Is there such thing as an energy efficient large reef system build?

[Made4water]

I currently have about a 195g system (165 main tank and 30g sump) that's been up for about 3 years now and have been contemplating upgrading to a much larger system, but would love to put more of a emphases on a more energy efficient set up.

As is now, my energy bill is about $250-$300 each month and before I had the tank it was $75-$150.

My equipment list...

* Mag 12 return pump
* Mag 7 to chiller
* Mag 3 to protein skimmer
* CL-650 pacific coast chiller
* Red Sea C-Skim 1800 Protein Skimmer
* 3 250w Metal Halide
* uv sterilizer
* phosban reactor with carbon
* 2 hydor magnum 7 power heads


I would be Very curious to hear what others thoughts are on this.

Thanks

 

[platylover]

I think it's definitely possible to run a more energy efficient reef. Have you done an energy audit on your current setup? What's your current cost per kilowatt hour for electricity? Here in SoCal I'm paying about 24 cents a kilowatt hour which means switching from halides to LEDS, etc can make sense from a financial perspective.

Some ways to reduce energy usage would be

-switch to more energy efficient lighting (LED)and use a shallower display tank that would require less light penetration. More efficient lighting can also negate the need for a chiller in the summer.
-use of lower power in-tank circulation pumps/power heads vs moving large amounts of water through sump. This would mean using a smaller return pump in combination with more in-tank curculation. Thus can also have a side benefit of lower noise levels.
-energy efficient needle-wheel skimmer

Most of the energy used by a reef tank is by the pumps which run 24 hours a day and the lighting that runs 12 hours a day. With my electricity rates, the cost to run 2x250 halides,2x110 vho, and a 100 watt return pump (mag 12) would be about $100/month

You can use the following formula to calculate yearly cost to run a piece of equipment. You can then divide by 12 to get monthly cost.

(watts/1000)x(cost kilowatt hour)x(hours run per day)x(365)

 

[bullitr]

I have a 435 mixed sps
My electric bills are still negative with very small solar system 3.9 kwh

Equipment
6 LEDs 120 watts each 3 watts bridgelux bulbs
2 TUNZE 6215
2 TUNZE 6305
4 TUNZE 6045
2 Reeflo dart ( one for back up)
Reeflo ocra with Reeflo dart gold pump
Ozone 4 watts only
Everything is gravity feed
I am also thinking of just using 4 LEDs because my par reading in the sand bed is too much with running 6 ...
And other smaller reef tank
29 gallon hqi biocube.

3700 SQFT house with 5 people

 

[LJG]

I can't imagine your total electric bill being net negative with a 3.9 KW system on a 3700 sqft house.

 

[Rockys_Pride]

LEDs seem expensive on large tanks, for full fixtures anyways. Bare with me I'm conjuring here: Can the sun light your tank, using LEDs to get that "pop?", run small fans on the surface of your tank?

Just ideas.

 

[bullitr]

I can't imagine your total electric bill being net negative with a 3.9 KW system on a 3700 sqft house.

I haven't paid SCE since may ....
My friend jabel is owed by LAWP over 1000 kw
But he have 9 kwh system and slightly smaller tank

I can show you my bill tomorrow

 

[bullitr]

LEDs seem expensive on large tanks, for full fixtures anyways. Bare with me I'm conjuring here: Can the sun light your tank, using LEDs to get that "pop?", run small fans on the surface of your tank?

Just ideas.

Not neccassarily ....
My 96x36x29 can be fully covered with just 4 LEDs fixtures that is less than 1 k
With par reading at sand bed @ 259 Cheaper than metal halide and reflector
And the colors are great too( except my acropora because I have way too many fish and I don't do water change)

 

[psusocr]

my 300 gallon cost me a fortune when i was unning 3x400 watt halides and all monster external pumps. Ive since switched to energy effecient pumps, leds etc. and saved tonsss of money...

