Aquarium power consumption

[aldiaz33]

This may sound stupid, but it sounds like you should run less efficient pumps. I use 2 Mag 18's from Danner / Supreme externally on my 240 acrylic. They are not very efficient. I keep my house around 70 in the winter and 76 - 78 in the summer. I don't need a heater!. In the winter my tank stays at 79 and in the summer I have a fan running over my sump trying to keep it below 86. They are not very expensive pumps so it might be worth getting an inefficient pump. I am building a 700 and bought Laguna 4200's (2) that are very efficient. I am going to heat it off of my gas hot water tank. That will have about an 18 month payback for me.

In the summer time your pumps are overheating your 240G, so yes, that is a waste of electricity. The fact that you have to run a fan to cool your tank down adds to your electric consumption.

Running 2 Mag 18's is like having a 290W heater on 24/7. It sounds like in the summer your heaters wouldn't even need to come on at all; you are essentially wasting ~209KWHrs per month in the summer months by running those inefficient Mag 18 pumps.

If you lived in an area that was always cold what you are doing might make sense, but if your summers are warm it's a waste of electricity; run efficient pumps and an appropriately sized heater(s) and you will be better off. By doing it this way, you are only adding the energy required to maintain your desired temps (no more, no less) which will always be more efficient than trying to deal with pumps overheating your system.

 

[lp85253]

I don't really pay attention to the cost or try to figure it out, this way when the wife complains about the bill I have deniability .

sounds like my landlord (roommate)he runs a water recirculation pump ,that forces water to the water heater constantly , wich doubles water heating cost... then complains about me leaving a fan on when the house is 86 f

 

[Modest_Man]

I got five sides of the sump (everything but the bottom) insulated tonight and restarted the Kill-A-Watt. We'll see how it reads in a day or so. I've got the insulation for the main tank and plumbing, but won't get to install that for a couple days.

 

[JonY3k]

So how many of you ran new breakers from the electrical panel to power your setup? I am heating my 625 with a setup that has a 1500W water heater tank and when it comes on the pumps sound different and the lights dim. I will be hooking in to a different breaker for the heater and may add a new breaker for the rest of the stuff.

 

[David R]

Yes, but the theoretical numbers don't match up with my real world heating costs. It's off by about 65 KWH (26%) after doing it twice, once for my sump and once for my tank.

Interesting, I'll have a talk to the guy who made it.

 

[Modest_Man]

Just checked my Kill-A-Watt. Drawing the exact same amount per hour after 20.2 hours with a now insulated sump. The difference? Tank is now at 81 degrees instead of 77. Looks like I need to turn them down or remove one heater. (House is at 69 by the way; not like it's warmer than normal).

 

[screaminleeman]

My house temps are between 53 and 68. Warmest it ever got was 74, and that was for at most three days. Bit different than yours.

We have AC but only use it maybe 5 days a year. I do like living in the Pacific Northwest.

Well, at least you now fully understand your issue.

Maryland has a vastly higher rate for electricity (BG&E) than you pay. I lost track of the number of tanks that I run (Probably around 30). Winter is outrageous keeping a 100+ gallon outdoor pond ~ 70 throughout the winter with a couple thousand watts of heat.

I have all indoor tanks totally unheated well over 60% of the year. I keep my club room (Fish room) ambient temperature around 74 Fahrenheit 24/7/365 with ease given the ability to "shut off" the central AC vents into the clubroom in the summer as well as heat the clubroom with the fireplace insert (stylish wood stove designed with glass view windows for aesthetics as well as radiant surface heat for efficiency). My in tank heaters rarely run even in the winter.

I can generate a $600/ month electric bill in the winter 3 coldest winter months (largely due to the massively heated outdoor pond). I am only slightly over triple your energy consumption the other 9 months of the year.

I also change thousands of gallons of water weekly in my roughly 30 aquatic setups. I would imagine that the electric water pump included in my monthly bill also adds to my monthly bill.

 

[heatherbeast]

So how many of you ran new breakers from the electrical panel to power your setup? I am heating my 625 with a setup that has a 1500W water heater tank and when it comes on the pumps sound different and the lights dim. I will be hooking in to a different breaker for the heater and may add a new breaker for the rest of the stuff.

I had a new subpanel put in for my 300 when the house's electrical was overhauled, mostly for the heating. Pbass like it tropicale'!!

 

[Redearsunfish]

I would never calculate this. If I did, the numbers might shock me. pun intended.

 

[bassfisher91]

Just checked my Kill-A-Watt. Drawing the exact same amount per hour after 20.2 hours with a now insulated sump. The difference? Tank is now at 81 degrees instead of 77. Looks like I need to turn them down or remove one heater. (House is at 69 by the way; not like it's warmer than normal).

That's what I noticed when I insulated. I had to pull half of my heaters out...not a bad problem lol.