IDEAS ON CUTTING DOWN ELECTRIC COST !! ANY !

[Anonymous]

What is too cold to let a reef tank get?
Just cold enough for an ICH outbreak?
Seems that in a home no one would have a problem, but in a garage is a different subject.
Has anyone ever seen any info on this?

 

[Mogo]

I have never figured out why people need heaters in reeftanks?

My basement where my tank resides rarely gets above 74. Even in the summer. I prefer to keep my tank around 79-80. My lighting system will heat the tank 1 degree. External pumps.

Electrical useage (running costs) was factored into the whole monetary equation before I decided to go with a 140 gal.

 

[Russ1]

I have a 500+ in my home. $100 a month seems cheap!!

 

[playfair]

I vary photoperiod inversly to the seasons to be as efficient as possible. During the summer, I run the tank at 82 with a shorter (11hr) photoperiod. This makes it easier to cool both the tank and the house. During the winter the min temp setting is 78.5, and photoperiod increases (13hr). My heater rarely comes on (monitored via ACII) and all excess heat from the lights helps to warm the house.

 

[jbpig]

ok stupid question here......so If you are in S CA how hot will your garage get during the summer? I would immaging you would have to run a chiller, WIMO will again increase elect cost. I know its none of my bussiness but if the tank was in the home instead of the garage you would have more stable conditions. JMO

 

[carter92]

For a 300 gallon tank...thats a bargain buddy....But than again I live in So Cali....I have a 225 gallon reef w/4 250 watt MH 4 power compacts and a chiller among other things...My bill runs bout 200 in the winter...another 30-50 dollars in summer...consider yourself lucky...

 

[npaden]

My electric bill for my 415 is $50 in the winter and $100 in the summer. (my electricity is 1/2 price in the winter)

I keep my house at 68 in the winter and my little 300 watt heater does run but my fans run each day as well too. Tank drops to 79 in the morning before lights on and climbs up to 82 in the evening before lights off. In the summertime I keep the house at 75 and the heater never runs. Tank fluctuates from 81 in the morning to 84 in the evening before MH go off. 1,600W of MH can do a pretty good job heating the water for you instead of a heater!

Never had any problems with a 3 or 4 degree temperature fluctuation in 4+ years.

FWIW, Nathan

 

[hsosa]

Thanks for the responses. I think im going to put in a solar system on my roof. Im not sure if I will need a chiller. last year I had my 100gallon and ran two large fans on the tank. I probaly will do the same. In summer I will not run heaters. My MH lights will heat up the water enough. I guess I will find out.