Silly Beginner Questions

[adawg88]

Hey, all -

Great site, there is a ton of information here. Growing up, we had a 120g Live Rock/Fish Only tank, and ever since I have really been interested in keeping a reef tank. I am finally in a place where I could do it right financially, and am revistiting the idea of the tank. I likely wouldn't do anything for a year or more, I just want to read up and do it right the first time. That said, I have a couple sily questions.

How much will my power bill spike if I am running a 120g w/ 2 250W MHs, PC and all the other pumps and goodies needed for a 120G tank and sump? This is not as big an issue for me as it is for the wife, who is not convinced this is a worthwhile endeavor!

The other question is how loud is a fully running tank? Are there ways to make it quieter? I would want to put it in my finished basement, but that is also where the HDTV and surround sound system is. I am wondering if the MH lights are going to light up the entire baement when I want to watch a move in the dark and if the sound of the tank would make it hard to watch TV.

Any thoughts? And, thanks again, this is a great site!

 

[kingtoad]

Here is an electrical bill calculator that you may find useful

http://reefcentral.com/calc/tank_elec_calc.php

 

[adawg88]

Am I doing something wrong? Just gestimating, I came up with a $70/month electric bill. Does that sound right? Seems high.

 

[Reefmedic79]

There are ways of quieting down a tanks noise level. Filling the inside of the stand with acoustic padding. Using Durso standpipes for your overflows. Either way, if your setting up a home theater the surround sound should make up for any noise the tank makes.

Any type of lighting will light up your basement, preventing you from watching a movie in the dark.

As for your powerbill, a $70 increase isn't unheard of.

 

[FDinPA]

The power bill sounds plausible. 500 watts of french fry lights will definately move some electrons from point A to point B. The sound will be almost entirely of running water. Just tell your wife that you are taking up 'feng shue' or however you spell it. Women love waterfalls!
Adjust the light cycle for your tank and it can be lights out by whatever time you want. I have 3 small children at home so we never get to watch a movie until long after the tank (and the kids) go to bed!

 

[chuckdickson]

My bill only went up 10 bucks a month with my tank.

 

[Sk8r]

We have our 52 corner next to the telly, and it's about like your typical rushing brook. Either you like the sound of rushing water or you don't. If you do, it's pleasant. It's not enough to drown out the telly, just to require us to boost the volume a point or two. You can hear it on the other side of the wall (apartment living.) I wouldn't put one up up against a neighbor's wall.

 

[thisiscmd]

"The other question is how loud is a fully running tank? Are there ways to make it quieter? I would want to put it in my finished basement, but that is also where the HDTV and surround sound system is. I am wondering if the MH lights are going to light up the entire baement when I want to watch a move in the dark and if the sound of the tank would make it hard to watch TV."

I would strongly recommend, if you have the capabilities, putting it all on a separate circuit. You definitely don't want to come home to a tank whose lights/heaters/pumps went off because of the circuit breaker/fuse.

 

[adawg88]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6927826#post6927826 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by thisiscmd
I would strongly recommend, if you have the capabilities, putting it all on a separate circuit. You definitely don't want to come home to a tank whose lights/heaters/pumps went off because of the circuit breaker/fuse.

Yeah, very good point. My dad is an electrician, so I will recruit him for the job. Plus, the wall where I want to put the tank backs up to my utility room where the electrical box is, should be a simple romex run.

 

[bertoni]

While on the topic of electricity, I'd advise using a number of GFI devices to protect you and your setup. I think it's best to use a number of them, since you don't want one piece of equipment to fail and have your entire tank without electricity.

 

[bjonesjr1]

I also recomend that the use of a GFI recptacle is good as a electrician their easy to install, & they take alittle bit more of a load before tripping... The best thing to do would have power coming directly to that recptacle from the electric box, so that nothing else is on that circuit for that tank... That way no other electronics can trip the circuit and cause power outage for the tank.

Bjonesjr1

 

[sgarrett1108]

If you have a utility room behind the wall where the tank is get a rr tank and sump and put it behind the wall. All the noisy things, pumps, skimmers, etc could be in the sump behind the wall. Also could add a refugium and it would be beneficial to the aquarium!!

 

[adawg88]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6929460#post6929460 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sgarrett1108
If you have a utility room behind the wall where the tank is get a rr tank and sump and put it behind the wall. All the noisy things, pumps, skimmers, etc could be in the sump behind the wall. Also could add a refugium and it would be beneficial to the aquarium!!

Wish I could, but the wife would never go for it. No more holes in the wall is the rule at my house. Plus, not sure I would want all that saltwater in the air right next to my furnace and hot water heater either. Maybe I am paranoid, but that seems like a rust hazard.