How much electricity?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Yes, very! But, your monthly cost isn't really that bad. I quickly ran a calc for you based on the following:

6 watts for filter (based on AC110)
200 watt heater used 6 months out of the year
20 watt light
Air pump for air stone

At your rate, that's only $6.02 per month.

Most likely, your filter won't be rated quite that high (or maybe higher if you go with two...which is what most would recommend).

So, a good guess would be $5.00 to $7.00 per month. Not bad :)
 
Score!!!!! ty so much for the calculation! Im buying the biocube off craigslist and its using a fluval 304 ( never used fluval, only ehiem ), a protein skimmer (not specified as to what kind), a heater (assuming normal heater) and a set of t5's. is that set up pretty "electrically friendly"?!
 
read the manual for that filter and it says its a 12w
104 204 304 404
7W 7W 12W 25

I think with a protein skimmer it would probably be about 20 watts. Also i can get a heater thats only 100 watts. How many watts does this mean that the heater would use?
 
I used 12 watts for the filter, 8 for the skimmer, 60 for the pair of T5s (that is sort of an average) and 200 watts for the heater. I came up with $9.02 per month. That's probably a bit on the high side compared to what it will actually run.

With this set up, best guess is $7.50 to $8.50 per month.

Nice find :)
 
CLDarnell;4792106; said:
I used 12 watts for the filter, 8 for the skimmer, 60 for the pair of T5s (that is sort of an average) and 200 watts for the heater. I came up with $9.02 per month. That's probably a bit on the high side compared to what it will actually run.

With this set up, best guess is $7.50 to $8.50 per month.

Nice find :)
Click to expand...

seriously stoked!!!!!!!:headbang2:headbang2:headbang2:headbang2:headbang2 Ty so much for the help with this, almost turned it down due to thinking it was going to cost me like $$$$$, well it will anyway with restocking it and all that but its better than my money going to electricity! Do you have an experience with fluvals? i heard the hose set up is kinda lame and tends to leak? ever heard or had personal experience with something like this?
 
You're welcome, glad to help! No, I haven't been around a Fluval..though I will look into them next time I need a filter. Most other members have nothing but good things to say about them!

Yeah, it seems like the hoses may be a bit weak or troublesome...but I think that's true of all canister filters.

Good luck with your new tank! Post photos :)
 
CLDarnell;4792139; said:
You're welcome, glad to help! No, I haven't been around a Fluval..though I will look into them next time I need a filter. Most other members have nothing but good things to say about them!

Yeah, it seems like the hoses may be a bit weak or troublesome...but I think that's true of all canister filters.

Good luck with your new tank! Post photos :)
Click to expand...

i will for sure!!!!! one more question if i might ask....how much consumption would the tank use per hour. if you dont know about the smart meter, it charges you for what tier your in. for example, tier one charges XXX amount while tier two charges XXXX amount. as you use more electricity you move up in tiers. even if you bump up into one tier for 1 millisecond you get charged for one min in this tier. also there is "peak hours" where electricity just cost more. this is why Im wondering how much it consumer per hour. here is a graph i found that is making me worry.

im trying to find what the tier levels actually are not just how much they cost

pge-residential-e-1-tiers-1.jpg
 
Roughly around $0.01 per hour. But, you bring up a good point. Your lights are the largest consumer of electricity. I am not sure what wattage you'll actually have, but you may want to drop back to one bulb or limit your light usage. Your filter has to run 24/7 of course. I am not a salt guy, so not sure about the skimmer, but I assume it's also 24/7. Your heater will most likely barely run. So if you can keep your light usage to mostly early mornings and late evenings, you will save a buck or two as well, plus you would have them off during peak hours :) You may want to invest in a timer outlet..but at around as little as $15 for one, it will take you several months to recoup your money.

Since you mentioned the skimmer, I am assuming you are planning on going salt. Again, not being familiar with salt, you should research and see what is recommended for lighting requirements. I would hate for you to follow my suggestions and kill off your reef! :(

Good luck!
 
CLDarnell;4792208; said:
Roughly around $0.01 per hour. But, you bring up a good point. Your lights are the largest consumer of electricity. I am not sure what wattage you'll actually have, but you may want to drop back to one bulb or limit your light usage. Your filter has to run 24/7 of course. I am not a salt guy, so not sure about the skimmer, but I assume it's also 24/7. Your heater will most likely barely run. So if you can keep your light usage to mostly early mornings and late evenings, you will save a buck or two as well, plus you would have them off during peak hours :) You may want to invest in a timer outlet..but at around as little as $15 for one, it will take you several months to recoup your money.

Since you mentioned the skimmer, I am assuming you are planning on going salt. Again, not being familiar with salt, you should research and see what is recommended for lighting requirements. I would hate for you to follow my suggestions and kill off your reef! :(

Good luck!
Click to expand...
O so fairly cheap!!! I am runnin another 8 g reef cube so I would probably run these lights when those are off. I would just hate to get this and then find out that it is costing me a **** ton. :(
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom