Hi everyone. I was wondering what item for your tank uses the most electricity. I remember when I first started a larger tank (100 gallon) my mom almost had a heart attack because our electricity bill skyrocketed. I'm about to start a 240gallon tank but I don't want my wife to kill me when the energy bill comes. I'm thinking that my heaters would use the most energy. If they do, I'm probably going to get fish that won't require them, like fancy goldfish. My house is pretty well insulated so the temperature in the house is actually pretty comfortable. Anyone have any ideas regarding high energy usage? The Doctor
Most Usage oF Energy
- Thread starter Dr_Shakalu
- Start date
Put your heaters on a timer and have them turn on only at night. And don't ever turn on your lights unless you have guests around and want to impress them.
Titania;4784474; said:
Do fluorecent lights really use alot of energy. I thought fluorescent lights are supposed to be energy savers?
Dr_Shakalu;4784499; said:
They most certainly can use a ton of energy. If you're running 500w of lights to grow plants, prepare to cough up the $$. One basic strip light won't use too much. I'd suggest putting your lights on timers so they're only on when you might be looking at the tank.
During the winter months when I have to run 4 300w heaters just to keep my tank from dropping below 75F. That uses the most electricity for my tanks right now.
But I used to run a sump pump can't remember the brand name. I had to shut it down and run a smaller pump cause it alone raised my bill 100.00 a month.
But I used to run a sump pump can't remember the brand name. I had to shut it down and run a smaller pump cause it alone raised my bill 100.00 a month.
Titania;4784512; said:
Depends on the size of the tank, but no need to use 500w of lights to grow anything when T5Ho's are available - 1 36" twin T5HO fixture uses less than a 75w incandescent lightbulb (well, almost the same then - 78w)
I switched all the incandescents in my house for cfl's when I moved in and every electricity bill up untill I started keeping fish showed me using less than half the average house uses, now with 6 tanks running my bill is the same as the average house!
I have never had anything more than basic lights so heaters are definitely the highest cost. Although, when I had my turtle tank set up the lights used more than twice as much as the heater.
nothing uses alot. i dunno why parents(mine did this) act like tanks uses alot of power.
Im running my gar tank(125g), wifes cichla tank(40g), planted 10g, 20g with a snapper, 5g fluval chi, my custom caiman enlcosure(110g pond heated to 78 and a 45g pond heated to 72) with all thier lights(four 4' dual light t8 6500k) plus other usage(fountain, snake tank etc) and mine is only 70 bucks
Im running my gar tank(125g), wifes cichla tank(40g), planted 10g, 20g with a snapper, 5g fluval chi, my custom caiman enlcosure(110g pond heated to 78 and a 45g pond heated to 72) with all thier lights(four 4' dual light t8 6500k) plus other usage(fountain, snake tank etc) and mine is only 70 bucks