Addiction wins, 450 gallon system begins
- Thread starter Hop
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GregM779
Premium Member
Hop, i hope that you're over all of this crazy talk, giving up now????, that would be nuts. I think you made a very good decision abou taking a break, you also need to remember that after it's setup correctly you shouldn't always have to work on it. I worked so much this week that I never saw my tank with lights on but today I came home and enjoyed it again.
jnarowe
New member
Marc I used that method for a long time with zero problems. In fact I was quite proud of that little "work-around". It is an excellent way for a reefer in an apartment or condo to exhaust air, and there is always input from doors, window sills, etc.
My current tank room has one exterior wall so I am just going directly through that. Have I mentioned how sucky taping and mudding is?? Real REAL SUCKY!
My current tank room has one exterior wall so I am just going directly through that. Have I mentioned how sucky taping and mudding is?? Real REAL SUCKY!
edgerat
New member
Hop said:I just wanted to thank everyone for the advise and words of encouragement. I remembered something this week... I spent all this money and took all this time to build the thing and I have yet to really enjoy it. It's always being looked at as an ongoing project. I stopped the other night and spent over two hours just looking inside the tank. I remembered why I got addicted to this hobby. I found that those silly corals are growing and spreading, I have tube worms and feather dusters popping up everywhere, pods going nuts, coraline spreading like mad, a single hermit crab eluded by banishment to the fuge, my starfish are starting to pop out a leg every once in a while and my coral beauty has an incredible personality and comes up to the tank walls and acts like he wants to be scratched!
I'm going to spend some time on the next set of days off working on the humidity issues, but decided that I'm going to take my kids somewhere and have some fun. I'm not going to spend so much time on RC for a few weeks, sometimes I'm cruising this place for hours at a time looking at everyone's masterpiecesI'm not going to feel like I have to get everything done and take on one project right after another. Going to actually come home and enjoy the tank and not feel it's such an on-going chore.
I'm going to reevaluate everything in a few weeks... I still may have no choice, but I'm going to give my head a break... Maybe join a 12-step program :rollface: LOL...
Thanks again to everyone!
Whew,
Well the better half and I spent three days doing things other than tank stuff. We spent some time thinking about whether we should keep the tank and then the electric bill came. OMG! nearly $300 in electric for the tank alone. This was 160 more than it was supposed to be using the silly calculator on the home page. Regardless what we decided before, this was certainly an issue.
Since the package deal I had to sell the whole tank kind of fell through I have a few options...
1. Try to sell everything as a package again.
2. Part every thing out.
3. Keep the tank, downsize pumps. move the sump under the stand and downsize skimmer, turning the tank into a FOWLR.
4. Turn the 125 into a reef and the 340 into a planted tank, parting out what I don't need...
5. Sell everything except the tank and few few essentials, keeping them for the next house....
Hmmm any suggestions out there?
Well the better half and I spent three days doing things other than tank stuff. We spent some time thinking about whether we should keep the tank and then the electric bill came. OMG! nearly $300 in electric for the tank alone. This was 160 more than it was supposed to be using the silly calculator on the home page. Regardless what we decided before, this was certainly an issue.
Since the package deal I had to sell the whole tank kind of fell through I have a few options...
1. Try to sell everything as a package again.
2. Part every thing out.
3. Keep the tank, downsize pumps. move the sump under the stand and downsize skimmer, turning the tank into a FOWLR.
4. Turn the 125 into a reef and the 340 into a planted tank, parting out what I don't need...
5. Sell everything except the tank and few few essentials, keeping them for the next house....
Hmmm any suggestions out there?
melev
Well-known member
Why do you believe it cost you $300 in electricity for the tank alone? I'm not debating your cost, just wondering how you figured that. My tank runs me roughly $80 a month, plus the window a/c unit (8 ugly amps) that probably adds another $25 to $30 a month. Currently, I've only had it turned on 1 day in the past few weeks, now that things have cooled down finally. (Btw, yesterday we were in the upper 80s, but that night it plunged into the 30s - gotta love Texas.)
Last years bill with five tanks, albeit smaller tanks, was 1015 KW and ran $86 (elec only). This year with two tanks was 2696 kW for a tad over $300.00 for the same time period. So I may have exaggerated by about $86, but I am minus a freezer, a bigscreen tv and my daughter doesn't need everylight on upstairs anymore to sleep. SO that helped a little.
I'm pretty sure I bit off more than I can chew here Trying to figure out if I can downsize that barracuda right now, move the gen-x to the skimmer and use the BL for a return feed, dumping the fuge and killing the MH for a while. See if that can stroll me through until I figure out what to do, or the tank sells or I win the lottery, become self employed or I find that dream pool boy job! I only budgeted 140-160 for the tank electric cost and the combined gas and elec. bill that came yesterday for $451 came with a bit of sticker shock.
I'm really leaning toward one tank in the house and that would be the 125. Paying the boat off and my wife's car and re-group after we move. This was a good learning experience, but I think I learned to think smaller
Oh and that temp swing sounds like Colorado Mountain wether!
