Big tank owners: How much electricity are you using?
- Thread starter Jimbo327
- Start date
hawaiian_boi
undercover reefer
I pay 200 dollars a month. 220 gallon
Sent from my SM-G998U using Tapatalk
Sent from my SM-G998U using Tapatalk
five.five-six
Well-known member
I run metal halide, so around $250/ mo
I have solar, but it's been keeping up with my house. But adding a 200g tank will stick me with a $250/month bill. I've gotten used to not paying any electric bills.
So I'm wondering if I should add some batteries. I contacted the solar company for a quote. I'm just not sure if batteries makes sense financially.
So I'm wondering if I should add some batteries. I contacted the solar company for a quote. I'm just not sure if batteries makes sense financially.
BeanMachine
Active member
I think the batteries are just when your electricity goes out, not for storing and using electricity over what your system is producing. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. I priced the back up batteries and they were way too expensive and couldn't justify the price for the benefit. I added approx. a 6kw system to my house, and we owe about $60 for the last 4 months total. Producing about 1,000 kwh per month. That's with AC and my 300.
I think some of these estimates are a little off. I don't think a 200 gallon tank is going to cost you $250 per month in electricity.
All Delight
New member
Mine was between $300 - $500. $500 during July, August, Sept. That's the whole electricity bill. I don't know exactly what it costs just for the tanks since they push me into higher tiers.
I do wish I went solar earlier. But I'm solar now and it's great.
I do wish I went solar earlier. But I'm solar now and it's great.
All Delight
New member
Batteries are good when electricity goes out or if you want to use the batteries during peak hours. I get about 10 hours off the battery if I run it down to 10%. That's running my whole house without altering my usage.
I got it because once, I was without electricity overnight, ended up being like 12 hours, I was on the brink of losing all my fish and corals. In the morning I had to buy a generator. Which kept my losses at a minimum. So if that battery saves me from one crash in 10 years, it paid for itself. On top of that, I use it daily to minimize peak hours.
Brieninsac
Member
I've been tracking my aquarium electricity usage for about 8 months now. I'm using a smart plug I purchased on Amazon and can track the usage via Bluetooth on my phone. My entire system is plugged into this smart plug. https://amzn.to/3DxwXeo
The two biggest factors are going to be your lights (brightness and duration) as well as your environment (meaning how often your heater has to run).
Now granted my system is smaller, about 90-gal., but it should give you a general idea. During the summer when the heater is running less I'm averaging 75 kWh per month. As its been getting cooler and the heater is running more I'm averaging about 100 kWh per month now.
The two biggest factors are going to be your lights (brightness and duration) as well as your environment (meaning how often your heater has to run).
Now granted my system is smaller, about 90-gal., but it should give you a general idea. During the summer when the heater is running less I'm averaging 75 kWh per month. As its been getting cooler and the heater is running more I'm averaging about 100 kWh per month now.
tfp
New member
I'd roughly estimate $150-160 a month for electricity (SMUD) for my 400g.
We've got a relatively small 800g Koi pond too and dang kids that love their technology :hmm3:
https://youtu.be/BC1J5JbC65w
We've got a relatively small 800g Koi pond too and dang kids that love their technology :hmm3:
https://youtu.be/BC1J5JbC65w
I can't wait to see my electricity bills when move into the new house and have a big tank running again. Just try to calculate through the platform Strøm24.no . Once I have my bill, I will update here
pa1ntbru5h
New member
I have the Tesla Solar and Powerwall batteries. My house feeds off the batteries at night and I have 20% saved for power outages. With a 320g Display and 100g frag tank plus a Tesla Model 3, my monthly bills were $350-450/mo before solar. With solar I've been anywhere from SCE owing me credits to me paying ~$30/mo
moondoggy4
Team RC
My electricity bill was 500 a month last August my AC never turned off, poor installation in the attic. Usual bill 180 month with a 120 gallon tank minimum lighting.
Similar threads
