Need Advice: Electrical bill increasing due to heating tanks during winter

[Bud8Fan]

It's not about BTU. It's about energy consumption.

It takes 833 BTUs to raise 100 gallons of water 1° Fahrenheit. He said he does not want to get another heater. Now the only way to make his set up work "AS IS" is to prevent heat loss by insulating.

It has EVERYTHING to do about BTU's. If you lose it you gotta replace it. And since he is losing them he is consuming too much energy.

If it was me personally I'd insulate and get another heater.

 

[Bud8Fan]

Yup simple concept sometimes missed I work in HVAC and people surprise me on this forum and aquaria central every day.

I did not miss the concept. Read above post.

 

[888fish]

So Bud8Fan,

Suppose 1 heater maintains a desired temperature (80degrees) using a 250W heater running constantly.

Would 2 heaters (250W each) costs more money (eletrical costs) to maintain this desired temperature since each would turn on/off throughout the day?

What does everyone else think? Also, I've never got so many replies (4 pages .. wow!!!) Thanks everyone.

 

[Bud8Fan]

So Bud8Fan,

Suppose 1 heater maintains a desired temperature (80degrees) using a 250W heater running constantly.

Would 2 heaters (250W each) costs more money (eletrical costs) to maintain this desired temperature since each would turn on/off throughout the day?

What does everyone else think? Also, I've never got so many replies (4 pages .. wow!!!) Thanks everyone.

Theoretically two heaters (assuming they are identical to the one) would run half as long and still consume the same kilowatt hours of electricity.

250 watts running 24 hours consumes 6 Kilowatt Hours

500 watts running 12 hours consumes 6 Kilowatt Hours

 

[likestofish]

What kind of fish are you keeping ?? nothing i know of besides discus needs 80 plus water. it would probably be cheaper for you to find a good used electric furnace about 15KW, with its own blower, have someone qualified hook it up in the garage,

Peacock Bass, and Arowanas are recomended to be kepp in 82-86.

 

[888fish]

Clown loaches, tigrinus catfish, frontosa, Ansorgii bichir. Thanks

 

[Bud8Fan]

Plug this calculator too see what your minimum recommended wattage should be with no insulation.

http://boonedocks.net/fishtank/ftweb.php



We'll get you to 5 pages soon.

 

[Egon]

The idea is too keep the heaters off by constantly keeping the water temp to what you want it.
I have a 125 gallon tank and have 2 300 W heaters set to exactly the same temp. The two are of the same make as this can make a difference.

If i only have one the heater it is always on but because one side of the tank is colder it will be flowed around to the hot end triggering the heater constantly on and off.
If the whole tank is at the same temp this can't happen. My two heaters are very rarely on. Mainly obviously at a water change or when the lights go off.

If you find there is a cold spot (a large cold spot furthest away from your heater compared with close you need more heat.

Also, Fish that swim in and out of warm to cold water wil have more chance of getting an illness.

Electric!..As a member or members said, two heaters will cut your costs in half to if you only have one if done correctly...That is a Fact!

Okay, we are trying to go 5 pages here and I couldn't let this one go . If two heaters will cut the electric in half what would happen if he added 100 heaters? Does the electric bill go to 1/100th? or maybe the flow of electricity is reversed and the electric company pays him? and another thing.......ya ever swim in a lake? You will always feel warmer and cooler spots in the lake and it doesn't seem to cause the fish problems? Larger fish tanks are going to have differences in temperatures through out the tank, the fish will be fine.
Insulate the tank, all fish all over the world live through seasonal temperature fluctuations, it's no big deal. I'm not saying let the water freeze but 10 degrees from optimum is not a big deal. Sometimes a cooling period is good, embrace it. Just feed less because they wont be as hungry.

 

[Bud8Fan]

I think you are on to something! I'm going to pack my sump full of heaters!!!

 

[jjdsplace]

think i will do he same does this work with heatinthe home also