. SO that helped a little.I'm pretty sure I bit off more than I can chew here
Trying to figure out if I can downsize that barracuda right now, move the gen-x to the skimmer and use the BL for a return feed, dumping the fuge and killing the MH for a while. See if that can stroll me through until I figure out what to do, or the tank sells or I win the lottery, become self employed or I find that dream pool boy job! I only budgeted 140-160 for the tank electric cost and the combined gas and elec. bill that came yesterday for $451 came with a bit of sticker shock.I'm really leaning toward one tank in the house and that would be the 125. Paying the boat off and my wife's car and re-group after we move. This was a good learning experience, but I think I learned to think smaller
Oh and that temp swing sounds like Colorado Mountain wether!
melev
Well-known member
Looking at your for sale ad, I did a little figuring of wattage.
MH - 525w every hour they are on. Let's say 10 hours = 5250w per day.
VHO - 880w ever hour they are on. Let's say 11 hours = 9680w per day.
Pumps - I had to look them up, and may have the wrong figures, but if all four pumps run 24 hours a day: 600w per hour = 14400w per day.
Unknowns: Skimmer pumps (unless one of the above powers it), Fuge lighting, OM 4 way device, Aqua Controller Jr, smaller pumps for phosban reactor etc. Chiller possibly. Whatever tiny amount each DJ Powercenter uses to light the buttons. Heaters would be a big expense, but you didn't list their wattages.
So this is what I come up with. 29,330w per day. Is that the same number you calculated?
MH - 525w every hour they are on. Let's say 10 hours = 5250w per day.
VHO - 880w ever hour they are on. Let's say 11 hours = 9680w per day.
Pumps - I had to look them up, and may have the wrong figures, but if all four pumps run 24 hours a day: 600w per hour = 14400w per day.
Unknowns: Skimmer pumps (unless one of the above powers it), Fuge lighting, OM 4 way device, Aqua Controller Jr, smaller pumps for phosban reactor etc. Chiller possibly. Whatever tiny amount each DJ Powercenter uses to light the buttons. Heaters would be a big expense, but you didn't list their wattages.
So this is what I come up with. 29,330w per day. Is that the same number you calculated?
I would have to re-run everything again, it's been six months since I ran the numbers. But yeah, thats it, the lights you mentioned plus 110watts of fuge lights and three 25 watt fans that run about 8 hours each. Everything else was listed. My suspicion is leaning toward the barracuda... Also my VHOs are on for 10 hrs, one set, and 11.5 for the other. Then my MH is only on for 6 hrs.
Looking at the bill, it's this Elec Commodity Adjustment that has increased. says it's calculated by the KW used times the ECA factor. That went up about $80 since last year too.
Looking at the bill, it's this Elec Commodity Adjustment that has increased. says it's calculated by the KW used times the ECA factor. That went up about $80 since last year too.
Hop, I reckon you should just pack away the tank and equipment until you're ready to hit it full on. You've got humidity, big bills and a new demanding job and it's killed your buzz. You can still be a 125g reefer though. Keep learning with that, keep expenses down, stay in the hobby and on RC. You can still build some nice livestock and when you're ready you can transfer everything into the big tank in your new house with an in-wall system and no humidity issues.
Don't sell everything though. Just put it on ice. You have a good collection of stuff and a great tank from James. Believe me, when you get a new house the last thing you want is an extra $15k weight around your neck. Due to my tank I had to put big amounts of furniture on credit and I hate credit. So when you're ready, you can sort it all out with hardly any cost. You'll be happy, man. I overstretched big time and now I ran out of cash and I ain't even got the LR in there yet.
Don't sell everything though. Just put it on ice. You have a good collection of stuff and a great tank from James. Believe me, when you get a new house the last thing you want is an extra $15k weight around your neck. Due to my tank I had to put big amounts of furniture on credit and I hate credit. So when you're ready, you can sort it all out with hardly any cost. You'll be happy, man. I overstretched big time and now I ran out of cash and I ain't even got the LR in there yet.
Knyght
New member
Hop said:
Wow I take a break from RC because of school and come back to read all I have missed and see this
Bad things happening to one of my dream systems that I drool over. I have to say sorry to hear things took a downer for you. Happens to us all I know but I wish only the best for all.
I can most certainly relate to the unexpected electric bill, that would have given me a minor stroke at least, if nothing else, especially this close to the holidays.
I hope that lady luck will smile on you and yours and the lottery hits for you.....Keep me in mind for a small tip if you do
NexDog makes some good points. You have so much invested now that if you just sell everything you will most likely only be able to recover $.50 on the $1. No one likes to lose $$$.
It`s a major decision so don`t rush it, take a break, just enjoy it while you can, think of it like selling a house. Big decision, with tough choices.
HTH in some small way, and keep the faith.
:beachbum:
melev
Well-known member
Unless you are hurting for cash, I'd not sell it either. You can cover it up with tiny painted handprints (just kidding), or leave it empty for the day you are ready to focus on it again.
And you might rethink your lighting situation. Watts for watts, I'd figure using 400w MH and less VHO might be better use of the power you have to consume.
