Definately setup is key to keeping energy cost down. Spending a little more for energy efficient equipment is a great way but you can also run external pumps (return and powerheads) to keep the temp down if you have a chiller. I run one pump for my 180g display and 65g frag tank that has a 20g fuge and 30g sump all interconnected. My chiller only comes on during the hot summer months. When you're buying equipment also pay attention to the consumption at usable rates for your setup
Reducing Electricity Consumption
- Thread starter seaner
- Start date
david pinder
Member
From what I have seen and read LEDs are a long way from saving money. They talk about 10 yrs use but from what Ive seen those expensive lights are not holding up. I added 7 21 inch sola tubes and cut my lighting way back but am now adding lighting back because of shorter days. Am currently running 5 hammerhead golds 2 on protein skimmers thinking of cutting back to 12 hrs a day on the skimmers, dont even want to know my electric cost it would probably upset me.
d0ughb0y
Active member
skimmer pumps use maybe 20 watts. you will get better result by looking at the higher power consumption devices and see how you can reduce the power usage, either by using less or replacing with more energy efficient device.
john rochon
New member
what about putting day timers on lighting. example. lights can be off for a day or 2. If you run multiple halides, then keep light #1 off on say monday,
light # 2 off on tusday. something like that.
light # 2 off on tusday. something like that.
buzzy
New member
is there any down side to running your display tank lights at night? im thinkning of running my lights from 6pm to 12pm(400w halide) one to try and reduce the power useage during the day and 2 to use the lights to help with keepnig the tank warmer during the night and save with having to heat the tank with a heater. Has anyone had any problems with running there lights at night instead of day?
TheFishMan65
New member
I have heard of people doing it especially folks on tiered systems. I think as long as the room does not get a lot of natural light you should be OK. My understanding is that sih and corals need some dark.
I live in the northern US and have had my 125 setup now for going on 2 weeks.
The canopy the previous owner built using individual reflectors on each halide lamp (3 MHs) He also, differentiated the halides. the end Halide bulbs are 250W each, and the middle one is 400watt each. The person that had the tank before me, has his scheduled printed and taped to the inside of the stand next to the reef keeper 2.
From 1- 5 PM he had the single 400watt Halide on. At 5:00pm he shut off the 400 watt bulb and ran the 2 250s from 5pm to 10pm.
The 2 VHO bulbs he ran the entire time. 1- 10 pm. His reef did great, as I got most of his corals and they look healthy and awesome.
In the any exposed wood in the canopy is covered with a thin reflective material. or Painted with reflective paint. Not sure which as it's paper thin, but covers everything in reflective silver, even wires were covered with this.
Then to assist with cooling the bulbs, he spliced in 1 4.75" square fan on each end of the canopy. No typical fan though, He used computer case fans. the wiring failed on me i the first week of operation so I had to wire in two brand new fans. But they're awesome. They're ball bearing fans. Operate around 2100+ RPM. And consume such a tiny amount of electricity they could run all the time. I have those plugged into the reef keeper temp control so, they only run if the water gets warm. It keeps the water at a steady 79.
Running the halides only 9 hours a day at 400 watts per hour or 500 watts per hour, should save electricity and keep the tank from getting too warm. And save on the bulbs, making them maybe last 14 or 15 months instead of only 12.
I haven't gotten my first electricity bill with the halides running, but I'm hoping it's less than $20 amonth. lol. And all the thermostats for my house are in the tank room now.
I think this is going to be awesome!
The canopy the previous owner built using individual reflectors on each halide lamp (3 MHs) He also, differentiated the halides. the end Halide bulbs are 250W each, and the middle one is 400watt each. The person that had the tank before me, has his scheduled printed and taped to the inside of the stand next to the reef keeper 2.
From 1- 5 PM he had the single 400watt Halide on. At 5:00pm he shut off the 400 watt bulb and ran the 2 250s from 5pm to 10pm.
The 2 VHO bulbs he ran the entire time. 1- 10 pm. His reef did great, as I got most of his corals and they look healthy and awesome.
In the any exposed wood in the canopy is covered with a thin reflective material. or Painted with reflective paint. Not sure which as it's paper thin, but covers everything in reflective silver, even wires were covered with this.
Then to assist with cooling the bulbs, he spliced in 1 4.75" square fan on each end of the canopy. No typical fan though, He used computer case fans. the wiring failed on me i the first week of operation so I had to wire in two brand new fans. But they're awesome. They're ball bearing fans. Operate around 2100+ RPM. And consume such a tiny amount of electricity they could run all the time. I have those plugged into the reef keeper temp control so, they only run if the water gets warm. It keeps the water at a steady 79.
Running the halides only 9 hours a day at 400 watts per hour or 500 watts per hour, should save electricity and keep the tank from getting too warm. And save on the bulbs, making them maybe last 14 or 15 months instead of only 12.
I haven't gotten my first electricity bill with the halides running, but I'm hoping it's less than $20 amonth. lol. And all the thermostats for my house are in the tank room now.
I think this is going to be awesome!
