how long should i run my MH's?
- Thread starter dieselgrk
- Start date
funman1
Active member
Yeah but the more you run, the more coral growth you get.
I run my MH's for 14 hrs a day, and get insane coral growth.
Here's what it costs to run a MH on SMUD Summer rates Tier 1
4 hrs a day
250 Watts = .25 Kwh x 4hrs = 1.0 KWH x 0.0866 =0.07 per day or $2.10 per month
14 hrs a day
250 Watts = .25 Kwh x 14hrs = 3.5 KWH x 0.0866 =0.30 per day or $9.10 per month
I run my MH's for 14 hrs a day, and get insane coral growth.
Here's what it costs to run a MH on SMUD Summer rates Tier 1
4 hrs a day
250 Watts = .25 Kwh x 4hrs = 1.0 KWH x 0.0866 =0.07 per day or $2.10 per month
14 hrs a day
250 Watts = .25 Kwh x 14hrs = 3.5 KWH x 0.0866 =0.30 per day or $9.10 per month
Last edited:
dieselgrk
New member
WOW.....funman thanks for the numbers, that makes me feel much better about running MH's longer but what about 2 cycles a day? i leave the house by 5am so would luv the lights to be on from 4am to 5am....i usually wont get back home till 5 or 6 that night.....could cycling them on and off twice a day be an option?
kdblove_99
New member
I run mine 8hrs a day
Steve - Must be nice not to get screwed over by your electric company! (Can't you feel my love for PG&E?)
I am actually in the fourth tier of electricity use.
Baseline - $0.11430/Kwh
101-130% of baseline - $0.12989/Kwh
131-200% of baseline - $0.22722/Kwh
201% - 300% of baseline - $0.31719/Kwh
So for me:
500 watts (2x250w) = .5Kwh x 5 x 0.31719 = 0.793 per day or $23.79 per month. I once calculated that with all the pumps running, it probably cost me about $60-70 of electricity per month to run the tank.
My two lights overlap the time that they are on. So the first MH comes on at 5 and turns off at 10. The second MH comes on at 7 and turns off at midnight. The total time that my tank is lite is 7 hours.
Maybe I should increase so that each lights are actually on for 6 hours. My only concern for the summer would be heat from the MH. But then - I just bought a chiller.
Dieselgrk - I have never seen a dual cycle. I would be concern how it might affect your fish and corals. Why don't you try having actinic turn on from 4-6 and the light be on from 4PM till midnight? Stuff looks pretty cool under actinic. And since actinic lights are not as bright, maybe it won't affect your corals as much (if it does have any effect).
I
I am actually in the fourth tier of electricity use.
Baseline - $0.11430/Kwh
101-130% of baseline - $0.12989/Kwh
131-200% of baseline - $0.22722/Kwh
201% - 300% of baseline - $0.31719/Kwh
So for me:
500 watts (2x250w) = .5Kwh x 5 x 0.31719 = 0.793 per day or $23.79 per month. I once calculated that with all the pumps running, it probably cost me about $60-70 of electricity per month to run the tank.
My two lights overlap the time that they are on. So the first MH comes on at 5 and turns off at 10. The second MH comes on at 7 and turns off at midnight. The total time that my tank is lite is 7 hours.
Maybe I should increase so that each lights are actually on for 6 hours. My only concern for the summer would be heat from the MH. But then - I just bought a chiller.
Dieselgrk - I have never seen a dual cycle. I would be concern how it might affect your fish and corals. Why don't you try having actinic turn on from 4-6 and the light be on from 4PM till midnight? Stuff looks pretty cool under actinic. And since actinic lights are not as bright, maybe it won't affect your corals as much (if it does have any effect).
I
funman1
Active member
Yeah I'm on tier 4 most of the time.
All the server equipment I run makes my SW tanks bill look like a joke.
My server room pulls a constant 16 amps 24/7 so that = 1,920 WATTS
So...
1,920 Watts = 1.92 Kwh x T3($0.1683) = $0.323 per hour x 24 in a day = ~$7.76 x 30 days month = ~$232.80
Plus what it takes to cool the room down with AC!!!
Here's our SMUD Summer Rates
T1=.0866
T2=.151
T3=.1683
And here's our Winter Rates
T1=.0798
T2=.1413
T3=.1537
All the server equipment I run makes my SW tanks bill look like a joke.
My server room pulls a constant 16 amps 24/7 so that = 1,920 WATTS
So...
1,920 Watts = 1.92 Kwh x T3($0.1683) = $0.323 per hour x 24 in a day = ~$7.76 x 30 days month = ~$232.80
Plus what it takes to cool the room down with AC!!!
Here's our SMUD Summer Rates
T1=.0866
T2=.151
T3=.1683
And here's our Winter Rates
T1=.0798
T2=.1413
T3=.1537
Holy COW!!! :eek1: That's an insane amount of money for a home server room! But you sure have a nice rack! (Never thought I'd say that to a guy :lol: )
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10016972#post10016972 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by funman1
Yeah I'm on tier 4 most of the time.
All the server equipment I run makes my SW tanks bill look like a joke.
My server room pulls a constant 16 amps 24/7 so that = 1,920 WATTS
So...
1,920 Watts = 1.92 Kwh x T3($0.1683) = $0.323 per hour x 24 in a day = ~$7.76 x 30 days month = ~$232.80
Plus what it takes to cool the room down with AC!!!
Here's our SMUD Summer Rates
T1=.0866
T2=.151
T3=.1683
And here's our Winter Rates
T1=.0798
T2=.1413
T3=.1537
LET THERE BE LIGHT!!!!
airinhere
New member
Hey there! I have been running my pair of 90 gal mixed reefs on a dual light cycle for a few months now. Lights (2 X 250W 20K Halide) come on at 8am shut down at noon. Darkness untill 5:30pm and off at 11:30pm. Lights are on when I get up in the morning and when I get home at night. No sense running them while I am away. (Electricity is expensive.) So far all my corals are growing/spreading quickly. 10 hours total light. I plan on setting up my 120 anem tank on a similar light cycle when I get it finished.