Lower wattage pumps always help. Remember how I was using an Ampmaster 4700 around the clock? 384w of power every hour. Someone did the math in my thread a long time ago to inform me that it was costing me $25 per month just to return the water to the tank. :eek2: Tunze Streams or VorTech pumps can move lots of water with less wattage too. Matter of fact, one of the main reasons I don't install the closed loop on my tank is because I'd have to run yet another pump and I don't really feel the need.
Some things you have to pay for, but where we can save money it is always better to do that in the long run.
And you might rethink your lighting situation. Watts for watts, I'd figure using 400w MH and less VHO might be better use of the power you have to consume.
Lower wattage pumps always help. Remember how I was using an Ampmaster 4700 around the clock? 384w of power every hour. Someone did the math in my thread a long time ago to inform me that it was costing me $25 per month just to return the water to the tank. :eek2: Tunze Streams or VorTech pumps can move lots of water with less wattage too. Matter of fact, one of the main reasons I don't install the closed loop on my tank is because I'd have to run yet another pump and I don't really feel the need.
Some things you have to pay for, but where we can save money it is always better to do that in the long run.
duhfactor
Premium Member
hop,
I'm sorry this isn't working out for you, I was hoping you would work out all the bugs for me....Ha Ha :fun1: . Actually, you have worked out a lot of challenges with this system, and it's turned out very nice. I'll miss seeing your tank mature, the most rewarding part IMO. I've read this thread in full, and have a basic idea of your thoughts on the set up, but was hoping that sometime, when convenient for you, I could pick your brain on things you would do differently if you were to do it over again. Experience is 20/20! Unless your a slow learner like me :hmm4: I think there are a few areas that could be done done significantly less expensively in my 325 gal display set up.
Damon
I'm sorry this isn't working out for you, I was hoping you would work out all the bugs for me....Ha Ha :fun1: . Actually, you have worked out a lot of challenges with this system, and it's turned out very nice. I'll miss seeing your tank mature, the most rewarding part IMO. I've read this thread in full, and have a basic idea of your thoughts on the set up, but was hoping that sometime, when convenient for you, I could pick your brain on things you would do differently if you were to do it over again. Experience is 20/20! Unless your a slow learner like me :hmm4: I think there are a few areas that could be done done significantly less expensively in my 325 gal display set up.
Damon
duhfactor
Premium Member
hop,
I'm sorry this isn't working out for you, I was hoping you would work out all the bugs for me....Ha Ha :fun1: . Actually, you have worked out a lot of challenges with this system, and it's turned out very nice. I'll miss seeing your tank mature, the most rewarding part IMO. I've read this thread in full, and have a basic idea of your thoughts on the set up, but was hoping that sometime, when convenient for you, I could pick your brain on things you would do differently if you were to do it over again. Experience is 20/20! Unless your a slow learner like me :hmm4: I think there are a few areas that could be done done significantly less expensively in my 325 gal display set up.
Damon
I'm sorry this isn't working out for you, I was hoping you would work out all the bugs for me....Ha Ha :fun1: . Actually, you have worked out a lot of challenges with this system, and it's turned out very nice. I'll miss seeing your tank mature, the most rewarding part IMO. I've read this thread in full, and have a basic idea of your thoughts on the set up, but was hoping that sometime, when convenient for you, I could pick your brain on things you would do differently if you were to do it over again. Experience is 20/20! Unless your a slow learner like me :hmm4: I think there are a few areas that could be done done significantly less expensively in my 325 gal display set up.
Damon
The humidity I'm working on this weekend. I'm going to do some more sealing around the tank just to keep the moisture contained. As far as the electric goes, I'm swapping out the barracuda and playing with some other ideas. I may wind up ditching the fuge and putting everything in the sump, I have plenty of room.
Sunday was odd as I woke to a very cloudy tank. Cranked the skimmer up and ran some carbon and everyting is back to normal. I tested everything I could when this happened and everything tested normal... Not sure what happened.
To be honest I was insulted by a few PMs that I received regarding the sale price and the parting out of items. So I have quit responding to PMs about the tank. I apologize if anyone PMd me with a legitimate question or comment, but some of these e-mails and PMs were rather ridiculous and got quite hateful. I felt 1/2 price was pretty good, but apparently some people wanted to make rude comments because I wasn't going to drive all my equipment to their house, set it up and only ask $100 for everything So again, sorry if I left anyone hanging after legitimate PM!
Sunday was odd as I woke to a very cloudy tank. Cranked the skimmer up and ran some carbon and everyting is back to normal. I tested everything I could when this happened and everything tested normal... Not sure what happened.
To be honest I was insulted by a few PMs that I received regarding the sale price and the parting out of items. So I have quit responding to PMs about the tank. I apologize if anyone PMd me with a legitimate question or comment, but some of these e-mails and PMs were rather ridiculous and got quite hateful. I felt 1/2 price was pretty good, but apparently some people wanted to make rude comments because I wasn't going to drive all my equipment to their house, set it up and only ask $100 for everything
So again, sorry if I left anyone hanging after legitimate PM!- Status
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