 

[Paolo Piccinell]

I placed some solar cells on the roof and I not only save, but I gain money from them! ;-)

 

[Made4water]

I think it's definitely possible to run a more energy efficient reef. Have you done an energy audit on your current setup? What's your current cost per kilowatt hour for electricity? Here in SoCal I'm paying about 24 cents a kilowatt hour which means switching from halides to LEDS, etc can make sense from a financial perspective.

Some ways to reduce energy usage would be

-switch to more energy efficient lighting (LED)and use a shallower display tank that would require less light penetration. More efficient lighting can also negate the need for a chiller in the summer.
-use of lower power in-tank circulation pumps/power heads vs moving large amounts of water through sump. This would mean using a smaller return pump in combination with more in-tank curculation. Thus can also have a side benefit of lower noise levels.
-energy efficient needle-wheel skimmer

Most of the energy used by a reef tank is by the pumps which run 24 hours a day and the lighting that runs 12 hours a day. With my electricity rates, the cost to run 2x250 halides,2x110 vho, and a 100 watt return pump (mag 12) would be about $100/month

You can use the following formula to calculate yearly cost to run a piece of equipment. You can then divide by 12 to get monthly cost.

(watts/1000)x(cost kilowatt hour)x(hours run per day)x(365)

Thank you for the imput! I have not run a formula such as this. I am very curious and will check into this tonight when I get home.

 

[Made4water]

I have a 435 mixed sps
My electric bills are still negative with very small solar system 3.9 kwh

Equipment
6 LEDs 120 watts each 3 watts bridgelux bulbs
2 TUNZE 6215
2 TUNZE 6305
4 TUNZE 6045
2 Reeflo dart ( one for back up)
Reeflo ocra with Reeflo dart gold pump
Ozone 4 watts only
Everything is gravity feed
I am also thinking of just using 4 LEDs because my par reading in the sand bed is too much with running 6 ...
And other smaller reef tank
29 gallon hqi biocube.

3700 SQFT house with 5 people

Very interesting. My wife and I are drawing up house plans now and were really excited about incorporating solar, however upon further investigation we've realized that the HOA restrictions dont allow for this. big disappointment. Hearing your success with such a large system and a 3700 sqft house with 5 people, makes me contemplate building elsewhere.

How long have you had your solar system? Any issues?

thanks!

 

[Made4water]

Not neccassarily ....
My 96x36x29 can be fully covered with just 4 LEDs fixtures that is less than 1 k
With par reading at sand bed @ 259 Cheaper than metal halide and reflector
And the colors are great too( except my acropora because I have way too many fish and I don't do water change)

What fixtures do you have?

 

[Made4water]

my 300 gallon cost me a fortune when i was unning 3x400 watt halides and all monster external pumps. Ive since switched to energy effecient pumps, leds etc. and saved tonsss of money...

I can relate to the MH. I originally had 2 250w and 1 400w in the center and once i changed the center 400w to a 250w it made a noticable dif. Ive spent many hours pondering getting rid of the MH all together but a little cautious just because of some having bad experiences in the switch. My luck i would be the one that bleached all my sps.

 

[Made4water]

I placed some solar cells on the roof and I not only save, but I gain money from them! ;-)

that is awesome!

 

[Ldagger]

These posts about saving money on power wear me out.
If you really want to save power with a big reef then here is how to do it. The rest is a waste of time.
1) use mostly sunlight to light your reef - figure it out or forget it and run MH
2) use an air blower mostly for lifts and moving water around. deal with the bubbles, they are just bubbles after all. Hook up the air blower to a skimmer.
3) Get rid of chiller- use a fan or 2, or run your tank water thru a coil in a different water supply that is cooler. Like thru make up water tank that has your RO water, or around your cold water intake to your hotwater heater, or use water from outside like tank of month guy did this month with koi pond. or just a tank of water, it will cool off on it's own. etc.

4) heating- insulate - pipes, sumps, bottom and back of tank. If you have an airblower putting air in your tank 24/7 put a piece of blue board on top your tank for cold nights.

