12V DC Bilge pumps, instead the conventional electric (AC) pumps.... (as return pumps, in-sump pumps, power-heads in-tank, etc)... all running off a battery-system that is just re-charged whenever it is needed... (so not constantly on power)...
And: I like the idea of using 12V DC Bilge pumps, instead the conventional electric (AC) pumps.... (as return pumps, in-sump pumps, power-heads in-tank, etc)... all running off a battery-system that is just re-charged whenever it is needed... (so not constantly on power)...
Somebody mentioned chiller towers, thinking of making a smaller one to do some tests, they work for big industries so they should work for us, it will also increase evaporation.
Thalion, I hope you dont mind, I changed the title a bit
Maybe Hill thought it was Changing Time in a ladies locker room and thats why he hadnt ventured in here
May have worked. Time will tell.
I guy I know can get 3kw for 3 to 4 hours true sinewave output UPS' for about R10k, this should be enough for most of our tanks here.... but the price...
He can also get 1000W versions for about R1500... I have not seen the spec sheets for these things, so I can only go on hearsay for now. The 1000W version should run my tank without any problems.
He can also get 1000W versions for about R1500... I have not seen the spec sheets for these things, so I can only go on hearsay for now. The 1000W version should run my tank without any problems.
Cybervic, I had a piece of arylic sheet lying around, and I made a skylight, cost me just to get the ceiling guys to make a shaft between the ceiling and the tiles out of ceiling board.
Looks great, and easy to do.
Looks great, and easy to do.
A chiller tower sounds like a good idea... having water trickle down a cone (from yout overflow, with a fan blowing down from the top (throught the cone 'cylinder')...then a collecting basin underneath with a pump to pump it back into the tank/sump...... I think you would get some great results.....
I am also thinking of doing it myself, I just thought I'd include the price for the non DIY people.
Do you use this skylight for your tank? If so, how about som pics.
My concerns is discoloration of the acrylic and hail. We do get a lot of sun here and at least one big hail storm per year.
The price of the inverter (UPS) is not the only problem - You also need a bank of deep discharge batteries. These batteries should not be discharged lower than 90% of full capacity if you want the batteries to last long (as an example, if discharged only 10% a battery has a "cycle life" of around 10 000 cycles, but the same battery discharged to 50% will only last about 2000 cycles, if you're lucky.
Thus for a 48V 3KVA inverter supplying full power for 4 hours you will need 3000W/48V=62.5A x 4 hours = 250Ah / 10% = 2500Ah total capacity (without external losses). That would mean 10 x 250Ah 48V batteries, or 40 x 250Ah 12V batteries (if my calculations are correct...), and at (say) R1 000.00 per battery you're talking about R40 000.00.
Any sparkies on the forum to confirm my calculations ?
Hennie
Cybervic, the onr I did was just over my lounge, but there is a big one 2.4m x 1.4m over my new tank will post pics as soon as I have the foil up.
You must get non UV absorbing acrylic if you want SPS to show full colour. Hail shouldn't be a prob according to stockists.
You must get non UV absorbing acrylic if you want SPS to show full colour. Hail shouldn't be a prob according to stockists.
Yes, your calcs look right.... but that's worst case you have there...I would only run up to 1500W on the invertor.
My usage would go like this: 1500w/48V=31.25Ax3Hours=93.75AH, 33% cycle=3x100AH Batteries, or 6x24V 100AH.
From my reading these batteries should handle 33% cycles easy, and still have a life span of 5+ years if used almost everyday...
I am also planning on letting my controller control the invertor, ie, only switch the invertor on 30min after the power went out etc. Most power outtages is about 2 hours, so I will run the invertor about 1.5 hours a day, that brings the cycle on the batteries down to 17%.
Thanks for the info, almost got the wrong stuff
Found this on the web, calculate the cost of running your tank.
Add the watts to get a total. Lets use one pump for example 145 watts
145 x hours used x days used divided by 1000 to get KW X cost per KW we are about 40c
145x24x365/1000 x .40 = R508.08 to run for the year.
My tank uses almost half my bill each month.
DID Try phone to get cost but was transferred from one department to another so gave up, used my bill to find the cost per KW.
The calculation should be correct, I take no credit if it is wrong or not.:blushing:
Add the watts to get a total. Lets use one pump for example 145 watts
145 x hours used x days used divided by 1000 to get KW X cost per KW we are about 40c
145x24x365/1000 x .40 = R508.08 to run for the year.
My tank uses almost half my bill each month.
DID Try phone to get cost but was transferred from one department to another so gave up, used my bill to find the cost per KW.
The calculation should be correct, I take no credit if it is wrong or not.:blushing:
cyber, you get the non uv acrylic by asking for sunbed acrylic.
Maizey plastics should have it.
Maizey plastics should have it.
i am no sparkie but your calculations are on the money. We use these type of systems in our business. I would say the R1K batteries are a little cheap. Need to spend approx R2K battery to get decent quality and maximum cycles.
We also add in a minimum of 10% extra battery quantity for "external losses"
coralite
Free Digital Coral Guide
As far as efficient water flow there is no way to beat a Vortech pump. I dont know if you have these in SA but they have the motor outside the tank and the propeller is driven by magnetic induction through the glass. Not only do they not add heat to your system but they flow ~3000GPH at 25W, and they are DC, adjustable and can run off of battery back ups. And finally, each pump has a wireless driver that communicates with other vortechs to produce a variety of flow regimes for your tank. the only drawback is the price, ~ US$420.
Although expensive, that is one advanced pump.