Electrical Reqirements for a reef tank?

[Anonymous]

I am getting a new tank this month. It will be a 75 Gallon tank. I will be running probably 250 Watt halides and VHO actinics. A few pumps, chiller, heater, and etc.

Should I consider getting a new circuit run to the tank area to dedicate for the tank or would a shared circuit that connects the whole room be sufficient. I have has smaller tanks and never have had halides, Just making sure that I have everything in place before I get the tank and start stocking it.

Thanks

Rob

 

[Anonymous]

I have had a tank up for a year using the shared circuit in the living room, but plan to get 2 dedicated outlets with GFI's installed soon. All those light ballasts draw a lot of power, and the chiller does also.

I haven't had any problems with tripping breakers or anything, but the Fire Marshall would slap me if he saw how much I have going into those outlets.

 

[Marcosreef]

Hello,

You could go with 2 - 20A circuits; 1 for the chiller, and 1 for the remainder of the tank.

Marco

 

[reefland]

You'll want at least two dedicated circuits for the tank. I would keep all lighting on one circuit but place water pumps on both. This way if a pump was to trip the breaker or GFI you do not lose all water movement. Having the halides on with no water movement could cook the tank (water can't reach the chiller)

If something should trip the other circuit your lights go out and you'll have some reduced water flow until you correct the issue... nothing major.

You might consider putting the chiller on the same circuit as the lighting as well if you think you'll have heat issues. Thinking behind that is no chiller = no lights thus no major heat source.

VHO, one of the heaters and a power head or two could go on a shared circuit (still GFI protected of course) spreading the load even more and reducing the amount of what fails when something trips.

I have seen a 75 gallon tank with 2 halides, VHO and return pumps all run from a single circuit (via extension cords no less!) I would not suggest it.

 

[ReefLion]

Just so it doesn't get lost in the shuffle, GFCI outlets are hugely important. The suggestions regarding amperage and arrangement above are certainly worth taking, but make sure you have everything on GFCI.

Tim

 

[Anonymous]

I was affraid you all were going to say that. This isn't good. I live in a condominium with a very old electrical panel that they dont even make breakers for anymore. Besides the tank and parts, now I will have to get a whole electrical service upgrade, which will cost a small fortune.

Maybe this isn't a good idea anymore.

 

[danmhippo]

I tested the amp draw on my chiller when it was first installed. At start up, it draws about 13 amps and quickly backs down to 8.9amp for continuous operation. It's a 1/2 HP chiller. If you think your lighting will draw lots of amperage, I would strongly you use breakers larger then 20amp.

 

[IcantTHINKofONE]

Rob, there are portable GFCI units that plug into your non-GFCI outlet. Won't cost anywhere near a fortune.

 

[danmhippo]

But most portable GFCI outlet only comes with 15amp trip breaker........at least that's the only ones I hae seen as of yet. Or you can build one yourself.

 

[Anonymous]

The GFCI isn't the problem. It is adding the additional dedicated circuits. I have to have the whole electrical panel repaced so I can add additional circuits. They dont make the circuit breakers for my panel anymore

 

[mariner]

2x250 watt setup only draws 5 amps. Ive got both of my tanks sharing houshold circuts(drawing over 1500 watts) for 2 years never tripping the circut breakers.One tank is on during the day and the other comes on at night.

 

[jhaag]

If the outlet will still be accessible once you place and fill your tank, I would give it a shot on your existing circuit. I have a 90gal with no problems on a shared 15amp circuit with the living room (no chiller though). Worst case, it will trip the circuit breaker. If it's gonna trip, it will be when everything is on. Needless to say, you can fill the tank, turn on all the pumps and the lights, then wait for the chiller to kick on. If the breaker doesn't trip, it's probably not gonna. Of course, if the placement of the tank makes it impossible to get to the outlet afterwards, you're pretty much screwed since you'll have to drain it and move it so an electrician can hook you up. Doh?!?!?!

 

[MtnDewMan]

I have a 75 gallon reef with daul 250W MHs and 330W of VHO actinics. Also I run a few pumps, refugium lights and fans. I had all hooked up initially to one circuit, but the breaker would definately blow. So I put all of my lighting onto high current extension cord and plugged it into an outlet which is on a different circuit breaker. I basically am sharing the load between two existing 20A circuit breakers. I have plants and a desk that hide the extension cord for the most part. It was either do this or invest in a few hundred dollars that it cost to set up a dedicated circuit.
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[Anonymous]

Well, I was debating on trying to go with the existing outlet. SO I did a test to find out EXACTLY what is on the shared circuit.

Listen to this. In my Lovely Condominuim. They wired the living room and dining room and kitchen in rows. Where I was going top put the tank (The only room for a 4ft tank) also connects to 3 other outlets in the dining room, 3 outlets in the kitchen and including the Microwave that is above the Stove. Now the outlets I could have not used but I know the microwave will draw ALOT OF JUICE.

Now I am really upset. I really wanted to get a SPS and clam tank.
I will have to stay with my 46 bowfront with soft corals and be bored. This sucks.

Sorry had to vent a little.

 

[M.E.Milz]

Well, I was debating on trying to go with the existing outlet. SO I did a test to find out EXACTLY what is on the shared circuit.

Listen to this. In my Lovely Condominuim. They wired the living room and dining room and kitchen in rows. Where I was going top put the tank (The only room for a 4ft tank) also connects to 3 other outlets in the dining room, 3 outlets in the kitchen and including the Microwave that is above the Stove. Now the outlets I could have not used but I know the microwave will draw ALOT OF JUICE.

Now I am really upset. I really wanted to get a SPS and clam tank.
I will have to stay with my 46 bowfront with soft corals and be bored. This sucks.

Sorry had to vent a little.

Pulling the extra wires for a separate circuit may not be as expensive as you think, if the pipes are already there, and there is room left in them for more wires. I had to do this in my condo for my new tank. Fortunately, there was a junction box embedded in my concrete ceiling for a track lighting system right above where my new tank was going to go. I removed the track lighting and had an electrician pull an additional circuit through the box for my tank lights. I built a soffet (sp?) on to the ceiling to conceal all the wiring, as well as the ballasts. As for the pumps, etc., I had the eletrician add 12 surface mounted outlets to the wall behind the tank so that I would not have to use any extension cords. Of course, I had him do all this before I set up the tank. I don't remeber what the bill was, but I don't think it was that bad.