 

[bullitr]

Very interesting. My wife and I are drawing up house plans now and were really excited about incorporating solar, however upon further investigation we've realized that the HOA restrictions dont allow for this. big disappointment. Hearing your success with such a large system and a 3700 sqft house with 5 people, makes me contemplate building elsewhere.

How long have you had your solar system ? Any issues?

thanks!

Home association can't prevent the solar
You can challenge it.
I live in the city where all of the house is under HOA
My next door neighbor did it 8 years ago and state of califonia says HOA can't prevent the solar,
now almost one in every four house have one and solar company are still knocking on everybodys house encouraging everyone to have one before the rebate runs out.

I only have it for 8 months on of the best investment I ever made
If only I jacked up my electric bill 2 months before getting the solar I could have 6- 9 kwh system for a little more since the rebate will absorbs most of it.
Like my friend they have 9 kwh system with Micro inverter for just 5 K more than what I pay.

 

[Made4water]

These posts about saving money on power wear me out.
If you really want to save power with a big reef then here is how to do it. The rest is a waste of time.
1) use mostly sunlight to light your reef - figure it out or forget it and run MH
2) use an air blower mostly for lifts and moving water around. deal with the bubbles, they are just bubbles after all. Hook up the air blower to a skimmer.
3) Get rid of chiller- use a fan or 2, or run your tank water thru a coil in a different water supply that is cooler. Like thru make up water tank that has your RO water, or around your cold water intake to your hotwater heater, or use water from outside like tank of month guy did this month with koi pond. or just a tank of water, it will cool off on it's own. etc.

4) heating- insulate - pipes, sumps, bottom and back of tank. If you have an airblower putting air in your tank 24/7 put a piece of blue board on top your tank for cold nights.

never heard of the air blower concept. I will look into this.

Thanks!

 

[Made4water]

Home association can't prevent the solar
You can challenge it.
I live in the city where all of the house is under HOA
My next door neighbor did it 8 years ago and state of califonia says HOA can't prevent the solar,
now almost one in every four house have one and solar company are still knocking on everybodys house encouraging everyone to have one before the rebate runs out.

I only have it for 8 months on of the best investment I ever made
If only I jacked up my electric bill 2 months before getting the solar I could have 6- 9 kwh system for a little more since the rebate will absorbs most of it.
Like my friend they have 9 kwh system with Micro inverter for just 5 K more than what I pay.

good to know that your state is set up this way. I live in Louisiana. I will see what our policies are. thanks!

 

[Ldagger]

air blowers cost about 400 bucks. but they can last for 20 years and can run alot of stuff for 10 bucks a month. There is no cheaper way to move water than with air pumps. i have not seen this but if you put it in an outdoor box beside your house and run a line thru the wall it could be used for alot of flow, plus fresh air for your tank. it's what your LFS probably using for most of their tanks. You can buy the large 2 outlet Tera air pump at wally world for 20 ish bucks. it can run a small skimmer or lifts for pennies a day.

I have also read that you do not need alot of flow at night, so perhpas you can turn off some powerheads/wave makers in the middle of the night. I am uncertain of this- up for debate I am sure.

 

[LJG]

I haven't paid SCE since may ....
My friend jabel is owed by LAWP over 1000 kw
But he have 9 kwh system and slightly smaller tank

I can show you my bill tomorrow

Congrats! I am still amazed if this turns out to be true. You do know the power company does not bill monthly right? You will get one bill at the end of the 12 month period. Maybe this is why you have no bill? I have a 9.2 Kw DC/8.2 AC system on a 3700 sqft house that uses very little AC. I still pay about $500/yr with taxes, fees and use. Sure beats the $4800/yr I was paying. I do have a few refrigerators (garage and outside ones) and a good sized pool and I am sure I have ghosted used so I could cut more.

Did you hear the crap about the power companies wanting to charge solar user a fee to cover the grid use? Cost about $30 per month if put in play. Write your local advisors and councilmen to say you disagree with a monopolized supplier jacking rates because you save too much.