Cutting Energy Costs on a Large ReeF
- Thread starter coolkidtr
- Start date
dave willmore
New member
How much are your utility bills now, or how much do you project them to be? Why not invest in natural filters at the same water level as your tank and reduce the cost of lifting so many tons of water 15' each day? If your electric bills are $150 a month, why not invest another $1,800 in tanks, it's the same cost as a year's utility bills.
You could put solar light tubes over the tank and over refugiums to the side and cut a lot of your power bill. I don't know how much space you have available. Sponges, xenia and algae will remove a lot of nutrients so your skimmer can be smaller.
You could put solar light tubes over the tank and over refugiums to the side and cut a lot of your power bill. I don't know how much space you have available. Sponges, xenia and algae will remove a lot of nutrients so your skimmer can be smaller.
Thanks for all the replies. The maindisplay is on the main floor and water is pumped up from the basement. I dont have space on the main floor to add all of the filtartion for the tank. I am currently looking at replacing the MH's with led perhaps AI or diy. I am looking at replacement for the beckett. Perhaps running two SWC cones, my existing 250a with askoll with another 250a or 300a cone. I dont think any of the ATB's that are in my price range would be able to handle the load. Running two askolls would save me alot on energy unless I can find a large skimmer that is cost effective and energy efficient. I dont' think the 250a by itself can handle the bioload though it is rated at 400 gallons for a heavy bioload. I do run two 250 watt heaters that rarely come on. I am in the proces of weaning off the UV.
T
T
OceanDweller
Member
Sorry TT but I only mentioned the flow from the Tunzes because he is running 6 of them if you include the wavebox. Thats around 200 watts continuously. I am assuming its a mostly sps dominated reef and he needs the flow/likes the look of the wave action. That said, his system pumps are churning out a lot of power. Granted, its a hard thing not to have in a 400.
I calculated the average annual savings of running 3 sola tubes vs 3 250 watt halides and came up with an average "for my area via rc" of 400-450 (444) $ annually. Thats like 2 nice fish and 2 acan colonies extra a year...
I calculated the average annual savings of running 3 sola tubes vs 3 250 watt halides and came up with an average "for my area via rc" of 400-450 (444) $ annually. Thats like 2 nice fish and 2 acan colonies extra a year...
OceanDweller
Member
Smart Sunilp, I am guessing you probably save 200-500$ a year annually on electricity as well. I am surprised you had to pick up a chiller unless you don't really run AC.
My tank is mainly sps. I don't think I can cut the circulation.I am looking for other efficiencies. When I first started my tank they were not as many options as there are now. I am revisiting my skimmer lights and return pump. Keep the posts coming. I think all big tank owners face these challenges and we can all learn from the discussion. All of my tunzes are pulsing.
Thanks
T
I got the chiller in case. It barely turns on. THe profilux controller sets a mode where the water gets colder at night and the chiller kicks on for an hour or 2 a night. Usually off during the day.
SaltwaterAdict
New member
The solar tubes look cool, but they are not controlable and your corals health will depend upon the weather. What if there is hardly no sun for a few days or even a week? Also, I enjoy my tank the most at night where there are no lights or reflections from outside.
SaltwaterAdict
New member
True, if you live somewhere where there's a lot of light then that would probably work out. Also, if you have a very large tank like yourself that would help out a lot with electricity costs. I like the idea of how you can still view it a night by keeping supplemental lighting. What type of actinics were you going to use?
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