i have crabs
New member
I just got a 250W aqua medic MH to replace my 165W PC orbit fixture for my 20 gallon long tank. How much can I expect my electricity bill to increase?
Thanks
Thanks
Electricity bill question
- Thread starter i have crabs
- Start date
Yinger
Premium Member
yeh, i've read that hqi ballats overdrive se bulbs. I have a electronic 250 icecap and it shows on the ballast that if you use SE, it'll be overdriven. I thought it was supposed to be more consistant however with DE bulbs. Do you think it shortens the life of the DE bulbs? Or are the bulbs made to be overdriven like that? Oh and sorry, hopefully we're not hijacking your post.
i have crabs
New member
LOL, its cool Yinger, we are all here to learn.
And is there a link to sanjays bulb test?
And is there a link to sanjays bulb test?
gcarroll
Active member
all of Sanjay's lighting test can be found on his website.
http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.com/
As for HQI ballast overdriving a DE bulb? It's BS that makers of electronic ballasts want you to believe. The bulb was around LONG before the elecronic ballast. If you look at most lighting company literature, they list the M80 ballast as the ballast of choice for 250 watt DE HQI bulbs. Sorry but my memory failed and I noticed that depeending on the bulb wattage ranges from 269 - 371 watt for DE bulbs, however most common bulbs are running in the range that I stated before. As for SE, between 315 - 376. The XM 10K is running at 374 watts, nearly 400 watts.
http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.com/
As for HQI ballast overdriving a DE bulb? It's BS that makers of electronic ballasts want you to believe. The bulb was around LONG before the elecronic ballast. If you look at most lighting company literature, they list the M80 ballast as the ballast of choice for 250 watt DE HQI bulbs. Sorry but my memory failed and I noticed that depeending on the bulb wattage ranges from 269 - 371 watt for DE bulbs, however most common bulbs are running in the range that I stated before. As for SE, between 315 - 376. The XM 10K is running at 374 watts, nearly 400 watts.
i have crabs
New member
Ok, but now how can I figure out how much more it will cost me?
Nicole, stop preaching reality! It will scare everyone back to keeping a goldfish bowl 
Does it really matter if it's going to cost you another $10 a month, your going to do it anyways, and to top it off, your going to go out and spend another $100 or more for new coral because you have new lights!
How's that for reality!
Does it really matter if it's going to cost you another $10 a month, your going to do it anyways, and to top it off, your going to go out and spend another $100 or more for new coral because you have new lights!
How's that for reality!
jeffreylam1132
New member
This is a very expensive hobby. The more you're addicted to it, the more money you're gonna spend. One should know that once you're into this hobby, just expect to be broke most of the time. But at least it's enjoyable and IMO, well worth it. Just don't let the Mrs. know how much you spend.
But at least it's enjoyable and IMO, well worth it. Just don't let the Mrs. know how much you spend. 
cthetoy
Active member
Electricty for me is the biggest expense for this hobby. My monthly before a few years ago was around $400 a month. Thats alomst $5000 a year! Now its around $200 a month with the research of more energy efficient pumps, use of fans instead of a chiller, and other electric cost saving matters around the home.
gcarroll
Active member
I run a 250 MH DE with electronic ballast, a mag 9.5, a quiet one 3000 (really sucks, don't buy it!!), 1 maxijet 9000 and it increased by electric bill by about $50 for two months so about $25/month increase. I assume the 250 MH adds about $7 - $10/month.
After putting in the tank, I watched a lot less TV on the big screen hooked up to the receiver, hooked up to the other doodads the supports the AV devices (which sucks about the same amount of electricity as the tank)
If you want to save money on electricity, take a look at your big appliances and how you use those (fridge, oven, heater, washer, etc.) and that'll go a long way.
After putting in the tank, I watched a lot less TV on the big screen hooked up to the receiver, hooked up to the other doodads the supports the AV devices (which sucks about the same amount of electricity as the tank)
If you want to save money on electricity, take a look at your big appliances and how you use those (fridge, oven, heater, washer, etc.) and that'll go a long way.
littlevietnam
In Memoriam
I agreed mag drive pump uses so much watt.
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