power saving tips please

[inkmates]

anyone have any good power saving tips. My electric bill has been on the rise and with me wanting to upgrade to metal halides the wife isn't happy please help

 

[xenon]

Use a small return submersible pump from your sump. Use powerheads for flow rather than closed loops.

Most people use an oversized heater. I use a 100w heater on my 90g with 40g sump.

 

[joeycadre]

don't start an aquarium.

simple.

you gotta go all out if you want a nice tank.

seriously.

go for it.

 

[edwar050]

Get a good reflector with your halides, like lumenarc. Select a low wattage powerhead like the nanostream. Use part of the return line as a skimmer feed for a downdraft skimmer. Consider T-5's or LEDS if you have extra cash. Maybe some others can chime in

 

[PrivateJoker64]

T-5's instead of halides. I have very nice acros and even a clam under T-5's, all growing very quickly.
46 bowfront with a 36" TEK fixture.

 

[PrivateJoker64]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11943447#post11943447 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by xenon
Use a small return submersible pump from your sump. Use powerheads for flow rather than closed loops.

Most people use an oversized heater. I use a 100w heater on my 90g with 40g sump.

x2

 

[inkmates]

thanks for the tips I'll try to post updates as i try to reacha comprimise with my wife thanks again

 

[inkmates]

going with t5's ordered them yesterday

 

[monty]

I have an ETSS downdraft skimmer that you could plum into your drain line to your sump. save 100w/day PM if interested.

 

[drstupid]

get a heated swimming pool. you won't even notice the halides in your electric bill.

 

[monty]

haha...thats a good point...you could also start leaving all sorts of electronics on....get your halides, and then remember to turn off your secret electronics so you wife has no idea of the difference...remember, where there's a will, there's a way

 

[Roy G. Biv]

Upgrade all of the other bulbs in the house to these

Then you can splurge on the halides.

 

[inkmates]

after the new lights for the dt and swapping out 2 inefficent circulation pumps for 1 good one and swapping to a lower wattage bulb for the fuge I should have the power cut in half for the setup as far as the screw in florescents I'm going to be getting enough to swap out all the bulbs in my house within the next few weeks and after a new thermostat my power bill should be almost half of what it is now. As far as the post about a new skimmer mine is an in tank model that only consumes 3.5 watts from the air pump that drives that so really no way to shave down any more wattage there seeings how I need that pump for my brine hatchery my return pump is at 20 watts heater is at 50 watts (keeps the tank at 74-76) my main power sucking issue was the lights and circulation pumps as it is my setup eats about 7 kw/day after making a few changes I should have it down to about 3 1/4 kw/day

 

[willewonka]

Use gravity as much as possible. It's free

 

[Untamed12]

Water pressure is also free. I've often thought about what I could do with that. The simple example is the force your RO/DI water storage high so that you can use gravity to feed the evaporation replacement.