Introduction and Monthly Cost Question

[Grishtargan]

To run my 5 tanks, which range in size from 5-120 gallons, it runs me about 150 a month in electricity.

 

[aldiaz33]

i actually do some energy efficiency for schools in northern cali and i tested just my tanks, i spend about $50 a month just to run a 29, 37 and a 55 i narrowed it down and its mainly the heaters that use the most energy. im also thinking about buying lower wattage heaters cause its getting bad this winter for some reason

Using lower wattage heaters will not have any noticeable effect on the amount of energy required to heat your tank.

Lower wattage heaters will take longer to achieve your desired temps. They will stay on for longer before they cycle off.
Higher wattage heaters will achieve your desired temp faster. They will achieve your desired temps more quickly then cycle off.

The result is essentially the same electrical consumption; it's basic physics that you need X amount of heat (energy) to achieve a desired temperature. Undersizing your heaters will just make them cycle on for longer and as a result they will typically fail more quickly than an appropriately sized heater(s).

So a higher wattage heater (800w) that theoretically should hear the water faster and run less than a lower wattage heater (300w) still uses less energy even though it runs more? What about when they are on a digital controller like the JBJ True Temp?

Sent from my SCH-I605 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App

No, this is not true.

If you want to reduce the amount of energy required to heat your tanks, your best bet is keeping the heat in. Heaters cycle on to replace energy lost to the surrounding air, so the more you are able to keep the heat from escaping by having lids and insulating as many panels of the tank as possible, the better.

 

[MyGiants]

It really depends on what your setup will be. I'm in your area I run 120g that has a canister filter a 100w heater but its a plant tank with eight 80w T5HO bulbs. So besides the heater your lighting will really dictate how much energy it will consume.